About St. John the Evangelist · Prairieville, Louisiana
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a thriving Catholic parish in Prairieville, Louisiana, and is currently the largest parish in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, serving more than 4,300 registered families. The parish community worships at 15208 Hwy 73, offering five weekend Masses, daily Mass Monday through Friday, and a robust program of faith formation for children, youth, and adults. St. John's is pastored by Fr. Andrew Merrick with parochial vicar Fr. Pravin Jadhav and Deacon Claude Bourgeois, supported by a full staff of directors in religious education, evangelization, administration, and outreach.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Merrick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is the largest parish in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, with more than 4,300 registered families — meaning newcomers join a community large enough to offer every ministry, yet rooted enough to walk together in faith. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses with multiple Sunday options, an extensive PSR/Sunday School program serving around 1,000–1,200 children, sacramental prep for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, ACTS retreats for men and women, Vacation Bible School, and an active outreach ministry. Whether you are looking for a vibrant faith formation program for your children, a place to serve through outreach, or a community that livestreams its liturgies, St. John's provides the resources, attention, and opportunities to grow in a personal relationship with God.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–4:00pm
- Monday–Friday: 7:45am (before Daily Mass)
Parish History
Catholic life in Prairieville began in 1838, when Lazarist Fathers assigned to Ascension Catholic Church in Donaldsonville began serving the mission of La Prairie. The Mission Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at La Prairie — used for burials in the nearby cemetery — was established during the 1863 formation of the Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary of New River at Cornerview in Gonzales. In 1917, Catholics attending a Catholic Extension Society mission declared their intent to build a church in Prairieville, and in 1919 Archbishop Shaw declared Prairieville an independent parish. The parishioners built a new church and dedicated St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with 134 charter members. Today the parish has grown to over 4,300 registered families, making it the largest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
- 1838: Catholic presence in Prairieville begins under Lazarist Fathers from Donaldsonville.
- 1863: Mission Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at La Prairie established under Cornerview parish.
- 1917: Catholic Extension Society mission prompts intent to build a church in Prairieville.
- 1919: Archbishop Shaw declares Prairieville an independent parish.
- 1919: St. John the Evangelist Church dedicated with 134 charter members.
- Today: Over 4,300 registered families.
Clergy and Staff
St. John the Evangelist is pastored by Fr. Andrew Merrick, who was assigned as pastor beginning July 1, 2023. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Pravin Jadhav and Permanent Deacon Claude Bourgeois. The parish also maintains a broad lay staff supporting religious education, youth ministry, evangelization, outreach, and operations.
- Fr. Andrew Merrick — Pastor
- Fr. Pravin Jadhav — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Claude Bourgeois — Permanent Deacon
- Marlene Bruce — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Rosemary Pimpinella — Assistant DRE / Youth Minister ([email protected])
- Danielle VanHaute — Associate Director of Evangelization & Discipleship
- Brandon Brown — Director of Administration / Operations
- Jonathan Grannum — Pastoral Coordinator ([email protected])
- Ashley Bourgeois — Outreach Coordinator ([email protected])
- Elizabeth Adkins — Front Office Associate / Child Protection Coordinator ([email protected])
- Kerrie Davis — Accountant ([email protected])
- Delila Melancon — Accountant
- Cindy Chauvin — Receptionist/Secretary ([email protected])
- Faye Feig — Receptionist/Secretary ([email protected])
- Terry Millien — Housekeeping
- Maintenance team on staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. John the Evangelist's youth programs are designed to give students the resources, attention, and opportunities they need to cultivate a lasting and personal relationship with God. The ministry ranges from PSR classes to small-group opportunities, with a family-oriented curriculum that pairs parents and parish community in supporting each child's religious education.
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) — grades 1–9, serving roughly 1,000–1,200 students annually
- Sunday School — ages 3–5, held during the 9:30am Mass from October to March
- Family of Faith / Family Catechesis (grades 1–8) — Sophia Institute's four-year cycle
- 9th Grade PSR
- Confirmation Prep — year-long process for grades 10 & 11 (PSR, Catholic school, homeschool)
- First Reconciliation & First Communion preparation
- Adult Confirmation classes
- Sacramental Prep for Baptisms, Weddings, and other rites
- Volunteer catechists, aides, childcare, substitutes, and office helpers needed
PSR & Sunday School Registration
Registration for PSR (grades 1–9) and Sunday School is online each year, with fees combined across programs: $45 for one child, $75 for two, and $90 for three or more. Families needing financial assistance are encouraged to contact the PSR office directly. Child protection background checks are required for all volunteers before serving.
- PSR registration contact: [email protected] or 225-673-8402
- DRE Marlene Bruce: [email protected]
- Youth Minister Rosemary Pimpinella: [email protected]
- Sunday School: ages 3–5 (must be 3 by Sept 30 & potty-trained)
- Child Protection Coordinator: Elizabeth Adkins ([email protected])
Family of Faith Curriculum
St. John uses Sophia Institute's 'A Family of Faith' program to cultivate strong Catholic families in which children learn the joys of following Jesus Christ through the witness of Christian living given by their parents. Family Catechesis follows a four-year cycle based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church — for 2025–2026 the parish is studying Year 4: Christian Prayer.
- Two sessions per month, October–May
- Monthly Family Guide with at-home activities
- Monthly Newsletter with announcements and liturgical-year info
- FOF parent meeting in September (two sessions for convenience)
- Four-year cycle: Year 1 Profession of Faith; Year 2 Sacraments; Year 3 Life in Christ; Year 4 Christian Prayer
Sacraments
St. John the Evangelist celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments and provides dedicated preparation programs for children, teens, and adults. Forms for Baptism, Marriage, and other sacramental preparation are available for download on the parish website.
- Baptism — infant and adult preparation available
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — preparation programs
- Confirmation — year-long process for grades 10 & 11; Adult Confirmation offered Monday evenings
- Marriage — preparation and Wedding Anniversary Mass celebrated annually with the diocese
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 3pm and weekday mornings 7:45am
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Retreats & Adult Faith Formation
St. John's sponsors men's and women's ACTS retreats, a Parish Mission focused on Eucharistic Renewal, and Adult Confirmation preparation. Retreats are held annually and are open to the wider community of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
- ACTS Men's Retreat — annual weekend retreat (most recent: Feb 29 – Mar 3)
- ACTS Women's Retreat — annual weekend retreat (most recent: Oct 17–20, 2024 and Mar 14–17, 2024)
- Parish Mission: Eucharistic Renewal — presented by Fr. Pierre Toussaint, CFR; included Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, Eucharistic Healing and Procession
- Adult Confirmation — Monday evenings 6:00–7:00pm in the Education Center (Room 218)
Outreach & Parish Life
The parish maintains an active Outreach Ministry led by a dedicated coordinator and hosts the annual Festival de la Prairie — a major community fundraiser. Stewardship sign-ups each August invite parishioners to serve in catechesis, liturgy, and parish ministries. A Prayer Line connects parishioners in prayer support.
- Outreach Coordinator: Ashley Bourgeois ([email protected])
- Festival de la Prairie — annual parish festival
- Silent Auction supporting the parish
- Mardi Gras Mingle — annual community event
- Stewardship sign-ups each August
- Prayer Line for parish prayer requests
Getting Involved
St. John's relies on hundreds of volunteers — particularly as catechists for the 1,000+ children served through PSR each year. The parish invites parishioners to 'Ask the Lord' how He is calling them to serve through ministries such as faith formation, outreach, hospitality, music, and liturgical ministries. New volunteers are required to complete a background check through the Child Protection Coordinator before serving.
- Volunteer roles: catechists, aides, childcare, substitutes, office helpers
- Child Protection background checks required
- Contact Marlene Bruce ([email protected]) for PSR/Sunday School volunteering
- Contact Elizabeth Adkins ([email protected]) for child protection setup
Contact & Visit
St. John the Evangelist is located on Hwy 73 in Prairieville, Louisiana, in Ascension Parish just south of Baton Rouge. The parish office is open during regular business hours, and the PSR (formation) office is housed separately to support the large youth-formation program. Free on-site parking is available at the church campus.
- Address: 15208 Hwy 73, Prairieville, LA 70769
- Parish Office: 225-673-8307 | Fax: 225-673-8680
- PSR Office: 225-673-8402 | Fax: 225-677-9972
- Parish email: [email protected]
- PSR email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stjohnchurch.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohns70769/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Martin (associate pastor, departed 2023)
Departed along with Fr. Lamar in summer 2023; praised by incoming pastor Fr. Andrew Merrick for faithful and compassionate priestly ministry.
- Fr. Lamar
Departed summer 2023; known to Fr. Andrew Merrick through the diocesan Vocation Director circuit.
- Fr. Andrew Merrick2023–present
Assigned as pastor beginning July 1, 2023, coming from Christ the King parish.