About St. Joseph · Cecilia, Louisiana
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a small Cajun-Catholic parish in Cecilia, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. Founded in 1890 on land donated by local settlers of the La Grande Pointe / Grand Anse community along Bayou Teche, it has served the farming families of St. Martin Parish for more than 130 years. The parish shares its pastor with neighboring St. Rose of Lima Church (established in 1944 for the African American congregation of Cecilia). Today St. Joseph offers daily and Sunday Mass, a faith formation program for children, an Altar Society, an Advent Giving Tree, and Sacramental preparation for baptism, marriage, confirmation, and RCIA — a steady rhythm of rural Acadiana Catholic life.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory P. Cormier
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, family-sized rural parish with deep roots in the Acadiana Catholic tradition — daily Mass several mornings a week, two Sunday Masses, and the steady rhythm of liturgical seasons lived out together. It offers faith formation for children from Pre-K through Confirmation, an Altar Society that tends to the sanctuary and hosts senior socials and bake sales, an annual Advent Giving Tree that delivers 250–275 gifts to area needy, RCIA and Adult Confirmation for adults seeking full initiation, and home Communion visits to the homebound. Sharing a pastor with St. Rose of Lima, the parish is a close-knit community where neighbors know each other by name.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday 9:00 AM at St. Rose of Lima Church
- Other times: to be announced at St. Joseph
Our History
St. Joseph Parish was created in 1890 when the Archbishop, on the recommendation of the pastors at Arnaudville and Breaux Bridge, erected a new parish for the farming community of La Grande Pointe / Cecilia along Bayou Teche. Rev. Augustin Blanc was named first pastor and served for 38 years. The first church was built on land donated by Onezime 'Jim' Calais and Placide Leblanc. Early milestones recorded in the parish books include the first marriage (Sosthene Guilbeau and his bride), the first baptism (Anita Duplechein, January 1891), and the first funeral (George Lavergnue, January 1891). The church bell was christened in 1895 with Onezime Calais Jr. and Anna Armentine Fangui as godparents. A separate African American congregation, St. Rose of Lima, was established in 1944 and is today twinned under the same pastor. A history of the parish was later written by the late Rev. Donald Hebert.
- 1890 — parish created; Rev. Augustin Blanc named first pastor (38-year tenure)
- 1891 — first baptism and first funeral held in the new church
- 1894 — parish records begin
- 1895 — church bell christened
- 1944 — St. Rose of Lima Church established for the African American congregation
St. Rose of Lima — Twinned Parish
St. Rose of Lima Church, established in 1944 for the African American community of Cecilia, shares its pastor (Fr. Gregory P. Cormier) and pastoral staff with St. Joseph. It is located at 2184 Bushville Hwy., Arnaudville, LA 70512 (mailing P.O. Box 126, Cecilia, LA 70521; phone 337-667-6555). Weekday Masses at St. Rose are Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 AM and Tuesday–Friday at 9:00 AM; Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM and a First Saturday Mass at 9:00 AM.
- Pastor: Fr. Gregory P. Cormier
- Phone: (337) 667-6555
- Office Manager contact: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish Faith Formation program serves children from age 4 (Pre-Kindergarten) through 8th grade Confirmation. Classes follow diocesan curriculum, with automatic promotion from one grade level to the next. Specialized formation is available for children ages 9–14 who need to catch up on sacraments or who have not yet been baptized but desire to become Catholic. Heidi Robin serves as Director of Faith Formation (337-230-3549, [email protected]).
- Pre-K through 8th grade Faith Formation
- 8th grade Confirmation preparation
- Specialized formation for ages 9–14 (catch-up sacraments or unbaptized)
- Director: Heidi Robin — 337-230-3549
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Any adult seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation is invited to inquire through the parish office. The RCIA process prepares adults to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Open to any unbaptized adult or baptized Christian seeking full communion
- Contact the parish office at (337) 667-6344 to begin
Adult Confirmation
An Adult Confirmation program is offered for actively practicing Catholics 18 and older (no longer in high school) who have already received Baptism and First Holy Communion and wish to complete their initiation. Candidates must regularly attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses, choose a Confirmation name and sponsor (an adult 16+ who is fully initiated, active, and — if married — in a valid Catholic marriage).
- Eligibility: 18+, baptized, already received First Communion
- Online registration form on the parish website
- Must choose a Confirmation name and a sponsor who is a fully initiated, practicing Catholic
Marriage Preparation
Couples preparing for marriage begin by contacting the Parish Office. They complete a Prenuptial Inquiry and meet with Father Cormier, who helps them select a Marriage Preparation Program tailored to their needs. The parish partners with the diocesan Catholic Marriage Prep program and offers Witness to Love as another option, along with NFP classes and a Prepare-Enrichment Assessment.
- First step: contact the Parish Office
- Marriage Guidelines Packet available on the website
- Options: Catholic Marriage Prep (www.catholicmarriageprep.com), Witness to Love (www.witnesstolove.org), NFP class, Prepare-Enrichment Assessment
- Contact the parish at least six months in advance
Baptism
Parents seeking baptism for their child should call the rectory to schedule. The parish works with families to prepare them for the Sacrament of Baptism.
- Call the rectory to schedule: (337) 667-6344
- Specialized formation available for children ages 9–14 needing baptism
Altar Society
The Altar Society cares for the altar and sanctuary, helping maintain the liturgical needs of daily worship. Duties include purchasing altar supplies, cleaning vestments, linens, and vessels, tending the altar flowers, and decorating and cleaning the church (including changing candles). The group also hosts a Senior Social on the 3rd Friday of each month with luncheons/dinners, bake sales, and mini-retreats, attends Mass together monthly or quarterly, and runs the parish's Advent Giving Tree.
- Care of altar, vestments, linens, vessels, flowers, and sanctuary
- Senior Social — 3rd Friday of each month
- Bake sales, luncheons, dinners, and mini-retreats
- Operates the Advent Giving Tree
- Contact: Arlene Angelle, 337-667-6344
Advent Giving Tree
Each Advent, the parish tree is set up for parishioners to select ornaments on the 1st weekend of Advent; gifts are returned on the 3rd Sunday and delivered the following Monday. Through the generosity of parishioners, the parish typically delivers 250–275 gifts to area needy served by several local agencies.
- Homeless and needy veterans — Msgr. Sigur Center and St. Michael Center
- Area needy — St. Bernard / St. Francis Service Center and Council on Aging
- Orphans — LA Dept. of Children and Family Services
- Needy women choosing birth — Brenda Desormeaux Center
- Elderly needy — Council on Aging
- To help, call the parish office at 337-667-6344
Good Friday Walk & Holy Week
The parish maintains the local tradition of the ecumenical Good Friday Walk, which proceeds from St. Joseph Church to Arnaudville. Good Friday services are held at 3:00 PM at St. Joseph Church and at 6:00 PM at St. Rose of Lima Church.
- Good Friday Walk — St. Joseph Church to Arnaudville
- Good Friday Service — 3:00 PM at St. Joseph Church
- Good Friday Service — 6:00 PM at St. Rose of Lima Church
Pastoral Care for the Homebound
Anyone who has become homebound or shut-in is asked to call the parish office. Father Greg visits them at home and arranges for them to be served weekly Communion.
- Contact the parish office: (337) 667-6344
- Home visits by Father Greg
- Weekly Communion brought to the homebound
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Father Gregory P. Cormier, with Deacons Kenneth Soignier and Glen Bertrand assisting. The parish secretary is Anna C. Auguillard, with Madeline Broussard serving as Office Manager, Myra Robin as Secretary, Laura Huval in Music/Communications, and Heidi Robin as Director of Faith Formation. Office hours are Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
- Pastor — Rev. Gregory P. Cormier
- Deacon — Kenneth Soignier
- Deacon — Glen Bertrand
- Parish Secretary — Anna C. Auguillard
- Office Manager — Madeline Broussard
- Secretary — Myra Robin
- Music / Communications — Laura Huval
- Director of Faith Formation — Heidi Robin (337-230-3549)
- Office hours — Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM to 12:00 noon
- Phone — (337) 667-6344 — Email — [email protected]
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is located at 2250 Cecilia Sr. High School Hwy., Cecilia, Louisiana 70521. The mailing address is P.O. Box 279, Cecilia, LA 70521-0279. The parish office can be reached at (337) 667-6344 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 12:00 noon. A welcome letter from Pastor Father Gregory P. Cormier is available on the parish website.
- Address — 2250 Cecilia Sr. High School Hwy., Cecilia, LA 70521
- Mailing — P.O. Box 279, Cecilia, LA 70521-0279
- Phone — (337) 667-6344
- Email — [email protected]
- Office hours — Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Augustin Blanc1890–c.1928
Founding pastor; served the newly created parish of St. Joseph at Cecilia for more than 38 years.