About St. Michael Chapel · Egan, Louisiana
St. Michael Chapel is a Roman Catholic mission church serving the small community of Egan in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. It is operated as a mission of St. Joseph Catholic Church in nearby Iota, and together the two worship sites form a single parish family of more than 800 households (over 2,200 parishioners) within the West Region of the Diocese of Lafayette. The current chapel structure stands on Egan Highway beside Egan Elementary School and was completed in 1981 under the leadership of Fr. John Hassink, who lived in residence at St. Michael from 1974 to 1986. The mission is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, the defender of God's people, whose feast is celebrated on September 29.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Killeen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana (West Region)
Why belong here
St. Michael Chapel offers Catholics in the Egan area a close, walkable place to worship on Egan Highway beside Egan Elementary School, with regular weekly Mass, Saturday Vigil, and Confession before each Mass — a rare rhythm of sacramental access for a small Cajun-country mission. As part of St. Joseph Parish in Iota, parishioners also belong to a vibrant 800-family faith community that supports St. Francis Elementary School and Notre Dame High School, and can join ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Ladies' Altar Society, St. Martha's Guild, Perpetual Adoration, OCIA, and the Come, Lord Jesus prayer group. It is a warm, multi-generational community where everyone — lifelong parishioners, newcomers, or those exploring the Catholic faith — is welcomed.
Mass times at St. Michael Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday – 8:30 AM (30 minutes before Sunday Mass at St. Michael)
- Tuesday – 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday – 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (30 minutes before the Vigil Mass at St. Michael); 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM also offered at St. Joseph, Iota
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration is available at the parish Adoration Chapel (parish-wide; sign up for a weekly holy hour through the parish office)
St. Michael Chapel — Mission of St. Joseph Parish
St. Michael Chapel is the Egan worship site of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iota. Together they form one parish family of more than 800 households (over 2,200 parishioners) in the West Region of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. The mission sits on Egan Highway beside Egan Elementary School, making it a natural gathering place for Catholic families in the Egan area of Acadia Parish.
- Mission of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Iota
- Located at 2106 Egan Highway, Egan, LA 70531
- Sits beside Egan Elementary School
History of St. Michael Chapel
While the parent St. Joseph Parish in Iota dates back to 1892, St. Michael Chapel's modern chapter began in 1974 when Fr. John Hassink took up residence at the mission. He served the families of Egan from 1974 to 1986, and under his leadership the current chapel structure on Egan Highway was completed in 1981. The mission's identity today is rooted in that twelve-year period of dedicated residential pastoral care.
- Fr. John Hassink served in residence at St. Michael 1974–1986
- Current chapel building completed in 1981
- Part of the Diocese of Lafayette (formerly part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans)
Patron — St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael Chapel takes its name from St. Michael the Archangel, one of the great protectors of God's people and a mighty warrior in the heavenly army. The parish recalls his witness from Scripture (Revelation 12:7-9), where he leads the heavenly hosts in casting Satan out of heaven, and invokes his intercession through the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel composed by Pope Leo XIII. St. Michael is honored as the patron of police officers, soldiers, and all who fight for justice and the protection of the innocent.
- Feast Day: September 29
- Meaning of the name: 'Who is like God?'
- Traditional guardian of the Church and champion of souls at the hour of death
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
St. Michael Chapel is served by the pastor and staff of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iota. Fr. Andrew Killeen, a native of Lafayette and alumnus of St. Pius X parish, was ordained a priest by Bishop Douglas Deshotel on June 6, 2020 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The lay staff handles parish administration, faith formation, religious education, cemetery records, rectory housekeeping, and maintenance. A Parish Council provides lay governance.
- Fr. Andrew Killeen — Pastor
- Nanette Roy — Secretary and Bookkeeper
- Daniela LeDoux — Director of Religious Education and Cemetery Records
- Annie Pickett — Rectory Housekeeper
- Joe Cart — Maintenance
- Trustees and Parish Council members
Ministries & Organizations
The combined St. Joseph / St. Michael parish offers a wide range of ministries that span liturgy, service, fellowship, and prayer life. These include lay-led liturgical roles (lectors, ushers, altar servers), women's and men's service organizations, a perpetual adoration commitment, a parish Scripture study group, and the OCIA process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Lectors, Ushers, Altar Servers
- Ladies' Altar Society — altar linens and seasonal decorating
- St. Martha's Guild — meals for families after funerals
- Knights of Columbus — meets 3rd Thursday at 7:00 PM in Assumption Hall
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA)
- Perpetual Adoration Adorers
- Come, Lord Jesus — weekly prayer group on the upcoming Sunday readings
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish offers the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, tailored by Fr. Killeen to each individual's needs — for non-Catholics seeking to enter the Church, Catholics preparing for Confirmation, and Catholics who simply wish to be enriched in their faith. Families are invited to contact the office to begin the journey. Religious Education for children is coordinated through Daniela LeDoux, Director of Religious Education.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (taught by Fr. Killeen)
- Religious Education / Faith Formation for children
- Baptism, Marriage, and other sacramental prep through the parish office
Schools Supported by the Parish
The combined parish is committed to Catholic education across Acadia Parish. It is the owner parish of St. Francis Elementary School, located adjacent to St. Joseph Church in Iota, and is one of seven owner parishes of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish in Crowley.
- St. Francis Elementary School — adjacent to St. Joseph Church, Iota
- Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, Crowley (one of seven owner parishes)
Contact & Visit
The parish office for both St. Joseph (Iota) and St. Michael Chapel (Egan) is reached at the Iota address. Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to attend Mass at either worship site and to explore ministries through the parish website.
- St. Joseph Parish office — 604 St. Joseph Ave., Iota, LA 70543
- Phone: (337) 779-2627
- Fax: (337) 779-2632
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjosephiota.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Hassink1974–1986
Served faithfully in residence at St. Michael Chapel; led construction of the current chapel, completed in 1981.