About St. Joseph · French Settlement, Louisiana
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small, historic parish in French Settlement, Louisiana, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. Founded in 1883 and placed under the invocation of St. Joseph, it grew from a humble log-and-mud mission chapel first served by missionaries from Galveztown and Iberville. Today the parish is clustered with St. Stephen the Martyr in Maurepas under one pastor, and worship continues in a new worship center dedicated in 2006. The community offers traditional Mass, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, sacramental preparation, OCIA, a youth group, Knights of Columbus, and other ministries for the rural Livingston Parish area.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Taylor Sanford
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a welcoming rural Catholic family that has gathered around the sacraments for nearly 140 years. The cluster offers weekend and daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, monthly Charismatic Mass, RCIA-style inquiry sessions through OCIA, faith formation for children and adults, an active youth group for 7th grade through high school, and a Knights of Columbus council. Small in size but rooted in tradition, it pairs historic devotion to St. Joseph with active ministry to neighbors across French Settlement, Head of Island, and Port Vincent.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:45 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. (St. Joseph Church)
- Sunday 4:30 p.m. – 4:50 p.m. (St. Joseph Church)
- Wednesday 8:45 a.m. (after 8:00 a.m. Mass, St. Joseph Church)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (old St. Joseph Church)
Parish History
St. Joseph traces its origins to the early 1800s mission of La Côte Française, where priests from Galveztown and Iberville brought the sacraments to scattered settlers in homes and a log-and-mud chapel. After Hubert Haydel's 1876 land donation, the community built its first proper church in 1883, dedicated to St. Joseph. Storm damage forced a relocation in 1889 to a second church, which then served missions at Port Vincent and Head of Island.
- First log-and-mud chapel near the old community cemetery — early 1800s
- Hubert Haydel land donation: October 6, 1876 (2 × 5 arpents on LA Highway 16)
- First dedicated St. Joseph Church completed: 1883
- Second church built in present location: 1889
- Care of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate: 1919–1986
- Father James Kinkead becomes first diocesan pastor: 1986
- Clustered with St. Stephen (Whitehall/Maurepas): 2003
- New worship center groundbreaking: August 20, 2004
- New St. Joseph Church dedicated: February 11, 2006
Parish Cluster & Campus
St. Joseph is part of a clustered parish with St. Stephen the Martyr in Maurepas, sharing clergy, staff, and programs. The French Settlement campus sits on LA Highway 16 and includes the new worship center, the old St. Joseph Church (used for Eucharistic Adoration), a parish hall that hosts Knights of Columbus meetings and other activities, and the parish office.
- St. Joseph Church (new worship center) — 15710 La Highway 16, French Settlement
- Old St. Joseph Church — site of Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration
- St. Joseph parish hall — Knights of Columbus meetings, parish events
- Parish office — open Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (closed noon–1:00 for lunch); closed Friday
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The clustered parishes of St. Joseph and St. Stephen the Martyr are served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, two deacons, and a lay office staff.
- Rev. Taylor Sanford — Pastor
- Rev. Augustine Michael Puthumana, IMS — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon James Little — Pastoral Associate / Deacon Assistant
- Deacon Leon R. Murphy, Jr. — Pastoral Associate / Deacon Assistant
- Brittany Cormier — Secretary
- Laura Wutke — Secretary / Bookkeeping
- Lisa Cates — Bookkeeping
- Jason Cates — Maintenance
Sacraments
The parish offers all seven Catholic sacraments. Parents are asked to contact the parish office at least three months before an infant baptism; baptism seminars are held monthly at St. Joseph and are required by the Diocese of Baton Rouge for both parents and godparents/Christian witnesses. Marriage preparation, First Communion, Confirmation (for 11th graders and adults), Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders discernment are also supported through the parish office.
- Baptism — 3-month notice; monthly seminars at St. Joseph; sponsor must be a confirmed, practicing Catholic
- Reconciliation — Sunday and Wednesday as listed
- Eucharist (First Communion) preparation
- Confirmation — students in 11th grade after preparation; adults upon preparation
- Matrimony — preparation and coordination through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Faith Formation
Faith formation at the cluster includes OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), Confirmation preparation, Children's Church, and connection with EA/EI Regional Catholic School. OCIA sessions run Tuesday evenings from September through Easter, beginning with a three-week no-obligation inquiry led by Fr. Jason and the OCIA team.
- OCIA inquiry and formation — Tuesday evenings, St. Joseph, September–Easter
- OCIA contact: Adrienne Halpen, 225-695-6223
- Confirmation preparation — 11th grade students and adults
- Children's Church
- EA/EI Regional Catholic School — cluster faith-formation partner
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Joseph has an active cluster life, anchored by its youth group, Knights of Columbus council, and the traditional St. Joseph Altar. The youth group (7th grade – high school) meets regularly, plans service projects and social events, and hosts the monthly Teen Mass (usually the last Sunday of the month). Knights of Columbus gather monthly at St. Joseph hall, and parish events like the Creole Festival, Winter Wonderland, and the St. Joseph Altar are part of the shared cluster calendar.
- Cluster Youth Group — teens in 7th grade through high school; contact Selena, 225-698-6503
- Teen Mass — usually the last Sunday of the month
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting at St. Joseph hall
- St. Joseph Altar — traditional parish celebration
- Health & wellness: Matter of Balance class held in the parish hall
Youth Group Activities
The cluster youth group serves any student in 7th grade through high school from public, private, parochial, or home school who is a parishioner of St. Joseph or St. Stephen the Martyr. Members take part in social outings, service projects, and parish-wide events throughout the year.
- Amazing Bible Race
- BINGO! and Fun-filled Meetings
- Gumbo & Jambalaya Sales
- Garage Sale, Zoo Field Trip, Movies
- Youth Group Mass and Banquet
- Easter Egg Hunt, Grandparents' Breakfast
- 'All Saints' Halloween Project
- Socks for Soldiers, Prisoner Outreach
- Soup, Pumpkin Bread, and Visits for the Homebound
- Mardi Gras Parade Field Trip
- Children's Hospital Christmas Gifts and Visit
- Milk Pie Sales, Disney World Trip
- Senior Center Visits, French Settlement Christmas Parade
- Assists at Creole Festival, Winter Wonderland, and St. Joseph Altar
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Joseph by phone, mail, or in person. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday; messages can also be left through the website's contact form, directed to Fr. Taylor Sanford or the general parish inbox.
- Address: 15710 La Highway 16, French Settlement, LA 70733
- Phone: (225) 698-3110
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stjosephststephen.weconnect.com/
- Facebook: 'Friend us on Facebook' (linked from the official site)
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (closed for lunch noon–1:00 p.m.); closed Friday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Missionaries from St. Bernard (Galveztown) and St. Gabriel (Iberville)Early 1800s
Served settlers of La Côte Française in homes and a small log-and-mud chapel near the old community cemetery.
- Oblates of Mary Immaculate1919–1986
Religious order entrusted with the pastoral care of St. Joseph and its missions of Port Vincent and Head of Island.
- Father James Kinkead1986–2003
First diocesan priest appointed pastor; served St. Joseph with Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Head of Island) and St. William (Port Vincent).
- Father Rubin Reynolds2003–
Named pastor when St. Joseph was clustered with St. Stephen in Whitehall; oversaw construction and 2006 dedication of the new worship center.
- Father Jason
Referenced on the parish's baptism and OCIA pages as the priest overseeing sacramental preparation at the cluster.
- Reverend Taylor Sanford
Current pastor of the clustered parishes of St. Joseph, French Settlement and St. Stephen the Martyr, Maurepas.