About St. Juliana · Alexandria, Louisiana
St. Juliana Catholic Church is a medium-sized Catholic parish located at 900 Daspit Street in Alexandria, Louisiana, in the Central Deanery of the Diocese of Alexandria. Founded in 1959 by Father Leger Tremblay, the parish is best known today for its vibrant liturgical life and its long-running Love Choir, which has shaped the community's distinctive worship since 1975. Welcoming visitors and homebound parishioners alike through fellowship after Mass and Eucharistic ministry to the sick and shut-ins, St. Juliana describes itself as a Catholic community guided by the Holy Spirit 'to bring His message of love within and beyond our parish through worship, teaching and stewardship.'
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Juliana
- Rector
- Very Rev. Peter Faulk, J.C.D., J.V.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Juliana is a warm, medium-sized parish whose liturgical life is enriched by its own Love Choir, in continuous service since 1975. Parishioners gather for fellowship after every Mass, and Eucharistic Ministers regularly bring Communion to the homebound and to residents of local nursing homes, so no one in the parish family is left without the Eucharist. With CCD religious education, an active RCIA, devotions to St. Juliana on her feast day (June 19), First Friday and First Saturday adorations, and a mission grounded in worship, teaching and stewardship, the parish offers newcomers a clear path into the sacramental and community life of the Catholic Church.
Mass times at St. Juliana
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday — 30 minutes before Mass (approx. 9:30 AM)
- Tuesday & Saturday — 7:40–7:55 AM (20 minutes before daily Mass)
- Weekdays — 20 minutes before daily Mass
- First Friday — 4:30–4:55 PM
- By appointment at any time
Adoration times
- First Friday — 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- First Saturday — Adoration and devotional prayers following the 8:00 AM Mass
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Juliana Catholic Church describes itself as a unique, medium-sized parish in Alexandria, Louisiana, where liturgical celebration, fellowship and outreach to the sick and homebound are central to parish life. Its formal mission statement reads: 'We are a Catholic community of God's people guided by the Holy Spirit to bring His message of love within and beyond our parish through worship, teaching and stewardship.'
- Tagline: 'a Catholic community of God's people guided by the Holy Spirit'
- Mission focus areas: worship, teaching, stewardship
- Charitable focus: visiting the sick and homebound, fellowship after Mass
History of St. Juliana Parish
St. Juliana was officially erected in 1959, founded by Father Leger Tremblay on five and one-half acres donated by J.A. Bennett, Neil Daspit and Chester Wells. The first liturgy in the new church was Christmas Midnight Mass. As integration reshaped the region, the parish's demographics changed profoundly; in 1970, under Msgr. Henry Thompson, the church was rededicated and gospel-rooted music was introduced into the Mass. In 1975 the Love Choir was founded, and it remains the parish's signature ministry.
- 1959 — Parish erected; Father Leger Tremblay, founding pastor
- 1970 — Rededication under Msgr. Henry Thompson
- 1975 — Love Choir founded by Msgr. Thompson and Paul Desselle, Jr.
- 1978 — Msgr. Henry Thompson departs St. Juliana
- Renovations under Father Remi moved the choir loft to a level near the altar
Parish Staff
The current leadership team combines ordained clergy, a deacon, music, faith formation, and parish administration. The 2026 Diocese of Alexandria directory lists the parish staff as follows.
- Very Rev. Peter Faulk, J.C.D., J.V. — Pastor (also Judicial Vicar)
- Deacon Luke White — Deacon / Facility Manager, Maryhill
- Paul Desselle (Deselle) — Music Director
- Angela Lee — Director of Religious Education / CCD
- Gwen Milo — RCIA Coordinator
- Mary Metoyer Yancy — Secretary / Bookkeeper (ext. 200)
The Love Choir
Founded in 1975 by Msgr. Henry Thompson and Paul Desselle, Jr., the Love Choir is the liturgical heart of St. Juliana. Mr. Desselle has directed the choir continuously since its founding — one of the longest choral tenures in the Diocese of Alexandria. Under a later pastor, Father Remi, the parish renovated the church to bring the choir loft down from an upper gallery to a level near the altar, allowing aging members to continue singing. A January 2015 Diocese of Alexandria 'Church Today' profile listed active members of the Love Choir including Elizabeth Coleman, Flora Mays, Mary Roque, Sylvia Martin, Velda LaCour, Mae Rose Nash, Carol Stull, Gail Blade, Norman Nash, Audrey Day, Linda Broussard, Margaret Johnson, Elias Williams, Charles Johnson, Betty LaCour, Sylvester Jones, Sylvia Davis, and Valarie Bandy.
- Founded August 1975
- Director: Paul Desselle (since 1975)
- Gospel-rooted repertoire
- Choir loft relocated near altar under Father Remi
Faith Formation & RCIA
Religious education for children is provided through the parish's CCD program under Director Angela Lee. Adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church are served by the RCIA program, coordinated by Gwen Milo. Sign-ups and inquiries are handled through the parish office.
- CCD — Director: Angela Lee
- RCIA — Coordinator: Gwen Milo
- Office hours for inquiries: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday 1:00–4:00 PM
Outreach to the Sick & Homebound
A hallmark of St. Juliana's parish life is its ministry to those who cannot attend Mass. After Mass, members gather in fellowship with one another and with visitors; Eucharistic Ministers of the parish regularly visit the sick and bring Holy Communion to parish families who are homebound or residing in area nursing homes.
- Eucharistic visits to the sick
- Communion brought to homebound parishioners
- Visits to area nursing homes
Patron — St. Juliana of Nicomedia
The parish is named for St. Juliana of Nicomedia, an early Christian virgin martyr whose feast day is celebrated on June 19. Each year the parish honors her with a nine-day novena beginning June 11 and concluding on her feast day with light refreshments in St. Joseph Hall.
- Feast Day: June 19
- Annual Novena: June 11–19
- Refreshments served in St. Joseph Hall on the feast day
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
St. Juliana is located at 900 Daspit Street in Alexandria, Louisiana, with parish offices open three days a week. Communication is also maintained through Flocknote and a Facebook page.
- Address: 900 Daspit St., Alexandria, LA 71302
- Phone: (318) 445-6700
- Fax: (318) 445-9826
- Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday 1:00–4:00 PM
- Website: http://www.stjulianaccf.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjulianaccf/
- Diocese: Diocese of Alexandria (Central Deanery)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Leger Tremblay1959 (founding)
Pastor and founder of St. Juliana Parish; land donated by J.A. Bennett, Neil Daspit and Chester Wells; first Mass was Christmas Midnight Mass.
- Father Frank Foretby 1976
Pastor when Paul Desselle was hired as choir director on July 1, 1976.
- Msgr. Henry Thompsonthrough 1978
Led 1970 rededication; with Paul Desselle, Jr. founded the Love Choir in 1975; encouraged African-American gospel expression in the liturgy.
- Father Remi
Oversaw renovations moving the choir loft from an upstairs gallery down to a level near the altar to accommodate aging members of the Love Choir.
- Rev. Luke LaFleuruntil 2026
Pastor; also served as Chaplain of Holy Savior Menard Central High School and Diocesan Director of Vocations.
- Very Rev. Peter Faulk, J.C.D., J.V.2026–
Appointed pastor in 2026 from St. Margaret, Boyce; continues as Judicial Vicar of the diocesan tribunal.