About St. John the Baptist · Edgard, Louisiana
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, Louisiana, is the third-oldest Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, established in 1772 when Spanish Capuchin Father Bernardo de Limpach arrived to pastor the German Coast (Côte des Allemands) community. The present-day Roman Renaissance-style church was built in 1918–1920 after fire destroyed the second church, and was consecrated debt-free on October 28, 1920. Sitting on the historic River Road (Highway 18) in St. John the Baptist Parish — a civil parish that takes its name from the church — the parish is home to one of Louisiana's oldest Catholic cemeteries (created 1770) and continues to serve the small Edgard community along the Mississippi River.
- Established
- 1772
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Robustiano "Rob" Morgia
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a small, deeply rooted River Road parish where nearly every member of the congregation helps carry the church forward. Father Rob Morgia himself is often found cutting the grass on the grounds, and the parish has historically funded its major projects — including a debt-free 1920 build and a full 2020 restoration of its 19 statues and three altars — through the dedication of its members. The parish offers daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday vigil and two Sunday Masses, a Parish School of Religion, a vibrant 11 a.m. gospel choir, and active Liturgy, Social Outreach, and Family & Community Life ministries — a fitting place to belong if you want to know your priest and fellow parishioners by name.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM to 3:45 PM (also by appointment)
History of the Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish was established in 1772, the third-oldest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, when Spanish Capuchin Father Bernardo de Limpach arrived to pastor the German Coast community that had built a small chapel at Lucy in 1724. After a 1821 flood destroyed the original cypress church, Father Vito Modestus Mina built a second handmade-brick church on the same site, which was destroyed by fire on March 19, 1918. The present Roman Renaissance church was built 1918–1920 under Father Théophile Stenmans and consecrated debt-free on October 28, 1920 by Archbishop John Shaw. The parish has remained continuously active for more than 250 years, with records dating back to the first baptism in 1772.
The Three Churches on This Site
Three successive churches have stood on the four-arpent plot in Edgard expropriated from Jacque DuBroc by the Spanish governor in 1770. The first was a simple cypress structure; the second, consecrated in 1822, was handmade brick with a soaring wooden steeple; the third and present church, a 500-seat Roman Renaissance building, was consecrated in 1920.
- 1st Church: hand-hewn cypress, 1772; destroyed in the 1821 Poche Crevasse flood.
- 2nd Church: handmade brick, consecrated March 17, 1822 by Bishop Louis DuBourg; center wooden steeple topped with copper ball and iron cross; destroyed by fire March 19, 1918.
- 3rd Church: present building, begun 1918, consecrated October 28, 1920; Favrot and Lividais architects.
The Church Bells
The first bells were acquired in 1795; the present three bells were cast in 1894 by VanDusen and Tift of Cincinnati, Ohio and were baptized on April 29, 1894 by Father E. J. Lavaquery. Each was given a name, an inscription, and a sponsor couple, and all three were saved from the 1918 fire because they had been moved to a separate belfry.
- Johanna — 3,500 lbs, sponsored by Emile Laurent and Mrs. O. Schenaydre née Saraphine Wells.
- Mary — 2,500 lbs, sponsored by Jerome L. Gaudel and Mrs. C. E. Gendron née Marie A. Jacob.
- Josephina — 1,500 lbs, sponsored by Ambroise E. Leger and Miss Clemence Marie Raynaud.
Architecture and Interior
The present church is a Roman Renaissance design by the New Orleans firm Favrot and Lividais, Ltd. Its 143 × 60-foot nave seats 500 beneath a 55-foot ceiling, framed by twin towers 92 feet high. The sanctuary is reinforced concrete with a marble-tile floor, and the altars and communion rails are white Carrara marble from Italy. Stained-glass windows were crafted in Munich, Germany, and the pipe organ in the loft — a 1921 Hinners Organ Company instrument — is built on the model of European organs dating to the 14th century.
- 143 ft long × 60 ft wide; seats 500
- Twin towers 92 ft high; interior ceiling 55 ft high
- Carrara marble altars and communion rails (imported from Italy)
- Munich-made stained-glass windows
- 1921 Hinners Organ Company pipe organ
- 19 statues and 3 marble altars (main, Blessed Virgin Mary, Sacred Heart of Jesus) — all restored in 2020 by Belinda Godfrey of Godfrey Ecclesiastical Art
- Gilded cast iron Sacred Heart of Jesus statue in front of the church, erected 1927
Cemetery and Parish Records
The parish cemetery, created February 21, 1770, is one of the oldest in Louisiana. Burials began shortly after the 1772 construction of the first church. Among those buried are 45 patriots of the American Revolution who fought under Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez; only five of those graves remain intact, the rest lost when the Mississippi River levee was relocated in 1881. Heroes from every major American conflict are buried here. The cemetery has been expanded in recent decades with mausoleum crypts and a further mausoleum expansion is underway. Parish records back to 1772 are preserved, and efforts are underway to make them searchable for historical and genealogical research.
- Cemetery created February 21, 1770 by expropriation of Jacque DuBroc's land
- 45 Revolutionary War patriots under Bernardo de Gálvez are documented (5 graves remain intact)
- Mausoleum crypts added in recent decades; new expansion underway
- Records back to 1772 preserved (not yet searchable)
Sacraments
The parish offers the full range of Catholic sacraments. Arrangements are made through the Parish Office, and Father Rob is available to discuss discernment toward Holy Orders or consecrated life.
- Baptism — contact the Parish Office
- Marriage — contact the Parish Office
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturdays 3:15–3:45 PM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Holy Orders / Vocations — meet with Father Rob through the Parish Office
Parish Ministries
Parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talents across Liturgy and Church ministries, Social Outreach & Caring, and Family & Community Life. The parish is also renewing some inactive ministries and exploring new ones to meet identified needs. The parish's ministries include the Parish School of Religion, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and a Gospel Choir that animates Sunday liturgy.
- Liturgy and Church ministries
- Social Outreach & Caring
- Family & Community Life
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
- Gospel Choir (Sunday liturgy)
- Parish Activities and Events
Faith Formation and Continuing Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) provides religious education for children, while continuing religious education for adults is supported through parish ministries, mission and retreat events, and a curated list of regional and online resources including Formed, the Laudete and Amen apps, EWTN, and the local Catholic Community Radio station.
- 2023-24 Parish School of Religion schedule, curriculum, and resources (posted on parish website)
- Bible study, prayer groups, retreats, and speaker events hosted locally
- Cenacle Retreat Center on the Lake (Manresa Retreats for Women; Silent Retreats for Women)
- Manresa House of Retreats, Convent LA (Retreats for Men)
- Formed streaming video, Laudete and Amen apps, EWTN Catholic TV, regional Catholic Community Radio
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Robustiano "Rob" Morgia, who was appointed pastor on July 1, 2012 by Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans. Father Rob is known for his hands-on pastoral style and was a driving force behind the 2020 restoration of the church's statues and altars ahead of the church's 100th anniversary.
- Rev. Robustiano "Rob" Morgia — Pastor (since July 1, 2012)
Hurricane Ida and Restoration
On August 29, 2021, the Edgard area suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Ida, causing extensive damage to the exterior and interior of the historic 1920 church building. Repair and restoration efforts are still underway as the parish continues to worship and serve its community while work progresses.
Visit, Contact, and Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 2361 Highway 18 in Edgard, on the historic River Road. The Parish Office can be reached at (985) 497-3412 or [email protected]. The website provides the current bulletin, news, calendar, a Stay Informed text/email signup, and links to online giving (coming soon).
- Address: 2361 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049
- Phone: 985-497-3412
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjohnbaptistedgard.org/
- Bulletin (current and archive) available via the website
- Stay Informed — text and email notices
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Bernardo de Limpach (Spanish Capuchin)1772–
First pastor, arrived 1772
- Father Vito Modestus Mina (Oratorian, native of Turin, Italy)
Led rebuilding of second (brick) church; witnessed 1821 flood; died 1864 and is buried in a marble vault before the altar railing
- Father E. J. Lavaquery1894
Baptized the three new bells on April 29, 1894
- Father Théophile Stenmans1918
Witnessed 1918 fire destruction of second church; led rebuilding of the present church
- Rev. Robustiano "Rob" Morgia2012–present
Appointed pastor July 1, 2012 by Archbishop Gregory Aymond