About St. Joseph · Cheneyville, Louisiana
St. Joseph Church is a small Catholic parish serving the historic town of Cheneyville, Louisiana, in the Avoyelles Deanery of the Diocese of Alexandria. Established as an independent parish in 1966, its roots run much deeper: the local Catholic community was first organized as a mission in 1892 and worshiped under the name St. Francis Xavier before being renamed St. Joseph. The parish is known for its impressive brick church facing Klock Street, an adjacent rectory and church hall, and a half-block Catholic cemetery directly behind the church.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Chad Partain
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Louisiana)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a close-knit rural parish with deep roots going back more than a century, where generations of Italian, French, and Spanish families have built and sustained the faith community. The church offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in an intimate setting — Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, weekday Mass on Thursday and Friday mornings, First Friday Mass with Adoration, and Stations of the Cross during Lent. As part of the new shared pastorate with St. Martin of Lecompte, parishioners benefit from coordinated pastoral care while keeping their own historic parish identity.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Masses
Adoration times
- First Friday (with 7:30 am Mass)
History of St. Joseph, Cheneyville
The Catholic community in Cheneyville predates the current parish by nearly three-quarters of a century. From 1892 to 1912, Cheneyville was a Mission of St. Anthony's in Bunkie; from 1912 onward it was served from St. Francis Xavier in Alexandria, with Mass celebrated monthly in a parishioner's home. A wood-frame St. Francis Xavier church with a center steeple was eventually built on the site that is now the cemetery, and the community later came under the care of St. Martin's in Lecompte. When a modern brick church was built facing Klock Street, the parish was renamed St. Joseph's, and in 1966 it was formally established as an independent parish.
- 1892: Cheneyville designated a Mission of St. Anthony's, Bunkie
- 1912: Became a Mission of St. Francis Xavier, Alexandria
- Wood-frame St. Francis Xavier church built on what is now the cemetery site
- Mission of St. Martin's, Lecompte; modern brick St. Joseph church built facing Klock Street
- 1966: Elevated to full parish status as St. Joseph Church
The Parish Community and Early Families
The first Catholics in the Cheneyville area were of Italian and French descent, later joined by Mexican and Spanish families. Their contributions to local business, commerce, and agriculture helped build and sustain the parish for generations. The old Catholic cemetery behind the church — covering a half city block — preserves this multi-ethnic heritage, including at least one tombstone inscribed in Spanish.
- Italian-descent families: Parrinos, Dinos, Roxes, Politos
- Mexican/Spanish-descent families: Alejandros, Sausedas, Munguias, Onisheas
- St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery located off Klock Street, directly behind the church
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Joseph is currently served by Rev. Chad Partain, who also serves as pastor of neighboring St. Martin Church, Lecompte, in a shared pastorate created under the Diocese of Alexandria's 'Together as One Church' pastoral plan effective July 1, 2026. The parish's immediate previous pastor was Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF, who also served as Vicar Forane (Dean) of the Avoyelles Deanery.
- Rev. Chad Partain — Pastor (effective July 1, 2026); also pastor of St. Martin, Lecompte
- Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VF — Pastor (until June 30, 2026); also Vicar Forane of the Avoyelles Deanery
Parish Staff
In addition to the pastor, the parish is supported by a small staff including a parish secretary and a lay trustee. The 2025 diocesan directory listed Sandra Deville as secretary; the 2026 directory lists Melia Book in that role. David Harper is listed as trustee.
- Parish Secretary: Melia Book (per 2026 diocesan directory)
- Trustee: David Harper
Devotions
The parish keeps the traditional First Friday devotion with a morning Mass followed by Adoration, and observes the Lenten Stations of the Cross each Friday afternoon followed by Mass.
- First Friday: Mass 7:30 am with Adoration
- Stations of the Cross: Friday 5:30 pm, followed by Mass at 6:00 pm during Lent
Parish Office and Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during weekday office hours. The mailing address uses a P.O. Box.
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Phone: (318) 279-2394
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Cheneyville, LA 71325
Shared Pastorate with St. Martin, Lecompte
Under the Diocese of Alexandria's 'Together as One Church' pastoral realignment, St. Joseph, Cheneyville and St. Martin Church, Lecompte were placed in a shared pastorate effective July 1, 2026. In this arrangement a single priest or pastoral team serves both parishes, with each parish retaining its own finance and pastoral councils, sacramental records, and identity. The arrangement allows the diocese to continue sustainable pastoral care in smaller communities in the face of priest shortages and demographic shifts.
- Shared pastorate partner: St. Martin Church, Lecompte
- Effective July 1, 2026 under the 'Together as One Church' plan
- Each parish keeps its own finance/pastoral councils and sacramental records
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dwight De Jesus, VFuntil June 30, 2026
Previously also pastor of St. Francis de Sales, Echo; relieved of Cheneyville responsibility July 1, 2026 under 'Together as One Church' plan.
- Rev. Chad Partaineffective July 1, 2026
Also pastor of St. Martin Church, Lecompte, in the new shared pastorate with St. Joseph, Cheneyville.