About St. Peter · New Iberia, Louisiana
St. Peter Catholic Church is a historic Catholic parish in New Iberia, Louisiana, tracing its roots to the 1781 founding of Nuevo Iberia by Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez and Canary Island settlers. Located at 108 E. Saint Peter Street in the Diocese of Lafayette, it serves as a spiritual home along the Bayou Teche where Spanish, French, Acadian, and American Catholic heritage meet. The parish's current church — a French Renaissance–style building seating 1,200 with twin 90-foot towers, a Botticino marble altar, and stained-glass Stations of the Cross — was dedicated in 1953. Today, under Pastor Fr. William Blanda, St. Peter's is known for its perpetual adoration chapel (Chapel of Divine Mercy), its live broadcast of the Sunday 7:30 a.m. Mass on KANE radio, and its enduring ministry to homebound parishioners and the wider New Iberia community through the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center.
- Established
- 1781 (mission begun with settlement); 1838 (first resident administrator / first church built)
- Patron
- Saint Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Very Rev. William C. Blanda, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in the heart of New Iberia, with a daily and Sunday Mass schedule that includes a live broadcast on KANE radio and perpetual eucharistic adoration through its Chapel of Divine Mercy (Sunday evenings through Friday mornings). Parishioners can grow in faith through Christian formation, the CCD program, the Prayer Blanket Ministry, the Rosary for World Peace, Music Ministry sign-ups, and the Pastor's Youth Council, while also serving neighbors in need through the parish-founded Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center and the Homebound Ministry (which brings Holy Communion to homebound parishioners weekly). Whether you are seeking traditional liturgy, family faith formation, vocations support, or a 240-year-old parish family along the Bayou Teche, St. Peter's welcomes you.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
- Sunday: 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
- Monday – Saturday: 30 minutes before each Mass
- Weekday: Monday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Tuesday – Thursday 8:00 – 11:30 am and 1:00 – 4:00 pm; Friday 8:00 – 11:30 am
Adoration times
- Chapel of Divine Mercy: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from Sunday evenings at 5:00 pm until Friday morning at 7:00 am (perpetual adoration)
Our History
St. Peter's Catholic Church has been a spiritual home in New Iberia for more than two centuries. The parish traces its origins to the 1781 founding of Nuevo Iberia by Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez and Canary Island settlers (Isleños), with early Catholics relying on monthly visiting priests from St. Martinville who traveled on horseback. Christianity took root among these frontier families and the Attakapas Indian region; the parish grew alongside the arrival of French refugees, Acadians, and Americans after the Louisiana Purchase. The first St. Peter's Church was a wooden colonial-style brick structure, and Fr. Charles Boutelou de St. Aubin became the parish's first administrator in 1838. In 1894, the parish was legally incorporated as 'The Congregation of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Inc.,' and parish property was officially transferred from the Archdiocese to the parish in 1896. The current French Renaissance–style church, seating 1,200 with twin 90-foot towers, a Botticino marble altar, and stained-glass Stations of the Cross, was completed debt-free under Msgr. Albert J. Bacque and dedicated on June 29, 1953, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Today the parish continues to mark its Spanish, French, Acadian, and American Catholic heritage along the Bayou Teche.
- 1781: Settlement of Nuevo Iberia — foundations of the parish
- 1838: First administrator Fr. Charles Boutelou de St. Aubin; first baptism June 6, 1838; first marriage July 30, 1838
- 1875–1890: Fr. Claude Jacquet establishes Holy Cross School for boys
- 1894: Parish legally incorporated as 'The Congregation of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Inc.'
- 1896: Parish property transferred from Archdiocese to parish
- 1908–1947: Fr. Jean Marie Langlois — 39-year tenure; founds St. Peter's College; 2,100-lb bell installed in 1909
- 1951–1953: Present French Renaissance church built and dedicated June 29, 1953
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership Through the Years
From Fr. Charles Boutelou de St. Aubin in 1838 to the current pastor, the parish has been served by a succession of priests who shaped its spiritual and physical life. Fr. Jean Marie Langlois' 39-year pastorate remains the longest in the parish's history, and Msgr. John Henry Disch was the first native New Iberian pastor. Fr. Warren J. Boudreaux (1954–1971) later became Bishop of Beaumont. Today the parish is led by Very Rev. William C. Blanda, V.F., with Rev. Connor Poirrier serving as Parochial Vicar and Rev. Msgr. Jefferson DeBlanc in residence.
- Fr. Claude Jacquet (1875–1890) — built a new rectory
- Fr. Jean Marie Langlois (1908–1947) — longest tenure, founded Catholic High precursor
- Msgr. Albert J. Bacque (early 1950s) — built present church debt-free
- Fr. Warren J. Boudreaux (1954–1971) — founded 'The Voice' parish bulletin
- Msgr. John Henry Disch (1973–1988) — first native New Iberian pastor; founded Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center
- Msgr. Joseph Guy Lemoine (Co-Pastor from 1983) — expanded Evangelization and music programs
- Fr. Charles Langlois (appointed 2001) — new organ, window replacement, Msgr. Disch Perpetual Adoration Chapel
- Very Rev. William C. Blanda, V.F. (2014–present)
Meet the Pastor — Fr. William C. Blanda, V.F.
Fr. William C. Blanda was born July 20, 1963, in Harvey, Louisiana. He was ordained to the Diaconate at the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on April 21, 1990, and ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by the Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn on June 22, 1991. He came to St. Peter's in 2014 after serving parishes in Carencro, Kaplan, and Abbeville, and as Chancellor of Vermilion Catholic High School. He also serves as Chancellor of Catholic High School in New Iberia. Fr. Blanda regularly warns parishioners about email scams falsely appealing for charitable donations in his name.
- Born July 20, 1963, Harvey, Louisiana
- Ordained deacon: April 21, 1990 (Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)
- Ordained priest: June 22, 1991 by Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn
- Assignments: St. Peter Carencro (1991–1994, Assoc.); Teurlings Catholic HS Chaplain (1992–1994); Our Lady of the Holy Rosary / St. Frances Cabrini, Kaplan (1995–2002); St. Mary Magdalen, Abbeville (2002–2014); St. Peter, New Iberia (2014–present)
- Concurrent role: Chancellor of Catholic High School, New Iberia (2014–present)
Parish Staff
In addition to the three priests, the parish is supported by a team of lay staff and ministry coordinators who keep daily operations, music, formation, and parish life running.
- Eileen Boudoin — Parish Office
- Carole Lester — Parish Office
- Spring Viator — Pastoral Life Coordinator
- Gregory Phillips — Director of Sacred Music (FGMS)
- Ann-Carol Indest — Children's Liturgy
- Ben LeBleu — Safe Environment / Office/Maintenance Assistant
- Sheral Joseph — Housekeeper
Live Broadcast on KANE Radio
Each week, the Sunday morning 7:30 a.m. Holy Mass is broadcast live on KANE radio. Listeners can tune in live or access the Mass for one week following on the station's website under the 'On Air' tab.
- Live: KANE radio, Sundays at 7:30 am
- Archive: KANE station website, 'On Air' tab (available for one week)
Christian Formation & Community Life
St. Peter's offers faith formation for children and adults through CCD classes, Children's Liturgy, Music Ministry sign-ups, and ongoing adult faith formation. The Pastor's Youth Council — made up of college students and high-school seniors working directly with the pastor — plans spiritual, apostolic, and communal activities open to all the young parishioners of the parish.
- Prayer Blanket Ministry — blessed prayer blankets for the sick, with optional candle intentions ($5)
- Rosary for World Peace
- Music Ministry Sign-Up
- Children's Liturgy (Ann-Carol Indest)
- CCD / Christian Formation
- Pastor’s Youth Council (under the patronage of St. John Bosco)
Spiritual Life & Worship
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish's spiritual life is sustained by the perpetual eucharistic adoration chapel, the Vocations Cross program (a weekly family or individual receives the cross to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious, and consecrated life), and the longstanding Homebound Ministry, in which trained parishioners bring Holy Communion to homebound neighbors weekly and Fr. Blanda (and Fr. Poirrier) make pastoral visits and hear confessions.
- Chapel of Divine Mercy — perpetual adoration (Sun 5 pm – Fri 7 am)
- Vocations Cross sign-up (coordinated by Julie Schexnailder)
- Homebound Ministry — six ministers serve ~14 homebound parishioners
- Rosary for World Peace
Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center
Founded in 1976 by Msgr. John Henry Disch, then-pastor of St. Peter's Catholic Church, the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center provides immediate assistance for critical and basic needs without a waiting period or fee. The center — housed on property at the corner of Bank and Pershing streets donated to St. Peter's by the Sofas family — counsels clients on financial issues, encourages them in their illnesses, grief, and other troubles, and prays with them when needed. It celebrated 50 years of service in 2026.
- Founded 1976 by Msgr. John Henry Disch
- Immediate assistance for critical and basic needs — no waiting period or fee
- Counseling on financial issues, illness, grief, and personal troubles
- Property at Bank and Pershing streets, donated to St. Peter's by the Sofas family
Volunteer, Events & Stay Connected
St. Peter's keeps parishioners engaged through a Google-calendar-driven Parish Events schedule of bus trips, fellowship gatherings, and service opportunities; Flocknote email newsletters; and parish bulletins like 'The Voice' (introduced by Fr. Boudreaux in the 1950s and still produced today). The site also runs a Volunteer Opportunities sign-up and a weekly bulletin posted online (e.g., the June 7, 2026 bulletin).
- Parish Events Google Calendar
- Flocknote newsletter
- Online weekly bulletin and worship aid
- Volunteer Opportunities sign-up
- Vocations Cross sign-up (Julie Schexnailder)
Visit Us, Contact & Genealogy Requests
Parish offices are open Monday–Thursday 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m., and Friday 8:30–11:30 a.m. (closed weekends). The parish helps genealogists by providing sacramental certificates (birth, death, marriage) dating back to 1838 for $5.00 each, requested via [email protected] and fulfilled in accordance with Diocesan guidelines, with up to two weeks for mailing.
- Physical: 108 E Saint Peter Street, New Iberia, LA 70560
- Mailing: P.O. Box 12507, New Iberia, LA 70562
- Phone: (337) 369-3816
- Email: [email protected]
- Genealogy / sacramental certificates: [email protected] (records from 1838, $5 each)
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30–11:30 / 1:00–4:00; Fri 8:30–11:30
2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage Designation
St. Peter's Catholic Church was designated a Jubilee Pilgrimage Church for the 2025 Holy Year. GCatholic also lists it among Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025.
- 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage Church (parish announcement, March 2025)
- Listed by GCatholic as a Jubilee Church for the Holy Year 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles Boutelou de St. Aubin1838–
First administrator; performed first baptism (June 6, 1838) and first marriage (July 30, 1838).
- Fr. Claude Jacquet1875–1890
Established Holy Cross School for boys; oversaw construction of new rectory.
- Fr. Jean Marie Langlois1908–1947
Longest tenure in parish history (39 years); founded St. Peter's College (forerunner of Catholic High); installed the 2,100-lb bell (1909).
- Msgr. Albert J. Bacquecompleted 1953
Built the current French Renaissance–style church, completed debt-free and dedicated June 29, 1953.
- Fr. Warren J. Boudreaux1954–1971
Established new parishes, schools, and catechetical halls; introduced the parish bulletin 'The Voice.' Later became Bishop of Beaumont.
- Msgr. John Henry Disch1973–1988
First native New Iberian pastor; renovations to interior and exterior; founded the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center (1976).
- Msgr. Joseph Guy Lemoine1983+
Co-Pastor; expanded adult Bible studies, Evangelization Ministry, and music/choir programs.
- Fr. Charles Langloisappointed 2001
Led improvements including a new organ, window replacement, and the Msgr. Disch Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
- Very Rev. William C. Blanda, V.F.2014–present
Current pastor; also serves as Chancellor of Catholic High School, New Iberia.