About St. John the Evangelist · Lacassine, Louisiana
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a small mission chapel in the village of Lacassine, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, serving about 288 registered families in the rural southwestern part of the state. It is officially a mission of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in neighboring Fenton, and falls under the pastoral care of the pastor of that parish in the Diocese of Lake Charles. The chapel traces its Catholic roots back to 1872, when French immigrant Jean Bertrand Pousson welcomed traveling priests into his Lacassine home, and was formally built as St. John the Evangelist in 1943. After being destroyed by fire in 2003, the chapel was rebuilt and rededicated in 2005, and remains a quiet but active faith community centered on the Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Stations of the Cross during Lent.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Reverend Jom Joseph, H.G.N.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a tight-knit rural mission chapel where the Eucharist is celebrated four times a week and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows Thursday morning Mass, offering a quiet, prayerful rhythm for families in Jefferson Davis Parish. As a mission of St. Charles Borromeo in Fenton, the chapel combines small-community intimacy with the sacramental and pastoral support of a larger parish, including religious education and safe-environment programming coordinated by Cindy Scharff. Couples from Lacassine are regularly honored at the diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass, and the community continues to grow — with planning and fund-raising underway for a new church hall and religious education building.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
Adoration times
- Thursday, following the 8:00 a.m. Mass
History & Heritage of St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist traces its Catholic roots to 1872, when French immigrant Jean Bertrand Pousson — already a benefactor of the church in Chataignier — moved to Lacassine, welcomed traveling priests into his home, and donated land for a cemetery and church. By 1906, Mass was being offered every other Sunday and once a month on Saturdays in the so-called Lorraine ('Lacassine') Chapel. The current chapel was built by Father Jules Daigle on Pousson-family land and formally established as St. John the Evangelist in 1943; the community celebrated its 75th anniversary with Bishop Glen John Provost on August 18, 2018.
- 1872 — Jean Bertrand Pousson settles in Lacassine and opens his home to traveling priests
- 1881 — Pousson becomes the first person buried in the cemetery he donated
- c. 1906 — Regular Masses begin in the Lorraine (Lacassine) Chapel
- 1937 — Father Daigle builds St. John the Evangelist chapel on donated land
- 1939 — Care of the chapel transferred from Our Lady of Seven Dolors (Welsh) to St. Raphael (Iowa)
- 1943 — Chapel formally established; 75th anniversary marked in 2018
- 2001 — Pastoral care transferred by Bishop Braxton to St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton
- 2003 — Fire destroys the chapel
- 2005 — Chapel rebuilt and dedicated by Msgr. Harry Greig, diocesan administrator
A Mission of St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton
St. John the Evangelist is officially a mission chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Fenton, Louisiana. Pastoral care has been provided through Fenton since 2001, and the current pastor — Rev. Jom Joseph, HGN, a member of the Heralds of Good News congregation from Kerala, India — ministers to both parishes. As a mission, St. John shares in the sacramental and administrative life of St. Charles Borromeo while retaining its own chapel, identity, and faith community in Lacassine.
- Parent parish: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Fenton (804 Third Avenue)
- Pastoral care transferred to Fenton in 2001 by Bishop Edward K. Braxton
- Current pastor (since 2020): Rev. Jom Joseph, HGN
- Predecessors at Fenton overseeing the mission: Rev. Rojo Koonathan, HGN (2016–2020); Father Roland Vaughn (2008–2016)
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
Across the decades, dozens of priests and one deacon have shepherded St. John the Evangelist. Father Aloysius Van Buijtenen was remembered as an especially beloved pastor and was buried at the foot of the cross in the St. John cemetery when he died in 1983; the people of Lacassine, Iowa, Bell City and Hayes paid for a memorial altar over his vault. Father Bert Mead, S.J. became the chapel's first resident priest in 1983. More recently, Father Roland Vaughn — who was the Diocese of Lake Charles' first appointed penitentiary and its first chaplain for the Extraordinary Form — served the chapel from 2008 to 2016 before retiring.
- Father Jules Daigle — built the chapel c. 1937
- Father Armand Hamel, Father J. M. Audette, Father Theo Hassink, Father Anthony Genna, Father Viator Desilets, Father Robert Shreve
- Father Aloysius Van Buijtenen (d. 1983) — buried in the chapel cemetery
- Father Michael Herpin, Father Walter Chmurea, Father Ronald Groth, Father John Poerio, Father Edward Degeyter, Father T. L. Herlong
- Deacon Benny Morello
- Father Bert Mead, S.J. — first resident priest in Lacassine, 1983
- Father Gerard Smit, Msgr. Bede Becnel, Father Herbert May, Father Milton P. Miller, Father Carlos Garcia, Father Aubrey Guilbeau, Father William Miller, Father Augustine Mulanjanany
- Father Roland Vaughn — pastor 2008–2016 (retired)
- Rev. Rojo Koonathan, HGN — pastor 2016–2020
- Rev. Jom Joseph, HGN — current pastor (since 2020)
Sacraments
As a Catholic mission chapel, St. John the Evangelist celebrates the normal sacramental life of the Church. Confessions are heard thirty minutes before each Mass, and Baptisms and Marriages are scheduled by appointment through the parish office. The faithful may also request the Anointing of the Sick by contacting the office.
- Sacrament of Penance — 30 minutes before each Mass
- Baptism — by appointment
- Marriage — by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the parish office
Religious Education & Parish Staff
Faith formation and safe-environment coordination for the mission are overseen by Cindy Scharff. Day-to-day administration is handled by parish secretary and bookkeeper Laura Duplantis. Parish office hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (337-588-4606; [email protected]).
- Coordinator of Religious Education & Safe Environment: Cindy Scharff
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Laura Duplantis
- Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Phone: (337) 588-4606
- Email: [email protected]
Parish Community Life
With roughly 288 registered families, St. John the Evangelist is one of the larger mission communities in the Diocese of Lake Charles, and its members are visible in the wider Church: couples from Lacassine are regularly honored at the diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass. As the community continues to grow, planning and fund-raising have begun for a new church hall and religious education building.
- Approximately 288 registered families
- Civil Parish: Jefferson Davis
- Lacassine couples regularly honored at the diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass (e.g., C.J. and Chris Bertrand for 55 years; Gregory and Perri Bourgeois for 50 years)
- Planning and fund-raising underway for a new church hall and religious education building
The Pousson Legacy & Cemetery
The Pousson family is foundational to St. John's identity. Jean Bertrand Pousson, a French immigrant born in 1814, donated the land on which both the chapel and its cemetery stand; he was himself the first person buried in that cemetery in 1881. Father Aloysius Van Buijtenen was buried at the foot of the cross in the same cemetery in 1983, and a memorial altar paid for by the surrounding communities was erected over his vault.
- Jean Bertrand Pousson (1814–1881) — founder-benefactor; first burial in the cemetery he donated
- Father Aloysius Van Buijtenen (d. 1983) — buried at the foot of the cross; memorial altar erected over his vault
- Cemetery remains an active part of parish life alongside the chapel
Visit, Contact & Location
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Chapel is located at 306 Ann Street in the village of Lacassine, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana (mailing address: P.O. Box 124, Lacassine, LA 70650). Visitors are warmly welcomed to attend any of the scheduled Masses, stop in for Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday mornings after Mass, or join the community for Stations of the Cross during Lent.
- Physical address: 306 Ann Street, Lacassine, LA 70650
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 124, Lacassine, LA 70650
- Phone: (337) 588-4606
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: lcdiocese.org parish page
- Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jules Daiglec. 1937–1939
Built the chapel of St. John the Evangelist on land donated by the Pousson family while pastor of Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Welsh.
- Father Armand Hamel
Replaced Father Belanger at St. Raphael, Iowa.
- Father J. M. Audette
- Father Theo Hassink
- Father Anthony Genna
- Father Viator Desilets
- Father Robert Shreve
- Father Aloysius Van Buijtenend. 1983
Beloved shepherd; buried at the foot of the cross in the St. John the Evangelist cemetery; memorial altar erected over his vault by contributions from Lacassine, Iowa, Bell City, and Hayes.
- Father Michael Herpin
- Father Walter Chmurea
- Father Ronald Groth
- Father John Poerio
Served two separate periods.
- Father Edward Degeyter
- Father T. L. Herlong
- Deacon Benny Morello
- Father Bert Mead, S.J.from 1983
First resident priest in Lacassine, designated 'priest in charge.'
- Father Gerard Smit
- Msgr. Bede Becnel
- Father Herbert May
- Father Milton P. Miller
- Father Carlos Garcia
- Father Aubrey Guilbeau
- Father William Miller
- Father Augustine Mulanjanany
- Father Roland Vaughn2008–2016
Named pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton, with St. John the Evangelist as mission, in 2008; retired from parochial ministry on July 1, 2016.
- Rev. Rojo Koonathan, HGN2016–2020
Succeeded Father Vaughn; reassigned in 2020 to Christ the King Parish, Lake Charles, and Dean of the South Deanery.
- Rev. Jom Joseph, HGN2020–present
Current pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton, and its mission of St. John the Evangelist, Lacassine.