St. John Bosco

About St. John Bosco Catholic Church

St. John Bosco Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Lake Charles serving the city of Westlake, Louisiana, in the heart of Southwest Louisiana. The parish is named for St. John Bosco, the 19th-century Italian priest and educator known as the "Father and Teacher of Youth." Members can attend Mass seven days a week, with extended opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Penance, and devotion to the Rosary.

Mass and Sacramental Schedule

The parish offers a full weekend schedule with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and three Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 5:00 PM. Weekday Mass is celebrated Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 AM, with an additional First Saturday Mass at 8:00 AM. To have someone remembered in the Mass intentions, parishioners are invited to call the parish office at 337-564-3873.

• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM
• Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 AM
• First Saturday: 8:00 AM

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is served by a pastor, an additional priest in residence, and two deacons with specific ministerial assignments. Office staff and a Director of Religious Education support parish operations and faith formation.

• Rev. Rojo Koonathan — Pastor (per Diocese of Lake Charles)
• Rev. Albert Borel, J.C.L. — Pastor (listed in recent parish directory)
• Rev. Micheal Barras — In Residence; Chaplain, Cal Cam Hospital
• Deacon Fred Reed — D.R.E., Director of RCIA and Adult Formation
• Deacon Garrett Caraway — Minister to the Sick; Pro-Life Minister
• Kali Simmons — PREP volunteer contact

Liturgical Ministries

St. John Bosco's liturgical ministries are described in Salesian terms — fostering a warm community that welcomes and values each person. Lay faithful are invited to serve in roles both at the altar and at the door, and formation is provided for each role.

• Lectors — proclaim Scripture and lead the Prayers of the Faithful, preparing and reflecting on the readings in advance.
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist the priest in distributing Holy Communion; open to fully initiated Catholics (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation).
• Altar Servers — fourth graders through high school; light candles, prepare the altar, and hold the Roman Missal.
• Hospitality Ministers — greet, assist with seating, take up the collection, distribute worship aids and bulletins, and tidy the church between celebrations.

Faith Formation: OCIA and PREP

The parish runs two formation tracks for all ages. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) accompanies adults — whether new to Christianity, interested in becoming Catholic, or baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Communion — through a faith journey rooted in formed relationships with catechists. PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) offers religion classes each week from September through Holy Week for students in Kindergarten through 11th grade, staffed entirely by volunteers.

• OCIA — adult formation for those entering or completing initiation in the Catholic Church (contact the parish office at 337-564-3873).
• PREP — weekly religious education, K–11th grade, September through Holy Week.
• Volunteer catechists and helpers meet periodically to be refreshed in knowledge and spirituality.

Parish Organizations and Fellowship

An array of fraternal, devotional, and fellowship organizations call St. John Bosco home. The Knights of Columbus Council 5755 unites Catholic men in service to parish and community, while the Catholic Daughters of America and Ladies Altar Society provide women's fellowship and stewardship of the sanctuary. The Young at Heart group gathers parish seniors, and the KPC Ladies Auxiliary meets monthly in the CCD conference room.

• Knights of Columbus Council 5755 — meets 1st Tuesday of the month at KC Hall; Grand Knight Roland Buller (337-526-9466).
• Catholic Daughters of America — meets 2nd Monday at 6:00 PM in the CCD conference room; contact Dimples Veillon (337-884-9417).
• Ladies Altar Society — meets 3rd Tuesday at 6:00 PM in Dolan Hall.
• Young at Heart — meets 2nd Tuesday at 5:45 PM in Dolan Hall.
• KPC Ladies Auxiliary — meets 1st Sunday at 9:00 AM in the CCD Conference Room.
• Pastoral Council — meets 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Church office.
• Finance Council — meets 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Church office.

Outreach: Nursing Home Ministry

Parishioners extend pastoral care beyond the sanctuary walls through a weekly Nursing Home Ministry. Each Wednesday the parish visits High Hope Nursing Home in Sulphur, Louisiana, for either a Communion Service or Mass, often preceded by the Rosary.

• Weekly visit on Wednesdays to High Hope Nursing Home in Sulphur, LA.
• Service alternates between Communion Service and Mass, sometimes with the Rosary.
• Volunteers coordinate through the parish office (337-564-3873).

Giving and Parish Support

Parishioners may support the parish by dropping off their tithe in the mail slot at the parish office or by mailing it directly to the parish office mailing address.

• Drop off tithe in mail slot at the parish office
• Mail to: P.O. Box 730, Westlake, LA 70669