About St. Marcellus · New Iberia, Louisiana
St. Marcellus Catholic Church is a small, family-style parish in the Rynella community of New Iberia, Louisiana, in the heart of Cajun country within the Diocese of Lafayette. The parish, whose motto is "United in Hope, Joined in Faith," draws most of its members from the nearby Avery Island and Rynella areas. It offers daily weekday Mass, two Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Hours, and a robust sacramental and ministry life — including youth, religious education, a Children's Choir, a Knights of Columbus council, and a Divine Mercy ministry that brings prayer and communion to the sick, homebound, and dying.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Marcellus I (Pope and Martyr); the chapel was originally named for St. Marcel of France
- Rector
- Rev. James (BAM) Nguyen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Marcellus is a warm, accepting Cajun-country parish where Mass is offered every day, confession is regularly available, and the faithful are known by name. The parish invests intentionally in its young people through a Youth Group, Children's Church, Children's Choir, Catechism, and Teen Life Ministry (which sends students to the Steubenville South Youth Conference), while also caring for the elderly and homebound through its Divine Mercy Ministry for the Sick and Dying. With active ministries for lectors, altar servers, the Knights of Columbus Council 7050, and the Children of Mary, joining St. Marcellus means plugging into a tight-knit community rooted in over a century of faith on Avery Island Road.
Mass times at St. Marcellus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday — 3:30 PM (30 minutes before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday — 8:30 AM (30 minutes before 9 AM Mass)
- Weekdays — 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM (before noon Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month — Adoration 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, followed by Devotions
- Holy Hour — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and 2nd–5th Fridays at 11:00 AM
History of St. Marcellus Church
According to Diocese archives cited on the parish website, the original chapel serving the Rynella and Avery Island area was completed in 1909. Local benefactor Marcel DeRourn donated the land on which both the original chapel and the present church, parish hall, and cemetery now stand. The Bishop named the chapel 'St. Marcel's Chapel' after a first-century saint from France; in the 1950s the name was changed to 'St. Marcellus Church' in honor of a third-century Pope (Pope St. Marcellus I, d. 309). Weekly Masses began in 1934, and weekday Masses were added around 1960 — the year GCatholic records as the parish's formal history.
- Original chapel completed: 1909
- Land donor: Marcel DeRourn (chapel, church, hall, and cemetery)
- First weekly Masses: 1934
- Weekday Masses introduced: c. 1960
- Renamed 'St. Marcellus Church' from 'St. Marcel's Chapel': 1950s
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
St. Marcellus is currently served by Rev. James (BAM) Nguyen as Pastor, who is also listed by the Diocese of Lafayette as Pastor of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions Church in Abbeville. The parish office is staffed by Yvonne Hebert (Secretary and Coordinator of Religious Education) and Ann Boudreaux (Office Manager, handling records, financial reporting, and bookkeeping). Wendy Segura serves as Assistant Coordinator of Religious Education.
- Pastor: Rev. James (BAM) Nguyen
- Office Manager: Ann Boudreaux
- Secretary / Coordinator of Religious Education: Yvonne Hebert — 337-519-8411
- Assistant Coordinator, Religious Education: Wendy Segura
Parish Community and Cajun-Country Identity
Located in the heart of Acadiana's Cajun country, St. Marcellus draws most of its members from the Avery Island and Rynella communities. The parish describes itself as a base of 'very active practicing Catholics,' known for warm and accepting parishioners who welcome all to join in praise and worship. The parish motto — 'United in Hope, Joined in Faith' — reflects this community-centered identity.
- Located in the heart of Cajun country (Iberia Parish)
- Primary membership from Avery Island and Rynella
- Parish motto: 'United in Hope, Joined in Faith'
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
While often thought of as an older demographical parish, leadership and parishioners alike have made youth involvement and recruitment a priority. St. Marcellus runs a full slate of formation programs: Catechism/Religious Education, Children's Church at each Sunday Mass, a Children's Choir (ages 7–12) for the 7:00 AM Mass on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays, a Youth Group, and a Teen Life Ministry that partners with other Iberia Parish churches to send students to the Steubenville South Youth Conference.
- Catechism / Religious Education (Coordinator: Yvonne Hebert; Assistant: Wendy Segura)
- Children's Church at each Sunday Mass
- Children's Choir (ages 7–12; 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays at 7:00 AM Mass)
- St. Marcellus Youth Group — Leader: Ashley Menard, 337-380-3239
- Teen Life Ministry / Steubenville South Youth Conference (Ashley Menard & Angela Meyer)
- Children of Mary
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish's liturgical life as altar servers, lectors, choir members, and on the Worship Committee. New altar servers (any child who has made First Holy Communion, 3rd grade and up) are welcomed, and the lector schedule is maintained by a coordinator who keeps phone and email contact information up to date.
- Altar Servers — contact Yvonne Hebert at 337-519-8411
- Lectors — contact Alice at 337-519-2317 or [email protected]
- Children's Choir (ages 7–12)
- Worship Committee
Outreach: Divine Mercy Ministry for the Sick and Dying
St. Marcellus maintains a dedicated Divine Mercy Ministry that prays with and visits the sick, the homebound, and the dying in their homes, as often as they wish. The ministry reflects the parish's commitment to accompany parishioners beyond the church walls, especially in illness and at the end of life.
- Divine Mercy Ministry for the Sick, Homebound, and Dying
- Contact: Kathy Scott — (337) 365-5095
Parish Organizations and Councils
Lay leadership and stewardship are organized through several councils and committees, including a Pastoral Council, Regional Pastoral Council, Management & Finance Committee, and Worship Committee. The parish also hosts Knights of Columbus Council 7050, which recognizes a Knight and Family of the Month and supports community fundraising and fellowship.
- Pastoral Council — Contact: Nancy Hebert, 337-367-1602
- Regional Pastoral Council — open for volunteers
- Management & Finance Committee — Henry Charpentard
- Worship Committee — Versa (per bulletin)
- Knights of Columbus Council 7050
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is arranged by contacting the parish office. Marriage preparation requires contacting the office at least six months before the proposed wedding date, in line with diocesan policy. Reconciliation is available before every Mass and by appointment; Anointing of the Sick is offered to those facing illness or the dangers of old age, and may be received again upon a new or worsening illness.
- Baptism — contact the office
- Confirmation
- Eucharist / Holy Communion
- Penance (Confession) — before Mass and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony — contact the office at least 6 months in advance
Visiting, Newcomers, and Practical Information
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers. Anyone interested in becoming a member of St. Marcellus is invited to call the office at (337) 364-0818 or fill out a Census Form available on the table at the front entrance of the church. Weekly bulletins — which carry the Mass intention schedule, ministry announcements, and Holy Hour details — are archived on the parish website under 'Bulletins.'
- Office: (337) 364-0818
- Parish Hall: (337) 364-9419
- Religious Education Office: (337) 364-9419
- Fax: (337) 364-0824
- Email: [email protected]
- Bulletins archived at stmarcellus.org/bulletins