About St. Helena · Amite, Louisiana
St. Helena Catholic Church is a historic parish located at 122 South First Street in Amite, Louisiana, in the heart of Tangipahoa Civil Parish. Founded in 1868 by Father John Scollard, it is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge and today encompasses the largest geographic area of any parish in the diocese — roughly 700 square miles. The parish is now clustered with two mission churches, Mater Dolorosa in Independence and St. Dominic in Husser, sharing pastoral leadership under Very Rev. Reuben C. Dykes, V.F., and Rev. Emilio Gomez. St. Helena offers Mass in both English and Spanish and is well known for its liturgical traditions, faith formation programs, and outreach ministries serving the rural Florida Parishes region.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Helena
- Rector
- Very Rev. Reuben C. Dykes, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Helena Catholic Church is the spiritual home for Catholics across roughly 700 square miles of Tangipahoa Parish and is the anchor of a three-church collaborative cluster (with Mater Dolorosa in Independence and St. Dominic in Husser). Worshippers enjoy Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Confession, a robust PSR program with a youth ministry, OCIA for adults, a St. Vincent de Paul Society for outreach, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, and long-standing devotional traditions such as the Holy Face Devotion and Traveling Prayer Devotion. Pastoral care ministries — including Homebound, Bereavement, Nursing Home and Prison Ministries — ensure no member of the community is left uncared for.
Mass times at St. Helena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM (before 9:00 AM Mass)
- Sunday: 11:30 AM (before 12:30 PM Spanish Mass)
- 1st Saturday: 8:00 AM (before 9:00 AM Spanish Mass)
- Weekdays (Mon, Wed–Fri): 7:00 AM (before 7:30 AM Mass)
Parish History
St. Helena Catholic Church was established in 1868 by Father John Scollard, a missionary priest and the first priest to serve the Amite area. Father Scollard not only founded the parish but also built the first church and opened the only school in Amite at the time, teaching Catholics, Protestants and Jews together. The parish has endured two devastating losses — a cyclone that killed beloved Benedictine Father Felix Rumpf and destroyed the original church, and a 1940 tornado that took the second church built in 1910–1912. The present brick church was dedicated in 1941 under Dominican Father Matthew McGlynn, O.P., a sculptor of international renown whose crucifixes remain in the Amite sanctuary and whose work informed the statues at Fatima.
Italian and Spanish Heritage
During the 1880s, 1890s and 1900s, large numbers of Italians — especially Sicilians — migrated into Tangipahoa Parish, swelling the local Catholic population. Invited by Archbishop Blenk, Spanish Dominican friars from the Philippines served the parish from 1912 to 1938. The parish still reflects that legacy today with a vibrant Spanish Ministry and a weekly Spanish Mass.
Cluster Parishes
St. Helena is part of a three-church collaborative cluster in the Northeast Deanery of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. All three share pastoral leadership and form a single faith community for scheduling, faith formation and ministries.
- Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church — 620 Third Street, Independence, LA 70443
- St. Dominic Catholic Church — 55720 LA 445, Husser, LA 70442
- St. Helena Catholic Church — 122 South First Street, Amite, LA 70422
Sacramental Preparation
Baptism is scheduled through the parish office (Trudy at (985) 748-9057); parents are encouraged to begin preparation during pregnancy. First Communion and Confirmation preparation is offered through the PSR program; OCIA is offered for adults entering the Church.
Faith Formation & PSR
St. Helena and Mater Dolorosa collaborate to offer faith formation for all ages. The Parish School of Religion (PSR) is led by Director of Religious Education Brogan Webb. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the program includes a Summer Program (June 8–12, 2026, 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM) and monthly Sunday-evening classes on the St. Helena campus (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM), with food and fellowship for families in the Parish Hall after class. A Youth Group meets concurrently in the Youth Room.
- PSR registration: $60/child for parishioners, $95/child for non-parishioners
- $25 additional for sacramental classes (Confirmation, First Communion)
- PSR Registration Deadline: May 31
- Youth Group meets during PSR sessions
- OCIA for adults begins each Fall
Ministries & Organizations
The parish hosts a broad range of lay ministries and spiritual organizations, from prayer and devotional groups to service and fraternal organizations.
- Bereavement Ministry
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Jr. Catholic Daughters of America
- Spanish Ministry
- St. Helena Bible Study Group
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Traveling Prayer Devotion
- Full of Grace (women's group)
- Holy Face Devotion
- Knights of Columbus
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteers serve the parish through a wide array of liturgical roles. Those interested are invited to contact the Church Office.
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Homebound Ministers
- Nursing Home Ministers
- Prison Ministers
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care ministries ensure that the sick, aging, homebound, and grieving are visited and accompanied. Anointing of the Sick is available; Hospital and Home visits can be requested.
- Care for the Sick and Aging
- Bereavement Ministry
- Homebound Ministry
- Hospital visits (request via Church Office)
Parish Office & Staff
The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday and on Friday mornings. The cluster is led by Very Rev. Reuben C. Dykes, V.F. (Pastor; Dean of the Northeast Deanery; Director of Seminarians) and Rev. Emilio Gomez (Parochial Vicar). Faith formation is directed by DRE Brogan Webb.
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Office Phone: (985) 748-9057
- Fax: (985) 748-9094
- Emergency After-Hours: (985) 606-3738
- Email: [email protected]
Get Involved
New parishioners can register through the New Parishioner Form on the parish website. Online giving is available via the Donate button, and checks or money orders may be mailed directly to the parish office. There are also ongoing opportunities to volunteer in Liturgical Ministries, faith formation, and service organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Scollard1868–
Missionary priest who founded the parish of St. Helena in 1868; built the first church and the first school in Amite.
- Father Felix Rumpf, O.S.B.
Benedictine priest killed during a cyclone; the bell from the 110-foot tower fell on him as he tried to warn residents.
- Father Matthew McGlynn, O.P.
Dominican sculptor who directed the building of the present (third) church dedicated in 1941; his crucifixes and the Fatima statues reflect his artistry.
- Rev. Nicholas John Nutter, III
Earlier pastor listed in diocesan records.
- Rev. Mr. Michael A. Agnello
Permanent Deacon in earlier parish directory.