About St. Matthew the Apostle · River Ridge, Louisiana
St. Matthew the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in the unincorporated community of River Ridge, Louisiana, within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Founded in 1959 on the former site of the Tropical Radio Station along Jefferson Highway, the parish grew rapidly in its first years, opening a school in 1960 and dedicating a 750-seat church, 16-classroom school, and convent in January 1961. Today it operates as a Christ-centered parish family with an active school (PK through 7th grade, the Crusaders), three permanent deacons, a parochial vicar, and a broad slate of ministries including Knights of Columbus, CYO, faith formation, adult education, and an annual youth lock-in tradition that has run for nearly three decades.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Lee Poche'
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. Matthew the Apostle offers the full sacramental life of a mid-sized suburban Catholic parish — five weekend Masses, daily Mass, Saturday confession, and Eucharistic adoration — alongside a thriving parish school that has educated local children since 1960. Active lay life is unusually strong here: a long-running CYO and youth lock-in (now in its 29th year), Knights of Columbus Council 13425, a Home and School Association that hosts an annual Holiday Market, faith formation for children and adults, and parish-wide traditions like the outdoor family Mass and Easter egg hunt make it easy to plug in. With three permanent deacons assisting the pastor and a culture the parish itself describes as 'Christ-centered' and stewardship-driven, it is a community built for families who want to be involved.
Mass times at St. Matthew the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (also listed as 'Saturdays: 3:00 PM' on the official website)
- Other times by appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered (specific daily hours published in the parish bulletin)
History and Mission
St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic parish was officially founded on June 27, 1959, within the boundaries of the Mississippi River, the Harahan city limits, Airline Highway, and Dilton Street. Construction began on the former site of the Tropical Radio Station, and Father John Bendix was assigned as the founding pastor. The first official Mass was celebrated in the old radio transmitter building on the Feast of St. Matthew, September 21, 1959. In the following years the church, school, and convent were built, and the school opened in September 1960 staffed by three Sisters of the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus. The parish's published mission statement describes St. Matthew as 'a Christ-centered parish family working to evangelize under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,' centered on Jesus and committed to helping all people grow in the image and likeness of Christ through the stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
- Founded June 27, 1959
- First Mass: September 21, 1959 (Feast of St. Matthew)
- Founding pastor: Father John Bendix
- Original buildings dedicated January 1961 ($415,000 parish plant)
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The parish celebrates Mass in English throughout the week, with a Saturday Vigil and four Sunday Masses, plus daily Mass on Mondays through Fridays. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons. Eucharistic Adoration is offered weekly, and the rosary is prayed before the Saturday morning Mass. Holy Day schedules are published in the bulletin.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM (Mon–Fri)
- Saturday morning Mass: 9:00 AM (Rosary at 8:30 AM)
- Confessions: Saturdays 3:00 PM
Clergy & Staff
St. Matthew is led by a pastor and a parochial vicar and is assisted by three permanent deacons. The parish staff includes directors of religious education, mission and adult faith formation, and parish development, as well as office, school, and finance personnel.
- Fr. Lee Poche' — Pastor
- Father Peter Pham — Parochial Vicar (assigned July 2022)
- Deacon Jerry Clark
- Deacon Wayne Lobell
- Deacon Nathan Simoneaux
- Becci Sheptock — Director of Religious Education
- Angela Dolese — Director of Mission and Adult Faith Formation
- Olivia Mills — Parish Development Director
- Tony Bonura — Principal (St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic School)
- Linda King — Church Secretary
- Lynley Kapesis — Receptionist
- Kelli Senior — School Office / Parish Finance
Parish School
St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic School is a coeducational Roman Catholic parochial elementary school in River Ridge, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. It opened in September 1960 with 425 students in grades one through five, staffed by three Sisters of the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus. The school has grown through the decades to offer programs from infants through 7th grade, including successive Pre-Kindergarten additions (4-year-old in 1991, 3-year-old in 2005, 2-year-old in 2010, and 1-year-old in 2017) and a dedicated Pre-K building constructed in 1992. The school's athletic teams are the Crusaders.
- Grades: infant care through 7th grade
- Athletic teams: the Crusaders
- Current principal: Tony Bonura
- School phone: 504-737-4604
- Website: smaschool.net
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is a core ministry. Becci Sheptock serves as Director of Religious Education and Angela Dolese as Director of Mission and Adult Faith Formation. The parish runs children's religious education, adult education, and RCIA/OCIA preparation for those entering the Catholic Church.
- Children's Faith Formation / CCD
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA / OCIA for adults
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Lenten Mission series (e.g., 'Undivided Heart')
Youth & CYO
St. Matthew maintains an active CYO and youth ministry program directed for many years by Coach David McCuller. The signature event is the annual overnight 'lock-in' for students in grades 4 through 7, which has been held for at least 29 consecutive years and includes games, talks, music, a trust walk, and a midnight Mass celebrated by the parochial vicar. The youth group draws not only parish-school students but also CCD students from neighboring Catholic schools such as John Curtis, Kenner Discovery, and St. Rita. Many participants return as high-school and college leaders.
- CYO athletic and service program
- Annual Youth Group Lock-In (grades 4–7, midnight Mass, trust walk)
- Leadership pipeline for high-school and college-age alumni
Parish Organizations & Outreach
The parish is supported by an active network of lay organizations. Knights of Columbus Council 13425 is chartered at St. Matthew and co-sponsors charitable initiatives such as the annual Kendall Oliver Memorial Blood Drive held in the Monsignor Bendix Center. The Home and School Association runs an annual Holiday Market in the Monsignor Bendix Center and coordinates parent involvement. The Men's Club and parish choirs support liturgy, fellowship, and parish life.
- Knights of Columbus Council 13425
- Home and School Association (annual Holiday Market)
- Men's Club
- Parish Choirs and Music Ministry
- Altar Servers
- Kendall Oliver Memorial Blood Drive
Buildings & Campus
The parish campus at 10021 Jefferson Highway includes the original 1961 750-seat church, the 1960–61 16-classroom school building, the 1962 second school building, the 1992 Pre-K building, the convent, the rectory (since renovated in 2019 for the 1-year-old program), the cafeteria housed in the renovated 1959 radio transmitter building, and the Monsignor Bendix Center — a multipurpose building named for the founding pastor that hosts parish events, blood drives, and the Home and School Holiday Market.
- Original church (1961, 750 seats)
- School building #1 (1960–61, 16 classrooms)
- School building #2 / 'back building' (1962, grades 6–8)
- Pre-K building (1992)
- Cafeteria (renovated radio transmitter building, 1963)
- Convent (1960, Sisters of St. Teresa of Jesus)
- Rectory (renovated 2019)
- Monsignor Bendix Center (multipurpose)
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and newcomers are welcome at any scheduled Mass or service. The parish office is open Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (summer hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM). The church, school, and Monsignor Bendix Center share a single campus on Jefferson Highway in River Ridge.
- Address: 10021 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, LA 70123
- Parish Office: 504-737-4537
- Parish Fax: 504-737-4033
- School Office: 504-737-4604
- Website: stmatthewtheapostle.net
- Facebook: facebook.com/StMatthewtheApostle
- Twitter: @SMAParish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John (A.) Bendix1959 – (long tenure, late 1970s at least)
Founding pastor assigned when the parish was canonically erected on June 27, 1959. Celebrated the first Mass in the old Tropical Radio transmitter building on the Feast of St. Matthew, Sept. 21, 1959. Later honored as Monsignor; the multipurpose Monsignor Bendix Center on the parish campus is named after him. Headed the school during the Brignac deacon controversy in the late 1970s and has since died.
- Rev. Joseph Tranapproximately 2017 – ~2019
Pastor during the period the parish held its first-ever outdoor Mass and family Easter egg hunt on the 'blue top' behind the school (April 2, 2017), drawing 650–700 parishioners. The outdoor Mass became an annual pre-Easter tradition under his leadership.
- Fr. Lee Poche'current pastor (in role by at least 2022)
Currently pastor and the public face of the parish. Listed on the official website and school page as pastor and is the celebrant at parish funerals and major liturgies.
- Rev. Francis OffiaJuly 1, 2019 – ~2022
Assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish by Archbishop Aymond, effective July 1, 2019 (Archdiocese of New Orleans 2019 assignments).
- Rev. Sidney Speakspresent during mid-2010s
Served as Parochial Vicar at St. Matthew; celebrated the special midnight Mass at the annual Youth Group lock-in.