About St. Martin of Tours · Belle d'Eau, Louisiana
St. Martin of Tours is a small Catholic parish in the rural Belle d'Eau community of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, situated on Highway 114 just west of Hessmer. Established in 1950, it belongs to the Avoyelles Deanery of the Diocese of Alexandria and serves the surrounding rural community along with a small cemetery and old island settlement nearby. The parish offers a traditional weekly schedule with a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, and two weekday Masses, supported by a pastor, a deacon, and a music director.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Rev. Kenneth Michiels
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (Avoyelles Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Martin of Tours offers a traditional, tight-knit Catholic community in rural central Louisiana with two Sunday/weekend Masses, weekday Masses, regular Confession, and a faithful music ministry led by Tonya Kelly. The parish gathers especially for First Friday devotions with Rosary, Adoration, and Mass, and is served by both a pastor and a deacon, giving worshippers personal pastoral care that is rare in larger parishes.
Mass times at St. Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After the 5:20 PM Saturday Vigil Mass
- After the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
Adoration times
- First Friday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (with Rosary)
Parish Overview
St. Martin of Tours is a small rural Catholic parish in Belle d'Eau (also written Belledeau), Louisiana, established in 1950 and part of the Diocese of Alexandria. The parish serves the community along Highway 114 between Hessmer and the surrounding Avoyelles Parish countryside. Its mailing address and parish office are tied to the Avoyelles Deanery of the diocese, which links it pastorally with neighboring French-Catholic communities of central Louisiana.
- Established 1950
- Avoyelles Deanery, Diocese of Alexandria
- Located at 1981 Hwy. 114, Belle d'Eau (Belledeau), LA 71341
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. Kenneth Michiels, who also pastors St. Alphonsus Church in Hessmer. He is assisted by Deacon Darrell Dubroc. Music ministry is led by Tonya Kelly. The parish office is open three mornings a week (Tuesday through Thursday) from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
- Rev. Kenneth Michiels — Pastor
- Deacon Darrell Dubroc — Deacon
- Tonya Kelly — Music Director
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 noon
Pastor History
Earlier diocesan directories list Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe, STD, as pastor of St. Martin of Tours; the most recent 2026 directory shows Rev. Kenneth Michiels now serving as pastor. The parish has historically been paired pastorally with another small Avoyelles Deanery church.
- Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe, STD — Pastor (prior)
- Rev. Kenneth Michiels — Current Pastor (also pastor of St. Alphonsus, Hessmer)
Location and How to Find Us
The church sits on Highway 114 west of the town of Hessmer, at the Church Road turn-off, in the small rural community of Belle d'Eau. Its physical setting is part of the bayou-and-terrace landscape of Avoyelles Parish in central Louisiana, near the Old Island Cemetery and along the historic Kansas City Southern rail corridor.
- Address: 1981 Highway 114, Belledeau, LA 71341
- West of Hessmer on Hwy. 114, at Church Road
- Diocese of Alexandria — Avoyelles Deanery
Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone during limited morning hours. Because the parish is served through the diocesan website, online contact is best directed to the Diocese of Alexandria.
- Phone: (318) 563-9097
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 noon
- Website: http://www.diocesealex.org/church/st-martin-of-tours-church/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe, STD
Listed as Pastor in earlier Diocese of Alexandria directories (e.g., 2025/2024 editions)
- Rev. Kenneth Michiels
Listed as Pastor in the current 2026 Diocese of Alexandria directory; also pastor of St. Alphonsus Church, Hessmer