About St. John the Evangelist · Plaquemine, Louisiana
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a historic parish in Plaquemine, Louisiana, affectionately known as the "Cathedral on the Bayou." Established on November 7, 1850 by Archbishop Blanc of New Orleans, the parish is now home to roughly 1,800 families in the Plaquemine area and sits within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. The current Italian Romanesque church — the third structure on the same ground — was completed in October 1927 and was designed by noted New Orleans architect Albert Bendernagel, who also designed St. Joseph Abbey Church and the Saenger Theatre.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Martin E. Lawrence
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a large, multigenerational Plaquemine parish of about 1,800 families with a daily rhythm of Mass, perpetual adoration, and active lay ministry. Catholics can be baptized, confirmed, married, and buried in the same 'Cathedral on the Bayou' their grandparents worshipped in, while the parish's PSR, OCIA (RCIA), youth, choir, and homebound communion ministries open wide doors for new members and returning Catholics alike. With a 24-hour prayer line, weekly faith formation, retreats at Manresa and Our Lady of the Oaks, and an ongoing care campaign preparing for the church's centennial in 2027, it is a close-knit community that actively invites newcomers to "ask one of St. John's parishioners" for help finding their place.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 pm – 5:45 pm
- First Friday 6:30 am
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel: daily 4:00 am – 11:00 pm (committed adorers schedule one-hour slots)
About St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish at 57805 Main Street in Plaquemine, Louisiana, within the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The parish's own website describes itself as home to about 1,800 families and affectionately nicknamed the 'Cathedral on the Bayou.' The current Italian Romanesque church — the third to stand on the site — was completed in 1927 and remains the centerpiece of Catholic life in Iberville Parish.
- 1,800 parish families
- Established as a parish on November 7, 1850
- Often called the 'Cathedral on the Bayou'
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
History of the Parish
Catholics in the Plaquemine area petitioned for roughly thirty years before Archbishop Blanc declared the parish on November 7, 1850; the first structure was a wooden church that same year. A tragic fire in the 1850s destroyed the church and the College of the Immaculate Conception; under Fr. Mathurin Harnais, Catholic education blossomed and lay societies (Ladies Altar Society, Children of Mary, Catholic Knights of America, St. Joseph Benevolent Society for the Colored, Knights of Columbus) were founded. By 1927, under Fr. Gerard Bosch, the present brick-and-marble church was completed, and the parish is now preparing a centennial restoration campaign for 2027.
- First church built 1850 (wooden)
- Fire destroyed original church and College of the Immaculate Conception
- Schools: St. Basil's Academy (1865), St. Augustine's, St. John's Catholic School Association (Dec. 22, 1892)
- Current (third) church: cornerstone July 4, 1926; completed October 1927
- Architect: Albert Bendernagel (New Orleans)
Architecture & Building
The present church is described on the parish's own history page as 'Romanesque Royal' and on the diocesan page as Italian Romanesque architecture. It is built of pressed brick (inside and out) trimmed in marble and stone. Notable features include a 172-foot center aisle, a rose window with ten inner and ten outer petals representing the Holy Spirit and the nine choirs of angels, statues of St. John the Evangelist and St. Louis flanking the rose window, oak doors inscribed with Genesis 28:17 ('Non est hic aliud nisi domus Dei et porta coeli'), and a marble-and-cast-stone baldachino above the altar inscribed with Malachi 1:11. Seating capacity is about 1,000.
- Italian Romanesque / Romanesque Royal style
- Designed by Albert Bendernagel
- 172-foot center aisle
- Rose window with Holy Spirit and nine choirs of angels symbolism
- Marble-and-cast-stone baldachino
- Seats approximately 1,000
100-Year Restoration Campaign
A dedicated '100 Years Campaign' page on the parish website announces a planned restoration ahead of the 2027 centennial of the current church building. The committee is led by parish couples and individuals and is being guided architecturally by native son Henry Carville, architect, together with Dr. Susanna Greggio of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. The scope of work includes major roof leaks, air conditioning, electrical revisions, floors under the pews, pew refurbishment, sealing of inner and outer walls, a thorough interior cleaning, sound system, lighting, and termite damage — currently estimated at about $2.4 million.
- Targets the building's centennial in 2027
- Architectural advisors: Henry Carville and Dr. Susanna Greggio
- Roof, HVAC, electrical, floors, pews, walls, sound, lighting, termite damage
- Estimated cost: $2.4 million
Pastoral Team & Staff
The current parish leadership, as listed on the official Staff page and in 2025–2026 bulletins, is headed by Fr. Martin E. Lawrence as pastor, with Deacon Alfred J. Ricard II assisting. Religious education is led by Laurie Barbier (Director of Religious Education) along with Wanda C. Ashley (PSR and Confirmation), Jennifer Adams (PSR Coordinator 1–6), and Donna B. Carville (OCIA). The parish office is staffed by Medric Smith, Jr. (Business Manager and Director of Music), secretaries Marsha A. Dupont, Susan B. Landry, and Lily Skidmore, and maintenance supervisor Gary M. Perrault.
- Rev. Martin E. Lawrence — Pastor
- Deacon Alfred J. Ricard II
- Laurie Barbier — Director of Religious Education
- Wanda C. Ashley — PSR and Confirmation
- Jennifer Adams — PSR Coordinator 1–6
- Donna B. Carville — OCIA
- Medric Smith, Jr. — Business Manager and Director of Music
- Marsha A. Dupont, Susan B. Landry, Lily Skidmore — Secretaries
- Gary M. Perrault — Maintenance Supervisor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. John the Evangelist is overseen by the Director of Religious Education and includes a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children who attend non-Catholic schools (held Wednesday evenings from August through March), sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and ongoing adult faith formation. Children's Church dismisses children ages 3–7 from the Liturgy of the Word during the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday Masses to learn about the sacred Scripture readings at their level.
- PSR classes — Wednesday evenings (August through March)
- Sacramental Preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Children's Church (ages 3–7) at Sunday 9:00 and 11:00 Masses
- Adult Faith Formation programs
- Bible / spirituality studies on Monday evenings and Thursdays
OCIA / RCIA (Becoming Catholic)
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church are guided through the four-step OCIA process (formerly RCIA): Inquiry in the fall, Catechumenate with deeper catechesis, purification and enlightenment during Lent, and reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist at Easter, followed by Mystagogy in the weeks afterward. Contact for OCIA at the parish is Donna B. Carville through the Church Office.
- Four-step OCIA / RCIA process
- Inquiry in fall, Catechumenate, Lenten purification/enlightenment, Easter sacraments, Mystagogy
- Adult Confirmation preparation as well
- Contact: Donna B. Carville
Worship Ministries
Worship ministries sustain the parish's liturgical celebrations, including Lectors/Proclaimers, Lay Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Eucharist (who also bring communion to the homebound, hospitalized, and incarcerated), Altar Servers (grades 3–12 and adults), Ushers, Greeters (drawn from the families of second-graders preparing for First Reconciliation and First Communion), Sacristans, and the Adult Choir (which leads the 9:00 am Mass and special liturgies, rehearsing Wednesday evenings with the school year and at Advent/Christmas, Lent, and Easter).
- Lectors / Proclaimers (with required training and ongoing formation)
- Lay Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Altar Servers (grades 3–12 and adults)
- Ushers and Greeters
- Sacristans
- Adult Choir (9:00 am Mass; Wed evening rehearsal)
- Liturgical Environment (banners, flowers, Advent Creche)
Spiritual Life Ministries
Spiritual Life ministries enrich the prayer life of the parish through the 24-hour Prayer Line (225-687-1554), the daily Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, retreats at Manresa (men) and Our Lady of the Oaks (women), and ongoing Bible / spirituality studies. Children's Church extends prayer formation to the parish's youngest members during Sunday liturgy.
- 24-hour Prayer Line: (225) 687-1554
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel — daily 4:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Manresa men's retreats and Our Lady of the Oaks women's retreats
- Bible / spirituality studies (Monday evenings and Thursdays)
- Perpetual Help Novena after Tuesday evening Mass
Community Life & Outreach
Community Life ministries focus on fellowship, hospitality, and bringing the Eucharist to those who cannot attend Mass. Lay Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist visit the homebound, hospitalized, and those in local care facilities; the Facilities Maintenance Project Team assists with upkeep of the Church, Parish Hall/Office, and grounds. Greeters and Ushers keep weekend liturgies welcoming, and Marriage Preparation involves married couples sharing their faith with engaged couples using the FOCCUS instrument.
- Homebound / hospital / prison-jail Communion visits
- Facilities Maintenance Project Team (contact Gary Perrault)
- Greeters and Ushers
- Marriage Preparation (FOCCUS) — contact Susan Landry
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish website provides clear contacts for each sacrament: Baptism (parents and godparents must attend a Baptismal Seminar; registration form online), First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation (contact Wanda Ashley, DRE), and Marriage (contact Susan Landry for required forms and seminars). Each godparent must be a practicing, confirmed Catholic at least 16 years of age, and adult Catholics who have received First Communion but not Confirmation are encouraged to complete preparation after Easter, with the sacrament received from the Bishop on Pentecost Sunday.
- Baptism — registration form online, parents and godparents attend seminars
- First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation — preparation through PSR/DRE
- Marriage Preparation with FOCCUS — contact Susan Landry
- Adult Confirmation received from the Bishop at Pentecost
- Godparents must be practicing, confirmed Catholics age 16+
Visit & Contact
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Fridays) and is located on the third floor of the Parish Hall, accessible by elevator. The parish hall is adjacent to the church and next to the rectory at the corner of Plaquemine and Church Streets. The 24-hour Prayer Line is (225) 687-1554 and visitors interested in joining the parish are invited to call the Church Office at (225) 687-2402.
- Church Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (closed Fridays)
- Office located in the Parish Hall (third floor, elevator accessible)
- Phone: (225) 687-2402 — Fax: (225) 687-1587
- 24-Hour Prayer Line: (225) 687-1554
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Abbe Mouret (assigned from St. Gabriel)1850–early 1850s
First priest of the parish; died of yellow fever.
- Fr. Chambostafter Mouret
Founded the first Catholic school in Plaquemine in 1853 and the College of the Immaculate Conception; established a school for girls with the Marianites of Holy Cross in 1857. Church and college later destroyed by fire.
- Fr. Francis Follot1858
Took over amid rebuilding difficulties after the fire; a new church was eventually built but had to be sold at auction.
- Fr. Mathurin Harnaislate 1800s–early 1900s
Founder of St. Augustine's and the St. John's Catholic School Association (Dec. 22, 1892); ushered in Ladies Altar Society, Children of Mary, Catholic Knights of America, St. Joseph Benevolent Society for the Colored, and Knights of Columbus councils; oversaw transfer of property to the parish corporation.
- Fr. Gerard Bosch1909–
Began the campaign for the current (third) church after the second was damaged by the Plaquemine locks construction and storms.
- Fr. Milano
Predecessor pastor referenced in 2013 press coverage.
- Rev. Greg Daigle2013–
Installed in July 2013; described the building as one of the most architecturally beautiful edifices in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
- Rev. Martin E. Lawrencecurrent
Current pastor (per 2025–2026 bulletins and staff page).