About St. Jane de Chantal · Abita Springs, Louisiana
St. Jane de Chantal is a Catholic parish in the heart of downtown Abita Springs, Louisiana, belonging to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and serving roughly 200 square miles of St. Tammany Parish, including the outlying communities of Bush, Sun, and Talisheek. The parish traces its roots to 1884 as a mission of St. Theresa Church in Mandeville (now Our Lady of the Lake) and was formally dedicated on September 7, 1887. Today the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish every day of the week, runs an active PSR (Parish School of Religion), an RCIA program for adults, multiple devotional and outreach ministries, and operates a mission church, St. Michael the Archangel, in nearby Bush.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Jeanne-Françoise Frémyot, Baroness of Chantal; 1572–1641), foundress of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
- Rector
- Father Kenneth Allen
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. Jane de Chantal welcomes visitors to a beautifully appointed brick church in the heart of small-town Abita Springs, with daily Mass in English and twice-weekly Mass in Spanish, plus First Friday all-day Adoration and Benediction. The parish feeds a real community life through its PSR (Parish School of Religion) and Confirmation program, RCIA and adult Bible study, the Knights of Columbus, Sodality, St. Joseph Guild, Respect Life Ministry, St. Jane Family Promise, and a long-standing partnership hosting families with Family REACH Alliance. Coffee & donuts in St. Joseph Hall after the Sunday 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses and the parish's rental halls make it a gathering place as well as a worship site.
Mass times at St. Jane de Chantal
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:55 AM (at St. Michael's on the last Sunday of the month)
- Sunday 11:30 AM – 11:55 AM
- Sunday 4:30 PM – 4:55 PM
- Monday 8:30 AM (following Mass)
- Friday 8:30 AM (following Mass)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM at St. Jane
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM at St. Michael Mission in Bush
Adoration times
- First Wednesday of the month: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM at St. Michael Mission in Bush
- First Friday of the month: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM at St. Jane (with Benediction)
- Sunday 6:00 PM (evening): Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament exposed before Mass, followed by Benediction
Parish History — From 1887 Mission to Today
The Abita Springs area became a mission of St. Theresa Church in Mandeville (now Our Lady of the Lake) in 1884. Three years later, on September 7, 1887, the first church was erected and dedicated under the patronage of St. Jane Frances de Chantal; Father Eugene Aveilhe and Canon Mignot officiated and the church bell was blessed the following Sunday. The mission became independent of St. Peter, Covington in 1920 under its first administrator, Father Martin Barre, O.S.B., who acquired the Maple Street property and in 1923 erected the present brick church — the first in St. Tammany Parish. The mission was elevated to a full parish at the promulgation of the Archdiocese's Seventh Synod in 1949, with Father Athanasius Brugger, C.S.B. as first pastor.
- 1884 — Mission established under St. Theresa, Mandeville
- 1887 — First church dedicated September 7; bell blessed September 16
- 1920 — Independence from St. Peter, Covington; Father Martin Barre, O.S.B., first administrator
- 1923 — Present brick church built; cornerstone 1924 by Archbishop Shaw; cost $35,000
- 1949 — Elevated to parish status; Father Athanasius Brugger, C.S.B., first pastor
- 1981 — St. Michael the Archangel Mission begun in Bush (August 2)
- 1986 — Geodesic dome church installed at St. Michael Mission
- 1987 — Centennial celebration held October 18
Faith Formation — PSR, Confirmation, RCIA & Bible Study
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education for children, including First Communion and Confirmation preparation, currently directed by Christina Uhlich and using a family in-home catechesis model. Adults seeking to become Catholic participate in the RCIA program ('Becoming Catholic'), and an active adult Bible Study — using Dr. Scott Hahn's 'Eucharist in Scripture' — meets both in the morning and in the evening, facilitated by Deacon Don Bourgeois and parishioner Bob Buras. Parishioners are also encouraged to use the parish FORMED subscription (login by zip code 70420) for Catholic video, audio, and e-book content for the whole family.
- PSR — Parish School of Religion (grades, First Communion & Confirmation prep)
- RCIA — Becoming Catholic
- Adult Bible Study (Dr. Scott Hahn)
- FORMED parish subscription (zip code 70420)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Jane's parishioners are active in ministries serving both the parish and the wider community. The Knights of Columbus and the Sodality handle much of the parish's service work — including Thanksgiving assistance — while the St. Joseph Guild raises funds through the parish's beloved cookie sales. The Respect Life Ministry advocates for the unborn, and St. Jane Family Promise supports families experiencing homelessness. The parish is also one of the host congregations for Family REACH Alliance, an interfaith network in St. Tammany Parish that shelters homeless families with children overnight and walks them toward self-sufficiency.
- Knights of Columbus
- Sodality (Thanksgiving outreach)
- St. Joseph Guild (cookies)
- Respect Life Ministry
- St. Jane Family Promise
- Family REACH Alliance host congregation
Liturgical Ministries & Music
The parish is known for reverent, well-ordered liturgies. Music is offered in three distinct styles: organ and cantor at the Vigil and 8:00 AM Mass, a 'family' choir at the 10:00 AM Mass, and a youth-led group with guitars and keyboards at the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass. Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and altar server ministries are active and well organized. Father Kenneth Allen himself is an accomplished organist who played as a lay minister for 30 years before his ordination.
- Lectors & Readers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (full contingent for daily and Sunday Masses)
- Organist / Cantor — Vigil and 8 a.m.
- Family Choir — 10 a.m. Sunday
- Youth Praise & Worship — 5 p.m. Sunday
St. Michael the Archangel Mission — Bush, Louisiana
Because the parish covers roughly 200 square miles and some families live 20+ miles from Abita Springs, Father Francis Sander began a mission church on August 2, 1981, placing it under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel. For the first year, Mass was offered weekly in the Bush United Methodist Church; in January 1986 the mission received a donated geodesic dome church, and today it offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM, Wednesday Mass at 5:30 PM, and a Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM on the last Sunday of every month. Mission Manager Don Haik oversees the site; confessions are heard Saturdays 3:30–3:50 PM and First Wednesday Adoration is held 5:00–5:30 PM.
- Address: 81349 LA-41, Bush, LA 70431 (on Hwy. 41)
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 5:30 PM
- Last Sunday of month 10:00 AM
- Confessions Saturday 3:30 PM
- First Wednesday Adoration 5:00 PM
- Mission Manager: Don Haik
Sacraments at St. Jane de Chantal
Beyond the Eucharist and Reconciliation (listed in their own sections above), the parish prepares parishioners for First Communion and Confirmation, celebrates Matrimony (wedding information is available from the parish office), offers Anointing of the Sick both privately by request and communally twice a year (Lent and Advent), and arranges baptisms through the parish office. Anointing of the Sick is administered by Father Daniel or Father Luis.
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, plus communal in Lent and Advent
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Communion — PSR preparation
- Confirmation — two-year preparation program
- Marriage / Wedding — contact parish office
Facilities — St. Jane Hall & St. Joseph Hall
The parish operates two rental halls that serve both parish and community events. St. Joseph Hall, located directly across from the church, is the site of the popular Sunday morning coffee & donuts after the 8:00 and 10:00 AM Masses, daily 'coffee klatch' after the 8:00 AM Mass, adult Bible study, and PSR classes. St. Jane Hall — converted in the 1970s into classrooms for CCD — also hosts parish events. Inquiries for either hall rental go through Jody at the parish office, (985) 892-1439.
- St. Joseph Hall — across from the church; coffee & donuts, Bible study, PSR
- St. Jane Hall — available for event rental
- Contact: Jody, parish office, (985) 892-1439
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can register online through the 'New/Updated Registration' form on the parish website, give online through the Online Giving link, read the Online Bulletin, and watch livestreamed Masses on the parish Vimeo channel. The parish office is reached at (985) 892-1439 or by email at [email protected]. The parish encourages families to log in to FORMED (zip code 70420) for Catholic videos, audio, and e-books, and welcomes anyone wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith to contact the RCIA team.
- Parish Office Phone: (985) 892-1439
- Email: [email protected]
- Online Registration, Giving & Bulletin via stjaneabita.org
- FORMED access — parish zip 70420
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic inquiries
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Eugene Aveilhe1884–(early 1890s)
Pastor of mother parish St. Theresa in Mandeville; founded and dedicated St. Jane de Chantal Mission on Sept. 7, 1887; blessed the church bell and performed the first 16 baptisms.
- Father Martin Barre, O.S.B.1920–
First administrator after the mission became independent of St. Peter, Covington; acquired most of the parish's current property and erected the first brick church in St. Tammany Parish in 1923.
- Father Athanasius Brugger, C.S.B.1949–
First pastor when St. Jane was elevated from quasi-parish to full parish status at the promulgation of the Archdiocese's Seventh Synod; died in 1967.
- Father Justin Faler, O.S.B.1965–1972
Installed the metal doors and canopy in front of the church and adapted the sanctuary to the new liturgy.
- Father Francis Sander, O.S.B.1972–
Arrived June 1, 1972; renovated the church interior, added air-conditioning and ceiling fans, purchased a new organ, built the present rectory (1971), began St. Michael Mission in Bush (1981), and authored the parish centennial history (1987).
- Father Kenneth Allen
Current pastor; ordained 2004; graduate of Archbishop Rummel High; formerly a lay organist for 30 years at St. James Major, St. Pius X, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Philip Neri parishes; known for his cooking and baking.