About St. Rosalie Mission Chapel (Stephensville) · Morgan City, Louisiana
St. Rosalie Mission Chapel is a Roman Catholic mission chapel in Stephensville, Louisiana, operating as a satellite worship site of Holy Cross Parish in Morgan City. Located at 1315 East Stephensville Road in St. Mary Parish, the chapel serves the bayou-country faithful with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and the opportunity for Confession beforehand. It belongs to the Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux and shares its pastor, Father Patrick Riviere, and staff with the mother parish in Morgan City. The mission gives the rural Stephensville community a convenient weekend Mass option in addition to the multiple Sunday Masses offered at Holy Cross in Morgan City.
- Patron
- St. Rosalia (Rosalie) of Palermo
- Rector
- Father Patrick Riviere
- Diocese
- Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
Why belong here
St. Rosalie Mission Chapel offers a warmly accessible weekend Mass to the Stephensville community of St. Mary Parish. As a mission of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City, it gives rural Catholics a short drive for the Saturday Vigil Mass, with Confession available beforehand and the pastoral care of Holy Cross's full staff and ministries behind it. Worshippers here join the broader Holy Cross family — known for its lively liturgical life, faith formation for all ages, and strong lay leadership across dozens of ministries — while worshipping in the smaller, neighborly setting of the chapel.
Mass times at St. Rosalie Mission Chapel (Stephensville)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:55 PM (at St. Rosalie Chapel, Stephensville)
About St. Rosalie Mission Chapel
St. Rosalie Mission Chapel is a Roman Catholic mission chapel in Stephensville, an unincorporated bayou community just outside Morgan City in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. It is operated as a satellite worship site of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City and shares the parish's pastor and staff. The chapel is named for St. Rosalia of Palermo, the 12th-century Sicilian hermit invoked against plague, whose feast is celebrated on September 4.
- Type: Mission Chapel of Holy Cross Parish
- Diocese: Houma–Thibodaux
- Patron: St. Rosalia of Palermo (feast September 4)
Worship & Devotions at Holy Cross (Parent Parish)
Because St. Rosalie is a mission of Holy Cross, the full range of devotions at the main church is available to chapel worshippers. The Saturday Vigil at Holy Cross is preceded by the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary at 4:55 PM.
- Saturday Vigil at Holy Cross — 5:30 PM
- Sunday Masses at Holy Cross — 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary — 4:55 PM Saturday
- Confession prior to every Mass
Clergy & Staff
The mission chapel is served by the pastor and staff of Holy Cross Parish. Father Patrick Riviere was named pastor in 2025 by Bishop Simon Peter; he is supported by a parish team that includes the Administrative Assistant, coordinators of formation, music, and outreach, and Senior Leadership teams for the parish's priority ministries.
- Father Patrick Riviere — Pastor (ordained June 1, 2019; assigned to Holy Cross in 2020, named pastor in 2025)
- Mary Streva Guidry — Administrative Assistant
- Kellye Patterson — Bookkeeper
- Shana Ross — Bookkeeper
- Barbara Flowers — Custodial Services
Parish History (Holy Cross, the Parent Parish)
Holy Cross Parish was established on June 1, 1964, carved out of Sacred Heart Catholic Church — the 'mother parish' of Morgan City — to serve a booming population tied to the oil and seafood industries. The first Mass was celebrated August 15, 1965, with the Rev. Gerald Barrett officiating. The parish remained under the Archdiocese of New Orleans until 1977, when it became part of the newly formed Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux. Its 50th anniversary was marked in 2014 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond. St. Rosalie Mission Chapel was added in subsequent decades as an outreach to the Stephensville community of St. Mary Parish.
- 1964 — Holy Cross Parish established from Sacred Heart
- August 15, 1965 — first Mass celebrated (Rev. Gerald Barrett)
- 1977 — transferred to new Diocese of Houma–Thibodaux
- 2014 — 50th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Gregory Aymond
Pastoral Succession at Holy Cross
By its 50th anniversary in 2014, Holy Cross was on its eighth pastor. Documented pastors in recent years include Fr. Clyde Mahler (from 2014), Fr. Brice Higginbotham (Administrator 2018, Pastor before going to Rome in 2024), Fr. Mike Tran (effective July 1, 2024), and the current pastor Fr. Patrick Riviere (administrator from July 1, 2024; named pastor in 2025).
- Rev. Gerald Barrett (first Mass, 1965)
- Rev. Danny Poché (pastor at time of 50th anniversary, 2014)
- Rev. Clyde Mahler (2014–c.2018)
- Rev. Brice Higginbotham (c.2018–2024)
- Rev. Mike Tran (effective July 1, 2024)
- Rev. Patrick Riviere (Administrator 2024, Pastor 2025–present)
Liturgical Ministries
Holy Cross offers a full slate of liturgical ministries that extend to worship at St. Rosalie Chapel. Lay faithful serve at the altar, proclaim the Word, distribute Holy Communion, prepare the sacred vessels, welcome parishioners, and lead the music at Mass.
- Altar Servers (Coordinator: Dwayne Barbier)
- Lectors & Commentators
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (diocesan 5-year certification)
- Sacristans (Coordinator: Mary Guidry)
- Acolytes: Dwayne Barbier, Greg Brown, Nathan Rhodes
- Ushers
- Music Ministry — Choir, Vocalists, Musicians (Rose Hale; Organist Eddie Dugas)
Faith Formation
The Youth Formation team at Holy Cross oversees formation for children, junior-high, and high-school youth, as well as a Children's Church experience during the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass. The Adult Formation team facilitates small groups known as Holy Cross Connections.
- Elementary, Junior High, and High School formation
- Children's Church at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Holy Cross Connections small groups for adults
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The Major Life Moments team walks with parishioners through the key sacraments of Christian life. Couples prepare for marriage with Keith and Lisa Thibodeaux; those seeking annulments work with Colleen Hunter; the RCIA process is led by Colleen Hunter and Vickie Hall; and funeral/bereavement ministry is coordinated by Kellye Jo Patterson. Homebound parishioners may be added to the Homebound Communion List by calling the parish office.
- Baptism preparation
- Marriage preparation — Keith & Lisa Thibodeaux
- Annulments — Colleen Hunter
- RCIA — Colleen Hunter & Vickie Hall
- Funerals and Bereavement — Kellye Jo Patterson
- Homebound Communion (call office)
Parish Communications
Holy Cross keeps its parishioners — including the St. Rosalie Chapel community — informed through its weekly bulletin, social media accounts, YouTube channel, and Flocknote. The Social Media team handles all parish communications.
- Weekly church bulletin
- Facebook and Instagram pages
- YouTube channel
- Flocknote email / text updates
- Share email: [email protected]
Visiting the Chapel
St. Rosalie Mission Chapel sits at 1315 East Stephensville Road in Stephensville, Louisiana — part of the greater Morgan City mailing area (ZIP 70380) in St. Mary Parish. For directions, holy day schedules, or sacramental needs, contact the Holy Cross parish office in Morgan City.
- Address: 1315 East Stephensville Road, Morgan City, LA 70380
- Parish office (Holy Cross): 2100 Cedar Street, Unit #3, Morgan City, LA 70380
- Phone: 985-384-3551
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gerald Barrett1965 (first Mass)
Officiated the first Mass in the new Holy Cross church on August 15, 1965; served as one of the founding priests.
- Rev. Clyde Mahler2014–c.2018
Pastor of Holy Cross Parish; reassigned in the 2018 diocesan assignments.
- Rev. Brice Higginbothamc.2018–2024
Served as Administrator then Pastor of Holy Cross; departed in 2024 for doctoral studies in Sacred Scripture at Rome; author of 'Daily Lessons from the Saints' (2020) and 'Remaining with Jesus' (2023).
- Rev. Mike Tran2024 (effective July 1)
Appointed pastor of Holy Cross effective July 1, 2024, succeeding Fr. Higginbotham; previously pastor of Annunziata Catholic Church in Houma.
- Rev. Patrick Riviere2024–present
Born June 22, 1992 in Thibodaux; ordained June 1, 2019; began as Administrator of Holy Cross July 1, 2024; named Pastor in 2025 by Bishop Simon Peter.