St. Jean Vianney

Parish History

St. Jean Vianney Parish was founded on November 10, 1975, by a group of parishioners from St. Thomas More and St. George, with Father Eugene Engels as the first pastor. The fledgling parish bought 17.5 wooded acres on S. Harrell's Ferry Road for $106,000, met in a rented green house nicknamed the 'Green Shack,' and held weekend Masses at the Elks Lodge (now part of Runnels School) before constructing a pre-fab rectory/office in 1976, the Parish Life Center in 1977, a religious education building in 1979, a school in 1985, and a permanent church dedicated by Bishop Alfred Hughes on November 28, 1998.

• Founded November 10, 1975, with about 400 families
• First purchase: 17.5 wooded acres on S. Harrell's Ferry Road for $106,000
• First building: pre-fab rectory/office, August 1976 ($31,000)
• Parish Life Center (now Father Engels Hall), first Mass Thanksgiving Day 1977 ($306,000)
• Office/Religious Education building blessed Thanksgiving Day 1979 ($123,000)
• Curé d'Ars Hall (now school library), c. 1981 ($83,000)
• Parish school founded 1985; second classroom wing 1992 ($441,000)
• Permanent church dedicated November 28, 1998 ($2.9M + $900K)

Patron Saint

The parish is named for St. Jean Vianney (St. John Vianney), the Curé d'Ars, who was born on 8 May 1786 in Dardilly, France, and died on 4 August 1859. Founder Father Engels deliberately chose the French form 'St. Jean' — instead of the English 'St. John' — to honor the French heritage of the patron of parish priests. His memorial is celebrated on August 4. The parish also preserves his memory in the name 'Curé d'Ars Hall.'

Leadership & Pastoral Succession

St. Jean Vianney has been served by four pastors since its founding. Father Eugene Engels led the parish from 1975 until February 1989, when Father Donald Blanchard was appointed as the second pastor. Father Matt Lorrain succeeded Father Blanchard in June 2001, and Father Tom Ranzino became the fourth pastor in July 2005. The current pastor is Rev. Eric V. Gyan. The parish is also served by permanent deacons, and over the years has been supported by many associate pastors and religious sisters.

• Father Eugene Engels — 1st pastor (1975–1989); later chaplain at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola
• Father Donald Blanchard — 2nd pastor (1989–2001); later pastor of Sacred Heart Church
• Father Matt Lorrain — 3rd pastor (2001–2005); later Vocations Director, Diocese of Baton Rouge
• Father Tom Ranzino — 4th pastor (2005–)
• Rev. Eric V. Gyan — current pastor
• Associate pastors include Fathers Dan Lemoine, Bob Stine, David Allen, Randy Cuevas, Louis Oubre, Duane Breaux, Ray Shore, Stephen Hymel, Keun-Soo Lee, Matt Dupre, Tony Russo, Alec Sheldon, and Joey Angeles
• Permanent deacons serving or having served: Gene Waguespack, Jacques Bernard, Tom Robinson, Tommy St. Pierre, Brent Duplessis, Dan Borne', Richard Abbondante, Ricky A. Patterson, Jeff Easley
• Religious sisters who have served: Sr. Maria Rabalais, C.S.J. and Sr. Dianne Heinrich, C.D.P.

Current Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Eric V. Gyan and is supported by three permanent deacons — Richard Abbondante, Ricky A. Patterson, and Brent Duplessis — plus Deacon Jeff Easley. The parish staff includes the Director of Religious Education (Kerry Ferrara), Business Manager (Stacy Shaw), Office Manager (Belinda Smith), Administrative Assistant (Patsy Burgess, OFS), Music Director (Sarah Love), Facilities Manager (Joe Truxillo), and Elementary School Principal (Wendy Ross).

• Rev. Eric V. Gyan — Pastor
• Deacon Richard Abbondante
• Deacon Ricky A. Patterson (also Chaplain, East Baton Rouge Prison)
• Deacon Brent Duplessis
• Deacon Jeff Easley
• Kerry Ferrara — Director of Religious Education (at SJV since 1991)
• Stacy Shaw — Business Manager (parishioner since 2017; hired 2020)
• Belinda Smith — Office Manager (parishioner 28 years; office staff 21 years)
• Patsy Burgess, OFS — Administrative Assistant, Secular Franciscan 25 years
• Sarah Love — Music Director
• Joe Truxillo — Facilities Manager
• Wendy Ross — Elementary School Principal

Spiritual Life & Worship Ministries

The parish's Spiritual Life and Worship Commission organizes the lay liturgical ministries that sustain weekend and daily Masses, funerals, and other services. Contact numbers for each ministry lead are published on the parish website. The Music Ministry welcomes singers and instrumentalists; the parish Choir rehearses on Wednesday nights and sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass (note: the live schedule shows Masses at 7:30, 10:00, and 5:30 AM/PM Sundays — confirm choir Mass with parish office), and the Life Teen Band 'Refuge' rehearses on some Thursday nights and plays at the 5:30 PM Sunday Mass.

• Youth & Adult Altar Servers — Kerry Ferrara, 753.7950
• Arimathean Funeral Ministry of Compassion — Fr. Tom, 753.7950
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (incl. homebound) — Fr. Eric Gyan, 753.7950
• Lectors — Jeff or Lynn Pennington, 751.2244
• Music Ministers (Choir, Refuge Life Teen Band, instrumentalists) — Sarah Love, 753.7950
• Sunday Mass Coordinators — Fr. Eric Gyan, 753.7950
• Ushers — Don Bonin, 753.3519
• Vocation Committee — Fr. Eric Gyan, 753.7950
• World Wide Marriage Encounter — Parish Office 753.7950 or Jason & Stacy Verret 752.5084

Education & Faith Formation

Faith formation at St. Jean Vianney is supported by an on-site Catholic school (PreK-8), an Early Learning and Growth Center for ages 1-3, a Preschool founded in 1978 for ages 2-5, and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) for public-school children. The Education Commission, led by Director of Religious Education Kerry Ferrara, also coordinates On-Going Bible Study, the Catechumenate (RCIA) for adults and an adapted version for children, sponsors for RCIA candidates, Children's Church for grades K-4, and Home & School Association activities that support the school through volunteerism and fundraising.

• St. Jean Vianney Catholic School — PreK-8, principal Wendy Ross, 751.1831
• Early Learning and Growth Center — ages 1-3 (begun 1980)
• St. Jean Vianney Preschool — ages 2-5, founded 1978, M–F 9 AM – 2 PM (extended day 7:25–9 AM and 2–3 PM)
• Parish School of Religion (PSR) — grades 1-11, Sunday mornings 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
• Elementary Religious Education — grades 1-5, Monday evenings 6:00 PM (Sept.–May)
• Junior High Religious Education — Monday evenings 6:00–7:15 PM (Sept.–May)
• High School Religious Education — grades 9-12, twice monthly (Sept.–May)
• On-Going Bible Study — Patsy Burgess, OFS, 225.907.8248
• RCIA for adults, RCIA Adapted for Children, RCIA Sponsors — Kerry Ferrara, 751.2926
• Children's Church (grades K-4) — twice monthly during 9:30/10:00 AM Mass (Oct.–May)
• Home & School Association — 751.1831
• Extended Care Program — Debra Sala, 753.7644

Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation

Sacraments are received at one's home parish (where one is registered). First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are second-grade sacraments, requiring completion of a first-grade Catholic school or PSR religion curriculum. Confirmation preparation has been moved to 7th grade in the Diocese of Baton Rouge (with the parish confirming 10th and 11th graders in the transition year and preparing 8th and 9th graders for fall 2026). RCIA welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians from other denominations, and baptized but uncatechized Catholics; a children's adaptation is also offered.

• Baptism — see parish office
• First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade
• Confirmation — 7th grade (4 preparation sessions during candidate year)
• Marriage — World Wide Marriage Encounter weekends offered 6×/year in Baton Rouge
• RCIA — Kerry Ferrara, 751.2926
• Anointing of the Sick — through the parish office; Communion to the homebound via Extraordinary Ministers

Parish Mission Statement

From the parish's published mission: 'We, the Body of Christ, in the parish of St. Jean Vianney, reaffirm our relationship with God and with each other as members of that Body. We accept the charge of our Lord and Brother to be the leaven in the mass (Mt. 13:33) and the light of the world (Mt. 5:14).' The parish pledges to use its personal and collective resources — in union with the leadership of the Church — to proclaim the Gospel, to enrich its relationship with God through the Eucharist, the other Sacraments, prayer, Scripture reading, and continuing education, to strengthen the family as the foundation of the faith community, and to reach out in love and service.

Contact & Location

The parish office is located at 16166 S. Harrell's Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. The mailing address, phone, fax, and email are listed on the parish website's Contact page, and the parish maintains a Facebook presence (linked from the official site). The St. Jean Vianney School sits nearby at 16266 S. Harrell's Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

• Address: 16166 S. Harrell's Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816
• Phone: 225-753-7950
• Fax: 225-753-7965
• Email: [email protected]
• School address: 16266 S. Harrell's Ferry Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816
• School office: 225-751-1831; Fax: 225-752-8774; Extended Care: 225-753-7644
• Parish Facebook linked from official site