About St. Joseph Co-Cathedral · Thibodaux, Louisiana
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral is the oldest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and one of two cathedrals of the diocese (alongside the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma). The parish was organized in 1813 as a mission of Assumption Church in Plattenville, and its present Italianate/Renaissance Revival church on Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux, Louisiana was begun in 1920 and first used for Mass on January 25, 1923. The co-cathedral is famous for housing the relic of Saint Valerie, Virgin and Martyr, patroness of Thibodaux since 1868, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
- Established
- 1817
- Patron
- St. Joseph; the parish also venerates St. Valerie, Virgin and Martyr, as patroness of Thibodaux
- Rector
- Very Rev. Vicente N. DeLa Cruz, MCL, JCL, VF, VC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral offers a rare combination: the spiritual depth of a historic cathedral church, a daily Mass schedule with five Sunday options, and a robust set of lay ministries for every age and season of life. Visitors and parishioners can pray before the Blessed Sacrament at First Friday adoration (7 a.m.–5 p.m.), walk in the footsteps of St. Valerie whose relic has watched over Thibodaux since 1868, and join a parish that supports its own Pre-K through 7th-grade elementary school. With active altar server, lector, music, Knights of Columbus, marriage-prep, baptism-prep, youth-formation, and outreach programs (Lenten Gumbo, Trunk and Treat, Advent Giving Tree, Works of St. Vincent de Paul, Heaven's Handymen), St. Joseph gives families and individuals concrete ways to live the Gospel in the heart of Bayou Lafourche.
Mass times at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every daily and weekend Mass
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament exposed in the church)
About St. Joseph Co-Cathedral
St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, located at 721 Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux, Louisiana, is the oldest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and one of the diocese's two cathedrals. The parish family of about 2,175 households gathers around a mission rooted in 1817, a church built 1920–1923, and a daily schedule of Mass and sacraments that serves the wider Bayou Lafourche community. The parish's stated mission is 'to build a diverse Christian family united in vibrant worship and dedicated to the Gospel through service, evangelization and celebration of the sacraments.'
- Oldest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
- Co-cathedral since the diocese was erected on March 2, 1977
- About 2,175 registered families
- Address: 721 Canal Blvd., Thibodaux, LA 70301
History
The parish was organized in 1813 and founded in 1817 as a mission of Assumption Church in Plattenville; the first pastor, Rev. Antoine Potini, oversaw a small wooden church built along Bayou Lafourche in 1819. Fr. Charles Menard built a brick church in 1849 and in 1867 went to Rome to secure the relic of Saint Valerie, Virgin and Martyr — the saint who has protected Thibodaux ever since. After fire destroyed the old church on May 25, 1916, Monsignor Alexander Barbier (pastor 1911–1935) initiated construction of the present Renaissance Revival church, completed externally in early 1923 with the first Mass on January 25, 1923. Interior ornamental plaster and marble work followed in 1931, the final paint scheme in 1954, the St. Joseph Life Center in 1985, and a major restoration in 2005.
- 1813 — parish organized
- 1817 — founded as a mission of Assumption Church, Plattenville
- 1819 — first wooden mission church built along Bayou Lafourche
- 1849 — brick church built under Fr. Charles Menard
- 1868 (April 18) — relic of St. Valerie arrives in Thibodaux
- 1916 (May 25) — fire destroys old church; brier of St. Valerie saved
- 1920 — construction of present church begins under Msgr. Alexander Barbier
- 1923 (January 25) — first Mass in present church
- 1931 — ornamental plaster and marble work completed
- 1977 (March 2) — Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux erected; St. Joseph named co-cathedral
- 1985 — St. Joseph Life Center built
- 1986 — church and rectory listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2005 — major interior restoration completed
St. Valerie, Virgin and Martyr — Patroness of Thibodaux
In 1867 Fr. Charles Menard traveled to Rome and chose, of two relics offered, that of Saint Valerie, Virgin and Martyr. The relic was set in the arm of a wax effigy of a young girl, encased in a gilded and copper-decorated glass display case called a brier made in the Netherlands, and shipped to the Port of Orleans in early 1868. On April 18, 1868 the brier arrived in Thibodaux aboard the steamer Nina Simmes, was hoisted on a fire truck, and processed by about 4,000 people to the Church of St. Joseph. Firemen saved the brier from the 1916 fire and moved it to the Mount Carmel Convent Chapel, then transferred it to the present church on April 28, 1940. For over 200 years St. Valerie has been venerated as the patroness of Thibodaux against natural calamities, especially by firemen and their families, and is honored with an annual procession on the anniversary of her arrival.
- Relic arrived April 18, 1868 via steamer Nina Simmes
- Saved from the 1916 church fire by local firemen
- Transferred to present church April 28, 1940 aboard a fire truck
- Annual procession on the anniversary of her arrival
Architecture and Art
Designed by architects Burton & Bendernagel with Joseph A. Robichaux as contractor, the co-cathedral is a Renaissance Revival brick basilica begun in 1920 and first used in 1923. Its twin-towered façade is dominated by a Rose Window modeled after Notre Dame in Paris, and the interior features a coffered ceiling, free-standing composite columns, a clerestory, and stained-glass windows depicting the life of Christ and the Seven Sacraments. The 34-foot Baldachin over the apse is the dominant focal point.
- Renaissance Revival; pressed brick with stone trim; terra-cotta tile roof
- Twin towers with two-stage cupolas, volute scrolls and domical vaults
- Rose Window modeled on Notre Dame de Paris
- 34-foot Baldachin in the apse with the Four Evangelists
- Stained glass: life of Christ (Annunciation through Resurrection) and the Seven Sacraments
- Coats of arms of Pope Pius XI and Archbishop John Shaw of New Orleans
- Column crests with emblems of faith, hope, charity and the Ship of Life
Ministries and Parish Life
The parish organizes its ministries under Liturgical, Music, Spiritual Life, Service, Councils and Faith Formation banners. Members can serve at the altar as Children, Teen or Adult Altar Servers, read as Lectors/Commentators, bring up the gifts, greet at the door, or minister Holy Communion to the homebound, hospital and nursing-home patients. Two music ensembles — the Cathedral Choir and the contemporary Christian band Prays Twice — provide music for Sunday and special liturgies. Service ministries include the Knights of Columbus Lafourche Council 1114, Works of St. Vincent de Paul, Martha's Ministry, Heaven's Handymen, Green Custodians, Advent Giving Tree, Lenten Gumbo, Trunk and Treat, and the Church Picnic.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Children's Liturgy, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors/Commentators, Offertory Gift Bearers, Greeters/Ushers
- Music: Cathedral Choir; Prays Twice Contemporary Christian Band
- Spiritual Life: Adoration, Baptism Prep Team, Marriage Prep Team, Initiation Ministry (RCIA)
- Service: Knights of Columbus Lafourche Council 1114, Works of St. Vincent de Paul, Martha's Ministry, Heaven's Handymen, Green Custodians
- Seasonal: Advent Giving Tree, Lenten Gumbo, Trunk and Treat, Church Picnic, A Cup of Fellowship
- Councils: Pastoral Council, Finance Committee
Sacraments
Baptisms are celebrated the first Sunday of each month after the 11:30 AM Mass, except during Lent, with a mandatory Baptism Seminar on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Life Center. Couples preparing for Marriage must contact the parish office and follow the parish's marriage preparation guidelines. First Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and RCIA are offered through the parish's formation programs, and a priest serves as hospital chaplain at Thibodaux Regional.
- Baptism: first Sunday of the month after 11:30 AM Mass (no baptisms in Lent)
- Baptism Seminar: last Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM, Life Center
- Marriage: contact parish office for guidelines and date selection
- RCIA / Initiation Ministry: sponsors, team and speakers
- Anointing of the Sick: available; priest serves as hospital chaplain
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School
The parish operates St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School at 501 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301 (985-446-1346). The school opened in September 1962 as a consolidation of elementary students from Mt. Carmel Academy and Thibodaux College, championed by Msgr. Raphael C. Labit, and continues a tradition of Catholic education in Thibodaux begun by Fr. Menard in 1855. It was the first Catholic elementary school in the diocese accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) and today serves roughly 676 students in Pre-K 4 through 7th grade, drawing families from St. Joseph Parish and 18 other Catholic parishes.
- Address: 501 Cardinal Dr., Thibodaux, LA 70301
- Phone: (985) 446-1346
- Principal: Ms. Jami Chadwick
- Grades: Pre-K 4 through 7th grade (~676 students)
- First Catholic elementary school in the diocese to earn SACS accreditation
Staff and Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Very Rev. Vicente N. DeLa Cruz, MCL, JCL, VF, VC, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Rholando T. (Rholly) Grecia, In-Residence priest and hospital chaplain Rev. Sebastian Stephen, and Deacons Joseph Bourgeois and James LaJaunie. Lay staff include Office Manager Glen Raffray, Secretary Renee' Guillot, Maintenance lead Carl Waguespack, Youth Formation directors Susan Manning and Patty McKee (who also serves as Safe Environment Coordinator), and Adult Formation coordinator Pamela Folse.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Vicente N. DeLa Cruz, MCL, JCL, VF, VC
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Rholando Grecia
- In Residence: Rev. Sebastian Stephen (Hospital Chaplain)
- Deacons: Joseph Bourgeois, James LaJaunie
- Office Manager: Glen Raffray
- Adult Formation: Pamela Folse
- Youth Formation: Susan Manning, Patty McKee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Antoine Potini1819–
Assigned as St. Joseph's first pastor after the small wooden mission church was built in 1819 along Bayou Lafourche (Wikipedia).
- Rev. Charles Menard
Described by the parish itself as the 'founding Pastor'; built the brick church in 1849 and traveled to Rome in 1867 to bring back the relic of St. Valerie, which arrived in Thibodaux on April 18, 1868.
- Msgr. Alexander Barbier1911–1935
Initiated the design and construction of the present co-cathedral in 1920; the exterior was completed and the first Mass was celebrated January 25, 1923.
- Msgr. Raphael C. Labit
Champion of the new Catholic elementary school, which opened in September 1962 as a consolidation of students from Mt. Carmel Academy and Thibodaux College.
- Very Rev. Vicente N. DeLa Cruz, MCL, JCL, VF, VCpresent
Current pastor.