About St. Joseph · Chauvin, Louisiana
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Chauvin, Louisiana, located at 5232 Highway 56 in Terrebonne Parish. Under the patronage of St. Joseph, earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary, the parish is committed to spreading the Gospel through prayer, worship, service, mercy, and compassion. It belongs to the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux and worships in the seventh church built on or near the original site where Catholic faith was first celebrated in the bayou community in 1842. The parish welcomes visitors to worship and new members to journey in faith.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Carl Collins (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a multi-generation bayou Catholic community rooted in faith since 1842 and formally established as an independent parish in 1948, where visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed. Members gather for daily and weekend Mass, the Wednesday Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena, First Friday devotion at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Adoration Chapel, and Thursday Nights of Renewal — a Marian, contemplative, traditional, and charismatic prayer gathering. Active ministries include Youth Formation, Ladies Altar Society, Bible Class, GriefShare, the St. Joseph Pastoral Council, and the Lagniappe on the Bayou Fair, whose proceeds still benefit the parish today.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM to 3:45 PM
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration (schedule posted on parish calendar)
- First Friday Devotion following 8:30 AM Mass at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Adoration Chapel
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 5232 Highway 56 in Chauvin, Louisiana, is a parish of the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. Its mission statement reads: 'We the parish of St. Joseph in Chauvin are committed to spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and doing His works in the community by prayer, worship, service, mercy, and compassion with love for one another.' The parish is under the patronage of St. Joseph, earthly father of Jesus and husband of Mary, and welcomes visitors to worship and new members to journey in faith.
- Patron: St. Joseph
- Diocese: Houma–Thibodaux
- Address: 5232 Hwy 56, Chauvin, LA 70344
- Phone: (985) 594-5859
- Email: [email protected]
History of St. Joseph Church
Catholic worship in the Chauvin area dates to June 1842, when Fr. Charles Menard of Thibodaux said Mass at the home of Alexis Duplantis. On November 9, 1864, Archbishop Odin of New Orleans officially recognized the area as a parish and named Fr. Jean Marie Joseph Denece first resident pastor. Fr. Denece built the first church in 1866 on donated land — on or near the present-day St. Joseph Cemetery — and confirmed 102 parishioners. He served 26 years and built the first rectory in Chauvin and a chapel in Montegut (precursor to Sacred Heart Church). After the 1893 hurricane the Chauvin church became a mission of Montegut.
- 1842 — First recorded Mass in Chauvin by Fr. Charles Menard
- 1864 — Fr. Jean Marie Joseph Denece named first resident pastor by Archbishop Odin
- 1866 — First church built on donated property
- 1893 — Hurricane devastates area; Chauvin becomes mission of Montegut church
- February 25, 1948 — Archbishop Rummel signs decree creating St. Joseph as an independent parish
St. Joseph Catholic School & Lagniappe on the Bayou Fair
Fr. Gubler asked Archbishop Rummel for a Catholic school because 650 children were receiving faith instruction. Fr. Lloyd Caballero obtained approval for plans; Fr. Charles Pagliughi opened the doors of St. Joseph Benedictine High School in 1958. Faced with the loss of archdiocesan subsidy, Louisiana's removal of state aid to non-public schools, declining oil economy, and a rectory fire, St. Joseph High School closed in 1972. To save it, the Lagniappe on the Bayou Fair was launched in the late 1960s and officially named in 1970; it later paid off all parish debts and continues as the parish's signature fundraiser.
- St. Joseph Benedictine High School opened 1958; closed 1972
- Lagniappe on the Bayou Fair officially named 1970
- Fair proceeds paid off parish debts under Monsignor Brunet
- Fair continues to benefit St. Joseph parish today
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
St. Joseph supports faith formation for all ages through Youth Formation / CCD, Adult Education (Bible Class), the Ladies Altar Society, and the GriefShare ministry. The St. Joseph Pastoral Council is a consultative body that helps the pastor foster pastoral activity and proposes practical solutions to pastoral works of the parish.
- Youth Formation / CCD
- Adult Education / Bible Class
- Ladies Altar Society
- GriefShare
- St. Joseph Pastoral Council
Staff & Parish Office
The parish is served by a Pastor/Administrator, secretary-bookkeeper, Safe Environment Coordinator, Faith Formation Director, and maintenance staff. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (office closed on Holy Days).
- Rev. Carl Collins — Pastor/Administrator ([email protected])
- Tracie Defelice — Secretary/Bookkeeper & Safe Environment Coordinator
- Deacon Gary Lapeyrouse — listed in 2019 directory
- Faith Formation Director
- Maintenance Staff
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Holy Days)
Getting Involved & Pastoral Council
The parish welcomes new members and invites participation in ministries and on the Pastoral Council, a consultative body that discerns the movement of the Holy Spirit among God's people, investigates pastoral works, and proposes practical solutions.
- Discerns the movement of the Holy Spirit among parishioners
- Helps the pastor foster pastoral activity
- Proposes practical solutions to pastoral works
Contact & Visit
Visitors are welcomed at the church at 5232 Highway 56, Chauvin, LA 70344. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office is closed on Holy Days. Phone (985) 594-5859; email [email protected].
- Address: 5232 Hwy 56, Chauvin, LA 70344
- Phone: (985) 594-5859
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Holy Days)
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjoseph.catholicchurch.9
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jean Marie Joseph Denece1864–c.1890
First resident pastor of the area parish (recognized 1864 by Archbishop Odin); served 26 years; built the first church on donated land in 1866, the first rectory in Chauvin, and a chapel in Montegut (precursor to Sacred Heart Church).
- Fr. Gubler1948
Petitioned for the creation of an independent parish in Chauvin; transferred from Montegut and began building the rectory.
- Fr. Lloyd Caballero1950–1956
Focused on opening a Catholic school; obtained approval for school plans.
- Fr. Charles Pagliughi1956–1966
Opened St. Joseph Benedictine High School in 1958; oversaw construction of the current (seventh) church in 1965.
- Fr. Allen Roy1966–1972
Faced school/church financial crisis; launched the Lagniappe on the Bayou Fair (named in 1970) to save the school; school closed in 1972.
- Monsignor Frederic Brunet1972–2014
Served over 40 years; paid off all parish debts within five years via the Lagniappe Fair; expanded Religious Education and Social Ministries; brought in nursing sisters to serve the sick and homebound.
- Rev. Baby 'Philip' Kuruvillapost-2014
Succeeded Monsignor Brunet; welcomed as new pastor by the parish in the 2019 Guide Book.
- Rev. Carl Collinscurrent
Listed as Administrator of St. Joseph Catholic Church by the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux priests list.