About St. John the Baptist · Brusly, Louisiana
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic parish in Brusly, Louisiana, in West Baton Rouge Parish, established in 1835 and rooted in the Acadian exiles who settled the Mississippi River bottomlands after 1755. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge and today serves as the spiritual center for the communities of Addis and Brusly. The parish offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, weekday Masses with Friday Adoration, a Christian Formation program for children and youth, the Mother's Day Out preschool, the popular annual Feast on the Levee, and a wide array of service and parish-life ministries including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, St. Vincent de Paul, and a Food Pantry.
- Established
- 1835
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Arun John, IMS (Fr. Johny Injacka 'Arun John' Pappu, IMS)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a deeply rooted Acadian-heritage parish where generations of the same families still worship together on the Mississippi River road in Brusly. Visitors and parishioners find a full sacramental life — daily Mass, Friday Adoration, monthly baptisms, RCIA, marriage preparation, and First Communion — alongside a real sense of community through groups like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, the annual Feast on the Levee, Mother's Day Out, Christian Formation for children and youth, and service ministries (St. Vincent de Paul, Food Pantry, Rita's Closet, Blood Drives, Respect Life). It's the kind of parish where you can be known by name and serve your neighbors.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:40 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 AM Adoration continues until 11:30 AM
- First Friday of the month: 24-hour Adoration from Friday 8:00 AM through Saturday 8:00 AM (All-Night Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. John the Baptist traces its origins to the late 1700s, when Acadian exiles — descendants of those expelled from Canada in 1755 — settled the west bank of the Mississippi in what is now West Baton Rouge Parish. Priors to the 1835 incorporation, priests from St. Joseph Church in Baton Rouge crossed the river in skiffs to celebrate Mass in local homes, most often in the home of Jean Baptiste Hebert, a wealthy landowner and son of Acadian exiles. On March 19, 1835, the congregation was formally incorporated by a special act of the Louisiana legislature as 'l'Eglise Catholique de St. Jean Baptiste d'Ouest Baton Rouge.' A brick church was completed in 1840, only to be destroyed by fire in 1907 along with most sacramental records. The present wood-frame Gothic Revival church was built the same year and completed in 1913, with major renovations in the 1950s, 1979, and an award-winning restoration/expansion around 2011.
- Incorporated March 19, 1835, as l'Eglise Catholique de St. Jean Baptiste d'Ouest Baton Rouge
- First chapel built on land of Jean Baptiste Hebert before 1832 (now lost to the Mississippi River)
- 1840 brick church destroyed by fire in 1907; present church built 1907–1913
- Rectory completed 1936; St. Francis Hall moved from Sardine Point in 1932
- First mausoleum developed 1968; catechetical building dedicated 1976; Bourgeois House (office) purchased 1982
- Pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds added in the 1970s
- Award-winning renovation by Cockfield Jackson Architects (AIA Honor Award; IIDA 2012 Renovation/Historic Preservation Recognition Award)
Architecture & The Church Building
The church is a rectangular wood-frame structure in the Gothic Revival style, with Victorian-era influences — pointed lancet and Tudor-type openings, shingled central door pediment and bracketed side-door sheds, but notably no buttresses, pinnacles, or tracery. The interior altars of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist were fabricated in Europe; the Blessed Virgin altar was the original main altar before being moved aside for the present main altar in 1913. Major remodeling occurred in the 1950s and 1979, and an extensive renovation and expansion was completed around 2011.
- Rectangular wood-frame Gothic Revival church, built 1907 / completed 1913
- Victorian influences: lancet and Tudor-type openings, shingled door pediment, bracketed side-door sheds
- European-fabricated altars of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist
- 490-seat sanctuary restored by Cockfield Jackson Architects (2009–2011)
- New gathering foyer, choir loft, organ, central-axis baptismal font, and replicated front elevation added
- Pendant light fixtures restored; pews refinished; Stations of the Cross refurbished
- AIA Honor Award and IIDA 2012 Renovation/Historic Preservation Recognition Award
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are held monthly after the 11:00 AM Mass and require parents to enroll in the baptismal preparation program — preferably early in pregnancy. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Christian Formation program. Couples must contact the Pastor at least six months before a proposed wedding date; Carolyn Dupuy coordinates Marriage and RCIA inquiries. Care of the Sick includes emergency anointing and weekly Communion calls to the homebound by request. Funeral arrangements begin with the Pastor; cemetery information is handled by Jerry Deshotel.
- Baptism — monthly after the 11:00 AM Mass; baptismal preparation required
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM; weekdays 7:40 AM; by appointment
- First Eucharist & Confirmation — through Christian Formation
- Marriage — Pastor contact 6+ months in advance; required preparation program
- Anointing / Care of the Sick — emergency calls answered; weekly Communion to homebound
- Christian Burial — contact the Pastor; cemetery info: Jerry Deshotel (225-281-0333)
- RCIA — Carolyn Dupuy (225-276-6269)
Christian Formation & Religious Education
Christian Formation is the umbrella for the parish's lifelong faith formation — children's religious education, Confirmation preparation, Vacation Bible School, Children's Church at the 9:00 and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses, and youth ministry. The program's stated mission is to guide Catholics in more fully proclaiming Christ as center and light, building on the one faith celebrated each Sunday at the table of the Lord. A building campaign was underway in 2026 to construct new Christian Formation offices and classrooms on the parish campus. The office is reachable at (225) 749-3387.
- Children's Church — selected Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses
- Vacation Bible School — typically in early July (July 6–10, 2026)
- Confirmation preparation
- Registration in mid-summer (e.g., July 18/19, 2026)
- Diocese of Baton Rouge Code of Ethics for adults who minister with minors
- Director of Religious Education: June Hebert
Mother's Day Out & Early Childhood
Mother's Day Out is the parish's weekday preschool program for three- and four-year-olds, rooted in the pre-kindergarten the parish instituted in the 1970s. It remains one of the longest-running outreach ministries to young families in Brusly and the surrounding area. Lilith Stutes serves as the program's director.
- Pre-school program for 3- and 4-year-olds (instituted in the 1970s)
- Director: Lilith Stutes ([email protected])
- An outreach ministry for young families in Brusly and Addis
Life & Justice / Outreach Ministries
St. John the Baptist runs several service ministries for the wider community, coordinated through the parish's Life & Justice ministry umbrella. The Food Pantry helps feed the poor in the parish and surrounding area; Rita's Closet provides clothing for the needy and raises funds for community needs; the St. Vincent de Paul conference offers financial assistance; Respect Life fosters reverence for all human life and coordinates with diocesan programs; and Blood Drives help maintain the community blood supply. The parish also publishes a Prayer Line for parishioner intentions.
- Food Pantry — Julie & Bob Bewick (225-769-1405)
- Rita's Closet — Andrea Normand (225-328-4843); open twice a month
- St. Vincent de Paul — Betty Cain (225-749-2189)
- Respect Life Committee — Julie Millard (225-749-8260); Gene Bertrand (225-687-6743)
- Blood Drives — David Gremillion (225-749-3831)
- Pro-Life Rosary — Saturdays/monthly at 4:00 PM in church
Parish Life & Community Organizations
Beyond worship and formation, the parish hosts an active community of lay organizations and committees that animate parish life throughout the year. The Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters meet monthly (third Thursdays), the Parish Council and Finance Committee provide governance, and the Social Events Committee organizes receptions for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and the Easter Vigil. The annual Feast on the Levee — the parish fair held each October — is the year's largest celebration, with food, music, a 1-Mile Family Fun Run, a 24 Bike/5K, and an outdoor Mass. A Maintenance Committee was established in April 2023 to assess and oversee repairs on the church campus.
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting (third Thursday at 6:00 PM)
- Catholic Daughters — monthly meeting (third Thursday at 7:00 PM)
- Parish Council, Finance Committee, Maintenance Committee (est. April 2023)
- Social Events Committee — Mimi Clouatre (225-603-8782)
- Cemetery / Mausoleum Committee — Jerry Deshotel (225-281-0333)
- Communications / Publicity — Layne Mire (225-749-2189)
- Feast on the Levee — annual parish fair, October 18, 2026
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. John the Baptist is led by Sharon Thibodeaux, the parish's Music Leader. The renovation completed around 2011 added a new choir loft and organ at the back of the church to support the parish's liturgical music ministry.
- Music Leader: Sharon Thibodeaux ([email protected])
- Choir loft and organ added in the 2011 renovation
- Music supports Saturday Vigil, Sunday, and weekday liturgies
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is staffed by a pastor (Rev. Arun John, IMS), a parish secretary (Layne Mire), a receptionist (Christel Dupont), a bookkeeper (Betty Cain), a Director of Religious Education (June Hebert), a Youth Minister (Candice Breaux), a Music Leader (Sharon Thibodeaux), a Mother's Day Out director (Lilith Stutes), a Child Protection coordinator (Jayne Jason), a project manager (Danny Rabalais), a maintenance team (Nat Smith, Sara Hernandez), and a cemetery contact (Jerry Desholm). RCIA and Marriage inquiries go through Carolyn Dupuy.
- Parish Office: (225) 749-2189 — Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–1:30 PM
- Christian Formation Office: (225) 749-3387
- Cemetery Information: Jerry Deshotel — (225) 281-0333
- RCIA & Marriage: Carolyn Dupuy — (225) 276-6269
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. J. Evrard1841–
First resident pastor of St. John the Baptist; previously appointed non-resident pastor from Baton Rouge.
- Fr. Eugene Royer1909–1936
One of the longest and most significant pastoral assignments; oversaw the present church built after the 1907 fire.
- Fr. Victor Baron1936–1956
Succeeded Fr. Royer; served through the completion of the present rectory (1936) and mid-century remodeling.
- Fr. Lloyd Caballero1956–1973
Long pastorate spanning the development of the first mausoleum (1968).