About St. Mary of False River · New Roads, Louisiana
St. Mary of False River is a Roman Catholic parish in New Roads, Louisiana, situated on the banks of False River in Pointe Coupée Parish. The parish was formally established in 1823 and traces its roots to a Catholic mission planted at Pointe Coupée in 1728 by French Capuchin missionaries, making the local church community one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic congregations in Louisiana. Today St. Mary of False River worships at 348 W Main Street, is part of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, and shares its campus with Catholic of Pointe Coupée, a PreK3–12 Catholic school founded in 1904. Its mission church, St. Francis of Pointe Coupée Chapel, is the fourth-oldest continuous Catholic parish site in the state.
- Established
- 1823
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish title: 'St. Mary'); mission church: St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Christopher J. Decker (Pastor since 2021)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Mary of False River offers a rare combination: a small-town Pointe Coupée parish rooted in nearly 300 years of Catholic missionary history, a campus shared with Catholic of Pointe Coupée (PreK3–12), daily and Sunday Masses in English, a daily-open Adoration Chapel (6:00 AM–6:00 PM) with 24-hour key-card access, a strong sacramental life (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, OCIA/RCIA), active outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, and a vibrant CCD/Parish School of Religion program. It is the spiritual anchor for the historic False River community.
Mass times at St. Mary of False River
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 11:20 AM – 11:50 AM
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel open daily 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- 24-hour key-card / key-fob access available — request through the parish office
Our Story — Catholic Faith Along False River Since 1728
St. Mary of False River traces its roots to 1728, when French Capuchin missionaries recorded the first baptism at Pointe Coupée — the beginning of organized Catholic life on this stretch of the Mississippi River. The first church, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, was blessed in 1738; a second church was dedicated in 1760 near Fort Pointe Coupée and served the community for 130 years until the ever-encroaching Mississippi River forced its dismantling in 1891. Under Father Antoine Blanc (later first Archbishop of New Orleans) the parish at False River was established as St. Mary's in 1823, becoming a separate parish in its own right in 1866.
- 1728 — Mission established at Pointe Coupée by Father Maximin, OFM Cap.
- 1738 — First church of St. Francis of Assisi dedicated (March 16).
- 1760 — Second St. Francis church dedicated near Fort Pointe Coupée.
- 1823 — St. Mary's at False River (New Roads) established as a parish.
- 1866 — St. Mary's becomes a separate parish.
- 1891 — Second St. Francis church dismantled; site and cemetery lost to the river.
- 1894–1895 — Third (current) St. Francis Chapel built on land donated by the Labatut family, dedicated May 1895.
St. Francis of Pointe Coupée Chapel (Mission Church)
St. Francis Chapel is the parish's mission church and one of the oldest Catholic sites in Louisiana. The current Gothic Revival building was constructed in 1895 on land donated by the Labatut family after the second church (1760) had to be dismantled due to river encroachment. Originally dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, the chapel was once part of the Dioceses of Quebec, Santiago, Havana, Baltimore, and New Orleans before being joined to St. Mary of False River upon the creation of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. It is recognized as the fourth-oldest continuously operating Catholic parish site in the state.
- Built 1895 in Gothic Revival style on land donated by the Labatut family
- Dedicated May 1895
- Fourth-oldest continuously operating Catholic church in Louisiana
- 300th anniversary of the parish approaches in 2028
Sacramental Preparation
The parish offers formation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation at the parish level. Even children attending Catholic of Pointe Coupée must register with their home parish for sacramental preparation. The program is open to Grades 1–6 (in-home) and Grades 7–11 (in-home), and includes Confirmation Sponsor Requirements and 'Hours of Mercy' service hours.
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Sponsor requirements and service hours
- Registration via the parish office / website
Faith Formation — CCD & Parish School of Religion
St. Mary of False River has proudly readopted the historic title 'Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)' as the unifying framework for its Parish School of Religion, sacramental preparation, and adult/child faith formation. The CCD traces its roots to 1562 in Rome and was revitalized in 1905 by Pope St. Pius X. The parish's CCD program provides structured, diocese-approved religious education that complements parental efforts and nurtures lifelong spiritual growth.
- Parish School of Religion (CCD)
- Sacramental preparation courses
- Adult and child faith formation activities
- Multi-year catechetical curriculum
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (RCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's ministry for those inquiring about becoming Catholic or completing their sacraments of initiation. OCIA meetings are held on Tuesdays from mid-September through Lent at 6:30 PM in the St. Joseph Center. A team of parish OCIA members and sponsors walk with catechumens and candidates throughout the journey of faith.
- OCIA meetings: Tuesdays, 6:30 PM, mid-September through Lent
- Location: St. Joseph Center
- OCIA Team and Sponsors accompany inquirers
- For unbaptized, baptized Christians, and Catholics completing sacraments
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
The parish commissions Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and bring Communion to the sick. Following Canon Law (Can. 230 §3), the parish seeks fully-initiated, registered, confirmed Catholics in good standing who are at least 16 years old and distinguished by Christian life, faith, and morals.
- Must be a fully initiated, confirmed Catholic in good standing
- Must be a registered member of St. Mary of False River
- Must be at least 16 years old and duly instructed
- Reflects devotion to the Holy Eucharist in daily Christian life
St. Vincent de Paul Conference
The parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul Conference devoted to serving the poor and needy in the Pointe Coupée community. Following the spirit of St. Vincent — putting 'the whole of the Gospel into the whole of their lives' — the conference accepts donations in specially marked purple envelopes in parishioners' offering packs. Offertory collections on Ash Wednesday, the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception, and All Saints Day (when not falling on a Sunday) are directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
- Purple envelopes in offering packs designate donations
- Holy Day of Obligation collections (when not on Sunday) support SVdP
- Direct outreach to the poor of Pointe Coupée
Catholic of Pointe Coupée School (PreK3–12)
Catholic of Pointe Coupée is a private, parish-supported Catholic school serving students from PreK3 through 12th grade. Founded in 1904 and located on the St. Mary of False River campus, the school is fed by neighboring Pointe Coupée parishes and offers a religious, academic, and disciplined Catholic education where students develop their talents in service to school, church, and society. The school shares chaplaincy with the parish (Fr. Christopher Decker serves as chaplain).
- Founded 1904 on the parish campus
- Grades PreK3 through 12
- Religious, academic, and disciplined Catholic education
- Chaplain: Rev. Fr. Christopher J. Decker
Baptism & Marriage
Information on Baptism (parent and godparent requirements) and Marriage preparation is published on the parish website. Parents and godparents should consult the parish for prerequisites, and couples preparing for Marriage should contact the parish office for the parish's marriage preparation process.
- Baptism — parents and godparents: requirements published online
- Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation
Preserving Our Legacy — Looking to the 300th Anniversary
In anticipation of St. Francis Chapel's 300th anniversary in 2028, the parish and Catholic of Pointe Coupée school have partnered with The Institute for School and Parish Development for a feasibility study exploring a unified capital campaign. Listening sessions have surfaced priorities including conversion of the rectory to house a religious community of sisters, renovation of the St. Joseph Center for family and youth ministry, an outdoor cooking and service pavilion, beautification of the church, repairs to existing school and parish facilities, and a potential multi-use facility for school and parish events.
- St. Francis Chapel 300th anniversary in 2028
- Rectory conversion to house a religious community of sisters
- St. Joseph Center renovation for youth and family ministry
- Outdoor cooking and service pavilion
- Multi-use facility for school and parish events
- Church beautification
- School and parish facility repairs and renovations
Visit & Contact
St. Mary of False River is located at 348 W Main Street, New Roads, Louisiana 70760, in the heart of historic Pointe Coupée Parish on the banks of False River. The parish office can be reached at (225) 638-9665. Visitors and returning parishioners are warmly welcomed to attend Mass, receive the sacraments, spend time in the Adoration Chapel, or join one of the parish's many ministries.
- Address: 348 W Main Street, New Roads, LA 70760
- Phone: (225) 638-9665
- Website: https://www.stmarysfr.org/
- Diocese: Diocese of Baton Rouge
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Christopher J. Decker2021–Present
Current pastor; also Chaplain of Catholic Interparochial School of Pointe Coupée and Vice President/Director of Mission of Catholic Community Radio.