About St. Raphael · Iowa, Louisiana
St. Raphael Catholic Church is a 900+ family parish in the small town of Iowa, Louisiana (Calcasieu Parish), in the Diocese of Lake Charles. Founded in 1931 and pastored by Rev. Anthony M. Fontenot, it serves its parishioners from its church on South Thomson Avenue in Iowa while also operating the mission chapel of St. Joseph in LeBleu Settlement (Lake Charles). The community gathers around daily and weekly Mass, a 24-hour Adoration chapel, the Bon Amis Festival and other parish traditions, and a robust Religious Education program coordinated by Tiffany Mixon, supported by Deacon Stephen Starr and a small parish staff.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony M. Fontenot
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lake Charles
Why belong here
St. Raphael Catholic Church is a welcoming, mid-sized parish family of roughly 906 households rooted in small-town Iowa, Louisiana — a place where Mass is offered every day of the week, confession is available before every Mass, and the Eucharistic Lord is adored 24 hours a day in the parish Adoration chapel. Visitors and newcomers are warmly received whether they are passing through, returning to the faith, or seeking a parish home, and the parish reaches beyond Iowa through its mission chapel of St. Joseph in LeBleu Settlement. With active sacramental preparation, a Religious Education program, beloved community festivals like the Bon Amis Festival and Spring Fling, and a pastor and deacon who know their flock, St. Raphael offers the kind of reverent, family-style Catholic life that is increasingly rare.
Mass times at St. Raphael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 30 minutes before every Mass (approximately 3:30 p.m.)
- Daily: 30 minutes before each Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: 24 hours per day in the Adoration chapel (call the parish office for details)
Parish Identity & Location
St. Raphael Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Lake Charles, located in the small Southwest Louisiana town of Iowa, the seat of Calcasieu Civil Parish. The parish's address is 211 S. Thomson Avenue, Iowa, LA 70647, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 849, Iowa, LA 70647-0849. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and can be reached at (337) 582-3503 (Fax: 337-582-6326) or by email at [email protected]. St. Raphael is one of seven parishes in the diocese's North Central Deanery.
- Address: 211 S. Thomson Avenue, Iowa, LA 70647
- Mailing: P.O. Box 849, Iowa, LA 70647-0849
- Office Phone: (337) 582-3503
- Office Fax: (337) 582-6326
- Office Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon
- Part of the North Central Deanery, Diocese of Lake Charles
History
St. Raphael Catholic Church was established in 1931, in what was then the Diocese of Lafayette, to serve the faithful of Iowa, Louisiana, and the surrounding Calcasieu Parish countryside. The Diocese of Lake Charles was erected later (in 1980), and St. Raphael has remained a stable part of the new diocese, which today lists the parish in its North Central Deanery. Over the decades the parish has grown to roughly 906 registered families and expanded its ministry beyond the main church to include the mission chapel of St. Joseph in LeBleu Settlement.
- Year founded: 1931
- Approximately 906 registered families
- Civil parish: Calcasieu
- Originally in the Diocese of Lafayette, now Diocese of Lake Charles (erected 1980)
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Raphael is shepherded by a small and dedicated pastoral team. The pastor, Rev. Anthony M. Fontenot, also serves the wider diocese as Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from his office at the parish. Deacon Stephen Starr assists with sacramental and pastoral ministry. The parish staff includes Laurie Vidrine as Administrative Assistant, Tiffany Mixon as Coordinator of Religious Education, and Liz Starr as Bookkeeper.
- Rev. Anthony M. Fontenot — Pastor; also diocesan Director, Society for the Propagation of the Faith
- Deacon Stephen Starr
- Laurie Vidrine — Administrative Assistant
- Tiffany Mixon — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Liz Starr — Bookkeeper
Sacraments
The parish offers preparation and celebration of all seven Catholic sacraments. The parish website and sacraments page walk families through each sacrament, reminding them of the centrality of Baptism as 'the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments' (CCC 1213). The Eucharist is described as 'the source and summit' of the Christian life, and Confirmation as a deepening of baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ.
- Baptism — call the parish office to schedule preparation
- Confirmation — prepared through the Religious Education program
- Eucharist (First Communion) — celebrated within the Mass
- Reconciliation — see Reconciliation section
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Holy Marriage — call at least six months before desired wedding date
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated by Tiffany Mixon. The Religious Education program prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and continues the lifelong formation of Catholic disciples. Families interested in the program should call the church office to speak with the Religious Education Department.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Tiffany Mixon
- Contact: (337) 582-3503
St. Joseph Mission Chapel, LeBleu Settlement
Beyond its main church in Iowa, St. Raphael operates the St. Joseph Mission Chapel in LeBleu Settlement, at 2110 Claude Hebert Road in Lake Charles. The mission chapel provides an additional Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. for rural Catholic families in that part of Calcasieu Parish, extending the parish's reach well beyond the town of Iowa itself. Holy Day Mass schedules at St. Joseph vary.
- Location: 2110 Claude Hebert Road, Lake Charles, LA 70615 (LeBleu Settlement)
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 a.m.
- Holy Days: Schedule varies
Parish Festivals & Community Life
Community building at St. Raphael is anchored by beloved annual and biennial traditions that bring together parishioners, neighbors, and visitors. The Bon Amis Festival is the parish's signature annual gathering, and the Spring Fling is held every other year. Together these celebrations — alongside the daily rhythm of Mass, Adoration, and religious education — form the heart of the parish's social life.
- Bon Amis Festival — annual
- Spring Fling — every other year (biennial)