About St. Gerard Majella · Baton Rouge, Louisiana
St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church is a Redemptorist parish in North Baton Rouge, Louisiana, founded in 1944 and entrusted to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R.) from its very beginning. Located at 5354 Plank Road (with the church itself on 3808 St. Gerard Avenue), the parish serves a historic, predominantly Black neighborhood on Plank Road and remains home to Redemptorist St. Gerard School, the Ray M. Lorio Knights of Columbus Council #17544, and a thriving St. Vincent de Paul conference. The current pastor is Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R., supported by associate Redemptorist priests, a permanent deacon, and a parish staff — together serving a bilingual English-and-Hispanic community through Mass, the sacraments, weekday novenas, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, and outreach to the poor.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Gerard Majella
- Rector
- Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Gerard Majella is a welcoming Redemptorist parish that lives out its mission through daily Mass, weekday novenas to five beloved saints, Saturday Eucharistic Adoration, and a strong sacramental life including a public OCIA process for those becoming Catholic. Parishioners can send their children to the on-site Redemptorist St. Gerard School, support the needy through the St. Vincent de Paul conference, join the Ray M. Lorio Knights of Columbus Council #17544, and take part in Thursday-evening Bible Study in Seelos Hall — all on a single campus in historic North Baton Rouge. Bilingual ministries in English and Spanish make this a true community of faith for Plank Road and the surrounding 70805 neighborhood.
Mass times at St. Gerard Majella
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Weekdays: 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
- Saturday: 1:30 PM – 3:45 PM
- Or by calling the Church Office at 225-355-2553
Adoration times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Parish History & Redemptorist Heritage
St. Gerard Majella Parish was created in 1944 in response to development in North Baton Rouge and was entrusted from its very founding to the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, C.Ss.R.). The parish's first permanent building — a three-story combined church and school — went up in 1945, and the elementary school opened that September under the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The present parish church was formally dedicated on October 16, 1958, the feast of St. Gerard Majella. In 2024 the parish joyfully celebrated 80 years of continuous Redemptorist ministry in Baton Rouge with Bishop Michael Duca presiding at Mass; today the parish remains a flagship of the Redemptorist mission of preaching the Gospel to the most abandoned.
- Founded 1944, entrusted to the Redemptorists
- Three-story church/school building constructed 1945
- Elementary school opened September 1945 under School Sisters of Notre Dame
- Current church dedicated October 16, 1958
- 80th anniversary of Redemptorist ministry celebrated in 2024 with Bishop Michael Duca
Mass, Novenas & Liturgical Schedule
Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday at 4:00 PM (Vigil) and Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Each weekday morning brings a 9:00 AM Mass paired with a novena to a beloved saint or blessed of the Redemptorist family — St. Alphonsus on Monday, Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Tuesday, St. Joseph on Wednesday, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos on Thursday, and St. Gerard himself on Friday (a School Mass). The Anointing of the Sick is administered on the first Sunday of every month.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
- Weekday 9:00 AM Mass with daily novena
- Anointing of the Sick — first Sunday of every month
Sacraments
All seven Catholic sacraments are celebrated at St. Gerard Majella. The parish website provides detailed preparation pages for Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation, along with a separate OCIA page for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — child must be under 7; parents must meet with pastor; at least one Catholic godparent required
- Eucharist — First Communion
- Confirmation — requires completed parish religion classes and two active Catholic sponsors
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see schedule above
- Anointing of the Sick — first Sunday of each month
- Matrimony — marriage preparation required
- Holy Orders — vocational discernment supported
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly RCIA)
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
St. Gerard Majella offers the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for anyone interested in becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments. The parish describes the classic OCIA stages — Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate, Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens, and ongoing formation — and welcomes inquirers year-round. Candidates can email [email protected] with subject line 'OCIA Candidate' to be added to the current year's list.
- Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate
- Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
- Ongoing catechumenate formation
- Email [email protected] to join the 2025 cohort
Parish School — Redemptorist St. Gerard School
The parish is home to Redemptorist St. Gerard School (PK–8), a Catholic elementary school that traces its origins to 1945 — when the School Sisters of Notre Dame opened the lower school with 293 students in grades one through eight. Today the school continues the Redemptorist mission of Catholic education in North Baton Rouge and shares the historic 1944-era campus with the parish, where new facilities and renovations are ongoing.
- Founded 1945 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame
- Originally the only Catholic school within a ten-mile radius
- Pre-K through 8th grade today
- Shared Redemptorist campus with the parish church
- Ongoing renovations: new HVAC, remodeled school bathrooms, restored Notre Dame classrooms
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a community of Redemptorist priests, a permanent deacon, and a dedicated lay staff. Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R., serves as pastor; Fr. Tuan Pham, C.Ss.R., as associate pastor; Fr. Rick Potts, C.Ss.R., as Local Superior and head of the Hispanic Apostolate; and Fr. John Fahey Guerra, C.Ss.R., as Hispanic Apostolate Administrator. Deacon Joe Perry assists at Mass, while Julia Meche serves as Parish Secretary and Child Protection Coordinator, Mary Rosenbloom as Music Director, Christina Atkins Chustz as Bookkeeper, Kenny Paola as Sacristan, and Chris Dickerson, Sonyja Thomas, and Darren Pizzolato in additional parish roles.
- Fr. Tat Hoang, C.Ss.R. — Pastor
- Fr. Tuan Pham, C.Ss.R. — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Rick Potts, C.Ss.R. — Local Superior and Hispanic Apostolate
- Fr. John Fahey Guerra, C.Ss.R. — Hispanic Apostolate Administrator
- Deacon Joe Perry
- Mary Rosenbloom — Music Director
- Julia Meche — Parish Secretary / Child Protection Coordinator
- Christina Atkins Chustz — Bookkeeper
- Kenny Paola — Sacristan
- Chris Dickerson, Sonyja Thomas, Darren Pizzolato — parish staff
Ministries & Outreach
St. Gerard Majella lives out its Redemptorist call to preach the Gospel to the most abandoned through a strong network of lay ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul conference offers direct assistance to the poor (225-356-7472), the Ray M. Lorio Knights of Columbus Council #17544 runs parish and community service projects, the Hispanic Apostolate ministers to Spanish-speaking families, and the OCIA process welcomes new Catholics. Additional faith-formation and devotional opportunities round out parish life.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Assistance for the Poor (225-356-7472)
- Ray M. Lorio Knights of Columbus Council #17544
- Hispanic Apostolate (English/Spanish ministry)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
- Children's Faith Formation / Religious Education
- Parish Choir and Music Ministry
- Ushers and Liturgical Volunteers
Mission, Vision & Parish Projects
St. Gerard Majella's published Mission Statement says the parish is called through Baptism to celebrate the presence of Christ in Word and Sacrament, and sent to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ through faith, service, and community. The parish's 'Our Projects' page highlights the current capital campaign giving the 1944 buildings a much-needed makeover — a new HVAC system for the church, fully remodeled school bathrooms, and the Notre Dame building restored as functioning classrooms — with the work described as still ongoing.
- Mission: celebrate Christ in Word and Sacrament and proclaim the Gospel
- Faithful stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
- Serving the parish and broader community
- Current capital projects: new HVAC, remodeled school bathrooms, Notre Dame building restored as classrooms
Visiting & Contact
The parish office (in the Majella House Chapel building) is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visitors can find the church at 5354 Plank Road (or the church building at 3808 St. Gerard Avenue) in the 70805 ZIP code of North Baton Rouge. A printable map is available on the parish's 'I'm New Here' page.
- Address: 5354 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70805
- Church building: 3808 St. Gerard Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70805
- Phone: 225-355-2553
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM