About St. Joseph · Patterson, Louisiana
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a historic parish in Patterson, Louisiana, within St. Mary Parish and the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. Catholic men from a local Dutch settlement purchased the land the church still sits on in 1848 for $225, and the present church building was begun in 1895 by Fr. Thomas Smith. Now led by Fr. Herbert (Herb) Bennerfield III, the parish serves the greater Patterson community with weekend and daily Masses, an active school of religious education, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Daughters Court of St. Catherine of Siena, and a number of lay ministries. In 2016 the parish was designated a Pilgrimage Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Herbert (Herb) Bennerfield III
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Joseph offers a close-knit, historically rooted Catholic community in which the same 1895 building still anchors the parish on land purchased by Catholic families back in 1848. The parish combines a traditional devotion to St. Joseph (including the annual St. Joseph's Altar) with very active lay life — Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters Court of St. Catherine of Siena, RCIA, religious education for children, Come Lord Jesus discussion groups, Life Chain, and a Pilgrimage Church designation from the 2016 Year of Mercy. Daily and weekend Masses, weekday adoration opportunities, and a willingness to drive parishioners who need a ride to the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass (call Evelyn Estay at 985-395-3610) make it a deliberately welcoming and accessible place to worship.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 20 minutes before every Mass
- Anytime by appointment (call the rectory at 985-395-3616)
Adoration times
- Special hours are scheduled by sign-up for Eucharistic Adoration events (e.g., the nationwide Adoration for Our Nation on election day 2020 from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM)
- Fr. Bennerfield recites the Divine Mercy Chaplet after every 10:00 AM Sunday Mass
Parish History
St. Joseph's history begins in 1848, when Catholic men from a local Dutch settlement purchased the parish land for $225 — the same ground the present church stands on. Church records begin that year, and the community was first served by visiting priests from Charenton and Franklin. By 1867 Patterson was formally a mission of Franklin; by 1895 Fr. Thomas Smith had begun construction of the present church, whose original walls are still standing more than a century later. Through fires, the devastating 1926 hurricane, and many other storms, successive pastors have kept the building standing and parish life thriving. In 2016 the parish was designated a Pilgrimage Church for the Year of Mercy, and in 2020 it celebrated the Holy Year of St. Joseph.
- 1848 — Land purchased for $225; church records begin
- 1848–1867 — Served by mission priests from Charenton, Franklin, and Brashear (Morgan City)
- 1867 — Patterson becomes a mission of Franklin
- 1895 — Fr. Thomas Smith begins construction of the present church
- 1926 — Hurricane (115 mph winds) destroys nearly everything except the church
- 2016 — Designated Pilgrimage Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
- 2020 — Parish celebrates the Holy Year of St. Joseph
Pastor and Staff
St. Joseph is led by Fr. Herbert (Herb) Bennerfield III, pastor. He is assisted by a deacon (Deacon Shannon, who records homilies posted on the parish website), an Office Manager (Bobbie Diaz, ext. 4), a Director of Religious Education (Mamie Perry, ext. 5), an Education Coordinator (Rosie Pellerin), and a housekeeper/cook (Ann Murray). Fr. Bennerfield is an active presence in parish life — he leads the Come Lord Jesus (CLJ) discussion groups, recites the Divine Mercy Chaplet after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass, and has led the parish through the Jubilee of Mercy and the Holy Year of St. Joseph.
- Rev. Herbert (Herb) Bennerfield III — Pastor (ext. 3)
- Deacon Shannon
- Bobbie Diaz — Office Manager (ext. 4)
- Mamie Perry — Director of Religious Education (ext. 5)
- Rosie Pellerin — Education Coordinator
- Ann Murray — Housekeeper/Cook (ext. 8)
Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates weekend Mass on Saturday evening at 4:30 PM (Vigil) and on Sunday morning at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. A 5:00 PM Sunday 'LifeTeen' Mass has appeared in recent directory listings. Weekday Mass is offered Monday through Thursday at 11:00 AM (with Tuesday's Mass traditionally celebrated at the local nursing home at 9:30 AM); Friday has no regularly scheduled public Mass at this time. Confessions are heard 20 minutes before every Mass or by appointment through the rectory.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 PM
- Sunday — 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM (and historically 5:00 PM LifeTeen)
- Monday — 11:00 AM
- Tuesday — 9:30 AM at the Nursing Home
- Wednesday — 11:00 AM
- Thursday — 11:00 AM
- Friday — no scheduled public Mass
Devotions
Beyond the standard Mass schedule, St. Joseph maintains a rich devotional life centered on its patron. The Holy Rosary is prayed before the Vigil Mass on the first Saturday of each month at 4:00 PM, followed by the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena after Mass. Fr. Bennerfield leads the Divine Mercy Chaplet after every 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. Eucharistic Adoration is offered for special occasions, and parishioners are invited to participate in the annual St. Joseph's Altar, Life Chain, and other special parish devotions.
- First Saturday Rosary — 4:00 PM before the Vigil Mass
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena — after the First Saturday Vigil Mass
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration — special hours for special occasions
- St. Joseph's Altar — annual parish devotion
- Life Chain — annual pro-life witness, first Sunday of October
Sacramental Preparation
St. Joseph follows the Diocese of Lafayette's preparation policies for each sacrament. Baptismal preparation classes are held in February, May, August, and November — parents and godparents register by calling 985-395-3881. Confirmation is prepared through the parish Confirmation Program for youth and through RCIA for adults. Couples must arrange weddings with the pastor at least six months in advance. The sacrament of the Sick (Anointing and Communion) and the Rite of Christian Burial are arranged through the rectory. Those discerning Holy Orders or consecrated life are encouraged to speak with Fr. Bennerfield.
- Baptism — classes in Feb / May / Aug / Nov; register at 985-395-3881
- Confirmation — parish Confirmation Program (youth) or RCIA (adults)
- Matrimony — meet with pastor at least 6 months before desired date
- Anointing of the Sick — call the rectory to arrange
- Rite of Christian Burial — arranged with a priest by the family
- Holy Orders / Religious Life — speak with the pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Joseph is led by Director of Religious Education Mamie Perry, with Education Coordinator Rosie Pellerin assisting. The parish runs a full religious education program for children in Grades K-10, a Confirmation Program for youth, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation or reception into the Catholic Church. The Education Office (open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 noon) handles registration for children and adult inquiry sessions, which have historically begun each fall in the parish hall.
- Religious Education — Grades K-10
- Confirmation Program — youth preparation
- RCIA — adult inquiry and initiation
- Education Office — 985-395-3881, [email protected]
Parish Ministries
St. Joseph has an unusually active lay apostolate for a parish its size. The Knights of Columbus Patterson council meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM, and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas' Court St. Catherine of Siena also meets at the parish (Fr. Bennerfield presided at the court's installation). Come Lord Jesus (CLJ) small discussion groups — hosted by Fr. Bennerfield — provide ongoing adult formation and spiritual reading. Volunteer liturgical ministries include lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and altar servers (all scheduled through the parish office).
- Knights of Columbus — second Thursday at 7:00 PM
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Catherine of Siena
- Come Lord Jesus (CLJ) discussion groups
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Music / Choir ministry
Parish Life and Outreach
The parish is known for several signature community events each year. The annual St. Joseph's Altar is prepared by parishioners and is one of the parish's most visible public expressions of devotion to the patron. The Life Chain — a one-hour, silent, prayerful pro-life witness along Highway 90 at Wise Street — takes place the first Sunday of October. The Beignet Fundraiser (selling $6 beignets and café au lait) is a popular parish fundraiser. The parish also provides a ride-to-Mass ministry for parishioners without transportation.
- Annual St. Joseph's Altar
- Life Chain — first Sunday of October, Highway 90 & Wise Street
- Beignet & Café au Lait Fundraiser
- Ride to Mass — call Evelyn Estay 985-395-3610 by Friday 3 PM
Facilities and Cemetery
The parish campus at 1011 First Street includes the historic 1895 church (still in regular use), a separate rectory / parish office building (office hours Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM, Fri 9 AM–12 noon; phones 985-395-3616 office / 985-395-9129 fax), and a separate Education Office at 985-395-3881 (fax 985-395-3685). The parish also maintains St. Joseph Cemetery on its grounds, with a mausoleum — cemetery / mausoleum stewardship is a regular line item in the parish's published financials.
- 1011 First Street — historic 1895 church
- Rectory / Parish Office — office hours Mon–Thu 9–3, Fri 9–12
- Education Office — 985-395-3881
- St. Joseph Cemetery and Mausoleum
Getting Involved & New Parishioners
Fr. Bennerfield's welcome on the parish website is direct: 'We welcome all to be a part of our parish ministries.' New parishioner registration forms are available in the rectory, and the parish encourages newcomers to register and worship regularly. Anyone interested in joining a ministry is invited to call the rectory at (985) 395-3616 or fill out the contact form on the parish website. The parish also publishes ongoing 'Help Wanted' listings within its bulletins, indicating regular volunteer openings across ministries.
- New parishioner registration forms — available in the rectory
- Contact the rectory — (985) 395-3616
- Online contact form — stjosephpatla.org
- Volunteer openings — 'Help Wanted' section in weekly bulletins
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. J. E. Blin1848
First priest on record with church records beginning in 1848; served from neighboring Charenton and Franklin.
- Fr. P. Guerard1852
Succeeded Fr. Blin.
- Fr. James Blake1854
Mission priest in Pattersonville/Patterson.
- Fr. P. G. McMahon1859
Mission priest.
- Fr. Desgaultiere1862
Mission priest during the Civil War period.
- Fr. F. Christophe Cuny1865
Mission priest.
- Fr. Richard Kane1867
Served in the year Patterson formally became a mission of Franklin.
- Fr. Mathurin Harnais1869
Mission priest.
- Fr. Mathurin Chapin1871
Mission priest.
- Fr. J. A. Smith1878
Also identified in local parish sources as Fr. Thomas Smith, credited in 1895 with beginning construction of the present church building.
- Fr. Yves Rivoallan1883
Last mission priest listed in the diocesan chronicle Acadians in Gray.
- Rev. Herbert (Herb) Bennerfield IIIat least 2016–2023
Current pastor; served by at least 2016; hosted Come Lord Jesus discussion groups, led the Jubilee of Mercy pilgrimage, and led the parish's Holy Year of St. Joseph observance in 2020.