About St. Louis Mission Chapel · Parks, Louisiana
St. Louis Mission Chapel is a small Roman Catholic mission chapel serving the rural village of Parks in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, within the Diocese of Lafayette. It operates as a mission of nearby St. Joseph Catholic Church (1034 Bridge Street, Parks) and shares the parish's pastor and pastoral staff. The chapel is named in honor of St. Louis IX, King of France, patron of the Cajun region's deep Catholic heritage. Parishioners gather at 1004 Saint Louis Drive for Sunday morning Mass at 8:00 AM and a Tuesday evening Mass at 5:30 PM, and the chapel is closely tied to local devotional life through a rosary grotto on Bayou Teche and the wider parish's catechetical and family ministries.
- Established
- circa 1954 (61st anniversary celebrated 2015)
- Patron
- St. Louis IX, King of France
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas DuPré
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Louis Mission Chapel is a faithful, intimate mission chapel in the heart of Parks, offering Sunday morning and Tuesday evening Masses, regular confession and adoration, and a tight-knit community rooted in Cajun Catholic tradition. Parishioners share rosary devotion at the Our Lady grotto overlooking Bayou Teche, join parish-wide events such as the annual Pro-Life Rosary Walk, Fête du Teche, 40 Hours of perpetual adoration, and ongoing catechesis for children and youth. As a mission of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the chapel combines the warmth of a small village parish with the rich liturgical and devotional life of the Diocese of Lafayette.
Mass times at St. Louis Mission Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (at St. Louis Mission Chapel)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM (at St. Louis Mission Chapel)
Adoration times
- Sunday 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM (at St. Louis Mission Chapel)
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:20 PM (at St. Louis Mission Chapel)
About St. Louis Mission Chapel
St. Louis Mission Chapel is a Catholic mission chapel in the village of Parks, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. It is part of the Diocese of Lafayette and operates as a mission of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bridge Street in Parks, sharing the same pastor and pastoral staff. The chapel serves the rural Cajun-Catholic community of Parks and the surrounding Teche country with a focused weekly schedule: Sunday morning Mass, Tuesday evening Mass, and accompanying confession and adoration.
- Mission chapel of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Parks, LA
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
- Address: 1004 Saint Louis Drive, Parks, LA 70582
- Patron: St. Louis IX, King of France
History and Heritage
St. Louis Mission Chapel has served the village of Parks for decades. A 2015 article in the local Teche Today newspaper recounted parishioners marking the chapel's 61st anniversary alongside the feast of its patron, St. Louis IX. The mission chapel is supported by St. Joseph Catholic Church (founded in 1938 according to GCatholic), and over the years the shared pastorate has invested in beautification, catechesis, perpetual adoration, and Marian devotion at the bayou grotto.
- 61st anniversary celebrated in 2015 (founded circa 1954)
- Mission under St. Joseph Catholic Church (founded 1938)
- St. Joseph / St. Louis Mission is pastored since 2018 by Fr. Nicholas DuPré (earlier assignment 2003–2008)
- Fr. Bryce Sibley served as pastor and is associated with the celebrated Last Supper medallion painting at St. Joseph Church
Faith Formation and Catechesis
Faith formation is provided through the parish's Catechesis program, with a dedicated section on the parish website (parkschurches.org/catechesis-1). Children and youth prepare for the sacraments — including Confirmation, which was celebrated on December 9, 2021 — alongside CCD classes listed on the parish calendar.
- Catechesis / CCD for children and youth (ages 7+)
- Annual Confirmation (e.g., December 9, 2021)
- Parish calendar of CCD events (parkschurches.org/calendar)
Devotions and Parish Life
Parish life is rich with traditional Catholic devotions. A daily morning Men's Rosary is prayed at the Our Lady grotto in the Cecile Poche Memorial Park overlooking Bayou Teche, and the parish has hosted 40-hour perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in preparation for Pentecost. The wider community participates in the annual Pro-Life Rosary Walk (e.g., January 23, 2022), in Fête du Teche festivities, and in regular visits to the elderly and bereaved through the Mary, Mother of God widow and widowers support group.
- Men's Rosary at the grotto: Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday at 7:00 AM
- 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration (example: starting Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 2:00 PM)
- Annual Pro-Life Rosary Walk (e.g., January 23, 2022)
- Fête du Teche (parish participates; 2021 photos on parish site)
- Mary, Mother of God widow and widowers support group (Fr. Mark Miley spoke May 18, 2022)
Women's Ministry and Lenten Reflection
The parish hosts a women's group whose opening night was presented by 'The Light Project,' with Mrs. Joellyn Guidry offering a reflection on the Lenten theme 'Jesus' Willingness to Endure our Shame.' The group gathers for ongoing faith formation and fellowship under the pastorate of Fr. DuPré.
- Parks Women's Group nights
- 'The Light Project' opening presentation
- Lenten reflections led by parishioners
Cecile Poche Memorial Park and the Grotto
On the parish grounds, the Cecile Poche Memorial Park features a statue of Our Lady overlooking Bayou Teche. The grotto is the heart of outdoor Marian devotion for the parish: it is the site of the daily morning Men's Rosary and a gathering place during parish celebrations like the Fête du Teche.
- Our Lady statue overlooking Bayou Teche
- Site of the daily 7:00 AM Men's Rosary
- Used for parish processions and festival events
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Louis Mission Chapel is pastored by the priest assigned to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Fr. Nicholas DuPré is the current pastor, having returned to the parish in 2018 after a first assignment from 2003 to 2008. He is a familiar figure in the wider Diocese of Lafayette, including as a speaker at the inaugural Louisiana 'St. Joseph the Worker Day' prayer breakfast in Breaux Bridge in April 2022.
- Rev. Nicholas DuPré — Pastor (since 2018; previously 2003–2008)
- Rev. Bryce Sibley — former pastor (now teaching at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans)
- Rev. Mark Miley — visiting priest (spoke to widow/widowers support group, May 18, 2022)
Visiting and Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed to St. Louis Mission Chapel and to the wider St. Joseph Catholic Church community in Parks. The parish office can be reached at the parish phone number, and current information is posted on the parish website and Facebook page.
- Address: 1004 Saint Louis Drive, Parks, LA 70582
- Phone: (337) 845-4168
- Website: https://parkschurches.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/StJosephChurch.StLouisChapel
- Diocese link: www.diolaf.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas DuPré2018–present (and previously 2003–2008)
Current pastor of St. Joseph Church and St. Louis Mission Chapel; spoke at the inaugural Louisiana St. Joseph the Worker Day breakfast in Breaux Bridge (April 29, 2022).
- Rev. Bryce Sibley
Prior pastor of St. Joseph / St. Louis Mission Chapel; reportedly oversaw creation of the medallion Last Supper painting at St. Joseph Catholic Church that includes the celebrated Tabasco bottle detail. Later taught seminarians at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.