About St. Theresa of Avila · Gonzales, Louisiana
St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Gonzales, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Baton Rouge and seat of the East Central Deanery. Established in 1918 when the parish seat was moved from the older Cornerview community to Gonzales along the new railroad corridor, the parish traces its Catholic roots on the east bank of the Mississippi back to the 1840s. Today the parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a regional Catholic school (St. Theresa Middle School, grades 4–8) alongside St. John School (pre-K–3) in Prairieville, and serves as an active hub of faith formation, sacramental life, and Hispanic ministry for Ascension Parish.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- St. Theresa of Avila
- Rector
- Very Rev. Matthew E. McCaughey, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Theresa of Avila is a large, bilingual parish with four weekend Masses (including a Sunday Mass in Spanish), a full sacramental schedule, and a parish-run regional middle school. The parish actively welcomes lifelong Catholics, newcomers, returning Catholics, and the simply curious, offering faith formation for children and youth (with First Communion and Confirmation tracks), OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), baptism preparation, and a robust set of liturgical ministries—altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers—so there is a meaningful way for nearly anyone to participate in parish life.
Mass times at St. Theresa of Avila
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM
- Sunday 2:45–3:30 PM (in Spanish)
- By private appointment with a priest
History of St. Theresa of Avila
Catholic worship on the east bank of the Mississippi in Ascension Parish goes back to the 1840s, when French and Spanish settlers first built a small chapel named St. Ann near Belle Helene and then, by the late 1840s, a second chapel at Cornerview under the title Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The community grew, and in 1863 a larger church was built at Cornerview—the same year the parish was officially established. At some point the church's name was changed to Sacred Heart of Jesus. By the early 1900s the population had shifted toward Gonzales and St. Amant, and the railroad and new highways bypassed Cornerview, so in 1918 the parish seat was moved to Gonzales and a new church was built and placed under the patronage of St. Theresa of Avila. The first pastor in Gonzales was Father Eugene Hubert.
- c. 1840 – St. Ann chapel at Crevasse near Belle Helene
- Late 1840s – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary chapel at Cornerview
- 1863 – Larger church built at Cornerview; parish officially established
- Name later changed to Sacred Heart of Jesus
- 1918 – Parish seat moved to Gonzales; church renamed St. Theresa of Avila
- First Gonzales pastor: Father Eugene Hubert
Clergy & Staff
St. Theresa of Avila is pastored by Very Rev. Matthew E. McCaughey, V.F., who also serves as Dean of the East Central Deanery of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. He is assisted by a parochial vicar, two deacons, and a lay staff who coordinate faith formation, Hispanic ministry, OCIA and baptism preparation, communications, and the parish office.
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew McCaughey, V.F. (Dean, East Central Deanery)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Augustine Michael Puthumana
- Deacon: Steven C. Gonzales
- Deacon: Jodi A. Moscona
- Hispanic Ministry / OCIA & Baptism Coordinator: Angela Tovar
- Faith Formation Coordinator (parish staff)
- Digital Media Coordinator: Abby Montreuil
- Liturgical Ministries & Administrative Assistant to the Pastor: Kayla
- Reception: Brenda Gonzales
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve the liturgy in a variety of roles. Training and a commissioning process are provided for those who assist with the distribution of Holy Communion and the proclamation of Scripture, and families with children in at least third grade who have made their First Eucharist are welcome to begin serving at the altar.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls, Grade 3+, after First Eucharist)
- Lectors (must be at least 9th grade; training required)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (commissioned after a training seminar)
- Ushers (greet, seat, take up the collection, direct Communion lines, hand out bulletins)
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs a Faith Formation program that partners with parents in nurturing the faith of children and youth, helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and become active members of the Catholic Church. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Communion (Grade 2) and Confirmation (Grades 7–9), and the parish also offers OCIA and baptism preparation for adults and families through its coordinator.
- Grade 2 – First Communion Preparation ($50)
- Grades 7–9 – Confirmation Preparation ($60)
- Grades 1 and 3–6 – Faith Formation ($40)
- St. John 2nd graders – Sacramental Fee $10
- Requirements: registered parishioner; birth and baptism certificates; First Communion certificate for Confirmation candidates
- OCIA and Baptism Coordinator: Angela Tovar
Hispanic Ministry
St. Theresa of Avila has an active Hispanic Ministry serving Spanish-speaking parishioners and the wider Ascension Parish community. The parish celebrates a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish and offers sacramental preparation, baptism coordination, and ministry outreach in Spanish through the Hispanic Ministry Coordinator.
- Spanish Mass: Sundays 1:30 PM
- Spanish Reconciliation: Sundays 2:45–3:30 PM
- Coordinator: Angela Tovar ([email protected])
St. Theresa Middle School & Regional Catholic Education
A Catholic school has stood behind the church building since 1959. Today the parish's school apostolate has grown into a regional Catholic school system that serves children from across the area: St. Theresa Middle School hosts grades 4–8 in Gonzales, and St. John School in Prairieville hosts pre-K through grade 3.
- 1959 – Catholic school built behind the church
- St. Theresa Middle School: grades 4–8, Gonzales
- St. John School: pre-K through grade 3, Prairieville
- Together the schools serve children from across Ascension Parish and surrounding communities
Visiting, Registering & Getting Involved
Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, new to the faith, returning after time away, or simply curious, the parish welcomes you. Newcomers can find Mass and confession times, register as parishioners, and contact the office through the parish website. There are ongoing opportunities to serve in liturgical ministries, faith formation, the Hispanic ministry, and the parish school.
- Address: 1022 N. Burnside Ave, Gonzales, LA 70737
- Phone: 225-647-6588 | Fax: 225-647-2223
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:30 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM); Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
- Parish registration available through the parish website
- Volunteer contacts: Alice Blair ([email protected]) and Angela Tovar ([email protected], Spanish)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Eugene Hubert1918–
First pastor assigned to the new Gonzales church when the parish seat moved from Cornerview in 1918.
- Rev. Eric Gyanuntil 2023
Pastor prior to Fr. McCaughey; reassigned by Bishop Michael Duca as Pastor of St. Jean Vianney in Baton Rouge effective July 1, 2023.
- Very Rev. Matthew E. McCaughey, V.F.2023–present
Appointed Pastor of St. Theresa of Avila in Gonzales effective July 1, 2023, coming from St. James/St. Philip/Our Lady of Peace in Vacherie.