About St. Theresa · Crowley, Louisiana
St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 417 West 3rd Street in Crowley, Louisiana, in the Diocese of Lafayette. Founded in 1920 as the first parish in Crowley serving African American Catholics, it has been staffed by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph) for its entire history. The parish runs an active CCD religious education program for children and youth, offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a range of lay ministries, and honors its Black Catholic heritage as a central part of its identity.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. Theresa of Avila
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Odoguje
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Theresa of Avila offers a deeply rooted Black Catholic community that has worshiped in West Crowley for over a century, with weekend and weekday Masses, daily Eucharistic Adoration several days a week, and regular Reconciliation. Parishioners of all ages are welcomed into CCD religious education (ages 4–17), youth ministry, Music Ministry, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Eucharistic Ministers, and the parish continues the long-standing work of the Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies of Peter Claver, and the St. Joseph Society. It is a place where Black Catholic heritage, family, and service to neighbors are lived out together.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 5:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:30 a.m.
- Wednesday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Parish History & Black Catholic Heritage
St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church was founded in 1920 as the first parish in Crowley, Louisiana, established to serve African American Catholics. The parish was entrusted from its very first day to the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph), who continue to staff it today. Throughout its history the parish has placed its Black Catholic identity at the center of its mission — honoring it explicitly in the parish's own mission statement as the community worships, serves, and passes the faith to the next generation.
- Founded 1920 by Father Thomas Duffy, SSJ, with about 500 worshippers.
- Church built and dedicated October 22, 1922.
- Sisters of the Holy Ghost arrived January 1923 to run the school.
- Silver Jubilee celebrated in 1945.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Mark Odoguje as pastor. He is supported by a small lay staff who handle parish administration, religious education, music, and environmental stewardship. The parish's written history records a long succession of Josephite pastors who have served St. Theresa since 1920.
- Fr. Mark Odoguje — Pastor
- Samantha Young-Lewis — Parish Secretary / Pastoral Assistant
- Sharon Wilridge — Religious Education Coordinator (DRE)
- Antoinette Pete — Director of Music
- Dollie Eaglin-Monroe — Coordinator of Save Environment
Faith Formation & CCD Religious Education
Since the closure of the parish school, St. Theresa has maintained an extensive Religious Education Program (CCD) for the children of the parish and surrounding community — once enrolling more than 500 children each year in grades 1 through 12. Registration is run through the parish CCD office under the direction of the DRE, Sharon Wilridge.
- CCD open to children ages 4 through 17.
- Registration typically runs September through early October.
- Infant Baptism for children 0–7; children 8+ must take a Baptism class first.
- Contact: CCD Office 337-250-2457 or Parish Office 337-783-1880.
Ministries & Lay Apostolates
The parish's mission statement calls every parishioner to share their gifts in the life of the Church. St. Theresa offers a wide range of liturgical and community ministries, drawing on both adults and youth, and continues the long-standing lay societies that have shaped the parish since the 1920s.
- Music Ministry (Adults and Youth) — led by the Director of Music.
- Youth Ministry.
- Lectors — proclaim the Scriptures at Mass; training provided.
- Altar Servers — open to students from 4th/5th grade through high school.
- Eucharistic Ministers — commissioned after required training.
- Ushers and Funeral Ministry.
- Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies of Peter Claver (since 1925).
- St. Joseph Society, Ladies Sodality, Junior Sodality, and Parish Choir.
Sacraments
Information about preparing for and celebrating the Sacraments at St. Theresa is shared through the parish office and the CCD office. Reconciliation is available weekly, and families are asked to contact the parish or DRE to schedule Baptisms and sacramental preparation.
- Baptism: Infant Baptism for ages 0–7; children 8+ must take a Baptism class.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday 5:00 p.m.
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through CCD.
- Funerals coordinated through the parish office.
Historic Campus & Buildings
The St. Theresa campus in West Crowley grew up around the original 1922 church. Over time it expanded to include a rectory, a sisters' house, and a former kindergarten/school building — all of which were recognized for their historical significance when the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
- Church — built and dedicated October 22, 1922.
- Rectory.
- Sisters' house — home of the Holy Ghost Sisters who ran the school.
- Former kindergarten / school building.
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to St. Theresa of Avila. The parish office is open limited weekday hours, and the church shares Mass livestreams and updates on its Facebook page.
- Address: 417 West 3rd Street, Crowley, LA 70526-4915.
- Phone: 337-783-1880; Fax: 337-783-9676.
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Website: http://www.sttheresacrowley.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/st.theresacrowley/
- Diocese: Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas Duffy, SSJ1920 –
Founding pastor of St. Theresa of Avila; first Josephite pastor assigned to the new parish with about 500 worshippers.
- Father Peter C. Weiss, SSJ
Served as pastor of St. Theresa parish, Crowley, for four years before moving on to St. Augustine High School and other Louisiana assignments.
- Father Kenneth Howard, SSJ
Listed as pastor at the time the parish's written history was compiled.
- Fr. Mark Odogujepresent
Current pastor, listed on the parish website staff page.