About St. John the Baptist · Cloutierville, Louisiana
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic rural parish in Cloutierville, Louisiana, situated along the lower Cane River in Natchitoches Parish. Founded in 1816 on land donated by town founder Alexis Cloutier, it is one of the oldest Catholic congregations in central Louisiana and a member of the Diocese of Alexandria. The current church building, dedicated in 1986, replaced an earlier twin-towered structure that was destroyed by fire in 1985. The parish also serves two mission chapels — Holy Family Chapel in Lena and Holy Rosary Chapel in Chopin — and continues to be a landmark of faith, heritage, and community on the Cane River.
- Established
- 1816
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Christian Ogbonna
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a faithful Catholic community rooted in two centuries of worship on the Cane River, with daily and Sunday Mass, regular Confession, First Friday adoration, Stations of the Cross in Lent, and a Rosary said before every Mass. Parishioners gather in a small, family-sized setting that also serves two rural mission chapels, with religious education for children and an active youth ministry — making it a welcoming place for both lifelong locals and visitors exploring the historic Natchitoches Parish countryside.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–3:55 pm
- Sunday 7:30–7:55 am
Adoration times
- First Friday: Adoration following the 7:00 am Mass, beginning at 7:30 am
Parish Overview
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is a historic rural parish in the village of Cloutierville, Louisiana, on the lower Cane River in Natchitoches Parish. Founded in 1816 on land donated by town founder Alexis Cloutier, it belongs to the Diocese of Alexandria and is staffed by Father Christian Ogbonna and a small team of lay ministers. The parish serves Cloutierville and a wide swath of the surrounding countryside, including two mission chapels at Monet Ferry (Lena) and Emmanuel (Chopin).
History
The parish traces its roots to 1816, when Alexis Cloutier donated land for a chapel that was blessed on November 10, 1816 by Father D. F. Mayes of Natchitoches. Visiting priests tended the mission for decades until Father H. Figari became pastor in 1847. The Very Reverend Jean M. Beaulieu then served from 1855 until his death in 1897. In 1921 Father Michael Becker arrived by motorcycle from New Orleans and, through two major renovations (1934 and 1954), expanded the chapel into a twin-towered landmark. That historic church was destroyed by fire on June 20, 1985; only a statue of the Crucified Christ survived. Father John Cunningham dedicated the present building on September 20, 1986, and Father Christian Ogbonna led the parish's 200th anniversary celebration on November 19, 2016.
- Founded 1816 by donation from Alexis Cloutier
- Original chapel blessed November 10, 1816 by Father D. F. Mayes
- St. Mary's Convent opened 1889 by Sisters of Divine Providence; closed 1965
- Fire destroyed the historic church June 20, 1985
- New church dedicated September 20, 1986
- 200th anniversary celebrated November 19, 2016
Pastor and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Christian Ogbonna, pastor, supported by a small but dedicated staff serving the main church and its two mission chapels. Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- Rev. Christian Ogbonna — Pastor
- Gregory Wayne Reed, Jr. — Secretary
- Jannie Lacour — Director of Religious Education
- Mary Dupree — Youth Coordinator
- Elizabeth Metoyer — Parish Manager / Bookkeeper
Mission Chapels
In addition to the main church in Cloutierville, St. John the Baptist serves two rural mission chapels in the surrounding area, extending the parish's reach across the lower Cane River and into neighboring communities.
- Holy Family Chapel (Monet Ferry) — 17398 Hwy 1, Lena, LA — Sunday Mass 10:00 am; Confession 9:30 am before Mass
- Holy Rosary Chapel (Emmanuel) — 2260 Emmanuel Rd., Chopin, LA — Mass second Saturday of each month at 6:00 pm; Confession 5:30 pm
Religious Education and Youth
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated through the parish's Religious Education program and Youth Ministry, ensuring the next generation of the Cane River Catholic community is catechized and accompanied.
- Director of Religious Education: Jannie Lacour
- Youth Coordinator: Mary Dupree
St. John the Baptist Cemetery
Adjoining the church grounds is the historic St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, established on land originally donated by Alexis Cloutier. It is the resting place of many of the earliest families of the Rivière aux Cannes area, and contains the prominent monument marking the grave of the Very Rev. Jean M. Beaulieu (pastor 1855–1897).
- Cemetery sits on land donated by Alexis Cloutier in 1816
- Monument of Very Rev. Jean M. Beaulieu (d. 1897) is a prominent landmark
- Many early settler family names (Rachal, Charleville, Bertrand, Marinovich, Normand) appear on the markers
Visit and Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. John the Baptist. The parish office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the pastor can be reached by phone or email.
- Address: 423 Hwy 495, Cloutierville, LA 71416
- Mailing: P.O. Box 40, Cloutierville, LA 71416-0040
- Phone: (318) 379-2231
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday — 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. D. F. Mayes1816
Pastor of St. Francis Catholic Church in Natchitoches; blessed the original chapel on November 10, 1816.
- Rev. H. Figari1847
First resident pastor of record after decades of visiting priests.
- Rev. G. Guy1850
Succeeded Father Figari as pastor.
- Very Rev. Jean M. Beaulieu1855–1897
Longest-tenured early pastor; served until his death in 1897. His monument is a prominent feature of the parish cemetery.
- Rev. Michael Beckerfrom 1921
Arrived from New Orleans on a motorcycle with sidecar; renovated and enlarged the chapel in 1934 and 1954, adding the twin towers.
- Rev. John Cunningham1985–1986
Led the parish through the June 20, 1985 fire that destroyed the historic church; celebrated the first Mass in the new building on September 20, 1986.
- Rev. Christian Ogbonnaby 2016–present
Current pastor; led the parish through its 200th anniversary celebration in November 2016.