About St. Mary Mother of the Church · Lafayette, Louisiana
St. Mary Mother of the Church is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, located on Doucet Road in Lafayette. Established in 1975, it has grown into a faith community serving over 1,300 families, with a thriving religious education program, an Early Learning Center, and a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Cedric Sonnier, the parish is supported by two deacons and a broad staff and offers vibrant youth ministry (EDGE and Life Teen), sacramental preparation, outreach, and monthly First Friday and First Saturday devotions and adoration.
- Established
- 1975
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
- Rector
- Rev. Cedric Sonnier
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Mary Mother of the Church offers the full rhythm of Catholic life on one campus: daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses, weekly Reconciliation, monthly First Friday and First Saturday devotions and adoration, and live-streamed weekday and Saturday Masses. Families can grow in faith through a robust Religious Education program (CCD), the EDGE junior-high ministry, Life Teen high-school ministry, sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, and the St. Mary Early Learning Center. Add an adult choir, a homebound Minister of Communion program, outreach and Safe Environment ministries, Vacation Bible School, a Patriotic Rosary, and a welcoming pastor and deacons — and the parish is a complete, active community for households of every stage.
Mass times at St. Mary Mother of the Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:45 - 10:15 am and 4:30 - 4:50 pm
- Monday through Friday: 6:35 - 6:55 am
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of the Month: after the 7:00 am Mass (Devotions and Adoration)
- 1st Saturday of the Month: after the 7:00 am Mass (Devotion and Adoration)
- Day of Adoration (annual): 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
About St. Mary Mother of the Church
St. Mary Mother of the Church is a Catholic parish established in 1975 in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. The parish has grown into a faith community of more than 1,300 families and serves the surrounding neighborhoods from its campus on Doucet Road. The parish is led by Fr. Cedric Sonnier with Deacons Michael Crain and Mike Thompson, supported by a staff that includes a Director of Religious Education, Youth Minister, Music Director, Bookkeeper, Receptionist, Outreach/Safe Environment Coordinator, and Choir Director.
- Established 1975
- Over 1,300 families
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette
Parish History
Founded in 1975, St. Mary Church developed physically over the following decades. Boumans Hall, the education building, was dedicated in 1990; Founders Hall, the renovated parish hall, was completed in 1995; the renovated office complex known as the Pastoral Service Center was dedicated in 1998; and the church itself was renovated in 2001 to better implement Vatican II liturgical changes, add nearly 25% more seating, add an enclosed vestibule, and create additional storage. The St. Mary Early Learning Center and the religious education programs continue to thrive, supported by parishioners who give generously of their time, talent, and treasure.
- 1975 — Parish established
- 1990 — Boumans Hall (Education Building) dedicated
- 1995 — Founders Hall (parish hall) completed
- 1998 — Pastoral Service Center (offices) dedicated
- 2001 — Church renovated for Vatican II liturgy, expanded seating and vestibule
Clergy and Staff
The parish is shepherded by Fr. Cedric Sonnier as Pastor, assisted by Deacons Michael Crain and Mike Thompson. The wider staff supports liturgy, formation, youth, music, outreach, and administration.
- Fr. Cedric Sonnier — Pastor (ext. 222)
- Deacon Michael Crain
- Deacon Mike Thompson
- Laure Bernard — Bookkeeper/Computer Specialist
- Monica Melancon — Receptionist (ext. 221)
- Deborah Duhon — Secretary, Organist, Liturgical Music Director (ext. 250)
- Denise Gesser — Director of Religious Education (337-703-3045)
- Cody Keller — Youth Ministry (337-703-3041)
- Jacqui Cheramie — Outreach Coordinator / Safe Environment Coordinator (ext. 223)
- Holly Grefe — Choir Director
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Director of Religious Education Denise Gesser oversees a graded program beginning in first grade through twelfth grade, with both Sunday-morning and Tuesday-afternoon Elementary CCD classes, a First Communion program for second graders and up, a junior-high EDGE program, and a high-school youth ministry. The parish has aligned its program to a younger Confirmation age, now confirming all students entering 8th grade and above.
- Elementary CCD (grades 1–4): Sunday 9:00–10:15 am and Tuesday 5:15–6:30 pm
- First Communion Program: Monday evenings, 6 sessions
- Junior High EDGE (grades 5–8): Sunday evenings
- High School Youth Ministry / Life Teen (grades 9–11): Sunday evenings 6:00–7:45 pm
- 5th-grade CCD: Tuesdays 5:15–6:15 pm
- Confirmation: 8th grade and above, August–January Sunday evenings
EDGE — Junior High Youth Ministry
EDGE is the parish's junior-high youth ministry for grades 6–8 (5th graders are also folded into the program). It uses the Life Teen rhythm of Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send, and is complemented by ECHO formation nights on Thursdays in the youth room of the Early Learning Center building. The ministry welcomes all Catholic-school students as well as parish youth.
- EDGE Nights — most Sunday evenings
- ECHO nights — Thursday evenings, deeper dive on Sunday topics
- Open to all 6th–8th graders, Catholic-school students welcome
Life Teen — High School Youth Ministry
Formerly called Life Teen and now described as the High School Youth Ministry, the program is led by Cody Keller and seeks to guide teens closer to Christ through teaching, gatherings, the sacraments, and the Gospel. Confirmed students in 9th–11th grade meet one Sunday evening a month for Life Nights and Wednesday evenings for Formation Nights, and assist at EDGE ministry nights. Confirmed teens are encouraged to serve as lectors or ushers at the 5:00 pm Mass.
- Life Nights — one Sunday evening per month, 6:00–7:45 pm in Boumans Hall
- Formation Nights — Wednesdays, 6:30 pm in the couch room (dinner provided)
- Service opportunities: lectors and ushers at 5:00 pm Mass
- Open to Catholic-school students and post-Confirmation teens
Sacraments
St. Mary prepares parishioners for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage according to the policies of the Diocese of Lafayette. Parents and candidates work with the Director of Religious Education for infant Baptism and First Communion, and with the Confirmation Coordinator for the multi-month Confirmation process.
- Baptism — Baptism Godparent Form, Baptism Seminar, and Baptism Schedule; contact Denise Gesser (337-703-3045)
- First Communion — Monday-evening sessions for 2nd grade and up
- Confirmation — 11 Sunday-evening sessions August–January, $60 includes robe; 8th grade and above; sponsor must be 16+, confirmed, practicing Catholic, not a parent of the candidate
- Marriage — Contact Fr. Cedric Sonnier 6 months (preferably 9–18 months) before the wedding
Outreach and Stewardship
Outreach at St. Mary is coordinated by Jacqui Cheramie, who also serves as the parish Safe Environment Coordinator. The 'Called to Serve' stewardship page invites parishioners to participate as Catechism Teachers and Assistants, Ministers of Communion to the Homebound, lectors, ushers, choir members, and in the Outreach and 'Refresh' ministries. A Vacation Bible School is offered each year, and a parent-ministry group hosts four parish-family events per year.
- Parish Outreach — coordinated by Jacqui Cheramie
- Safe Environment Coordination
- Catechism Teacher / Catechism Assistant
- Minister of Communion (Homebound)
- Refresh ministry
- Parent Ministry Group (Heather & Paul Augustin)
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
St. Mary Early Learning Center
The St. Mary Early Learning Center is located on the parish campus and, as the parish notes, 'is at capacity.' It serves as one of the parish's primary ministries to young families, and the building also houses the youth room used for ECHO formation nights.
- On-campus early childhood program
- Currently at capacity
- Houses the youth ministry room for ECHO nights
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Mary is coordinated by Choir Director Holly Grefe and Organist / Liturgical Music Director Deborah Duhon. An adult vocal choir is one of the stewardship opportunities listed for parishioners, and all weekday and Saturday 4:30 pm Masses are live-streamed from the church.
- Choir Director: Holly Grefe
- Organist / Liturgical Music Director: Deborah Duhon
- Adult Vocal Choir
- Live Stream of weekday and Saturday 4:30 pm Masses
Contact and Visit
The parish office is open at 419 Doucet Road, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503, phone 337-981-3379. The general email is [email protected]. The parish maintains a Facebook page (St. Mary Mother of the Church) and an Instagram account (@stmarymoc), and offers a live stream of Mass through stmarych.com/live.
- Address: 419 Doucet Road, Lafayette, LA 70503
- Phone: 337-981-3379
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stmarych.com
- Facebook: /St-Mary-Mother-of-the-Church-108496570781853/
- Instagram: @stmarymoc