About St. Theresa of the Child Jesus · Duson, Louisiana
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in the small town of Duson, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana. The parish is part of a combined Catholic community that also includes St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, with both served by a single pastor and staff. Founded in 1927 and chartered formally in 1929 under the Diocese of Lafayette, St. Theresa serves the faithful of Duson with a traditional schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, regular confession times, faith formation programs, and ongoing parish ministries. The parish is pastored today by Reverend Nicholas Dupré and remains an active center of worship and Catholic community life in southwestern Louisiana.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (of Lisieux)
- Rector
- Reverend Nicholas Dupré
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in Duson with a century-old tradition of worship, daily and weekend Masses, and plentiful confession times. Parishioners can grow in faith through religious education for children and adults, parish staff support, and the parish's active ministries. Being part of the combined St. Theresa / St. Benedict the Moor community means belonging to one of Acadiana's enduring family-centered Catholic parishes.
Mass times at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 7:45 AM – 8:10 AM
- Thursday: 7:45 AM – 8:10 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday: 6:15 AM – 6:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Parish History
Construction of the original St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church in Duson was completed in October 1927. Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard blessed the building on the morning of Sunday, October 19, 1927, and Reverend Oscar J. Chauvin, then Chancellor of the Diocese of Lafayette, celebrated the first Mass. The Charter of the Congregation was formally dated January 4, 1929, the founding year recorded in diocesan records. Reverend Louis Bertrand purchased the parish cemetery on N A Street on January 11, 1934 — the St. Theresa Cemetery later absorbed the adjacent private Floyd Cemetery, the first cemetery in Duson, with a granite marker erected to honor the Floyd ancestors. A new, larger church was built to serve the growing community. Reverend Oscar Chauvin celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Sunday, February 16, 1969. The old church at the center of Block No. 25 was torn down in 1971. The Blessing of the current church was celebrated on Thursday, May 1, 1969, with Bishop Maurice Schexnayder. Monsignor Ignatius A. Martin later drove major parish improvements, including the Family Life Center (groundbreaking May 9, 1990; first Mass December 28, 1990) and a new baptismal font built from repurposed altar marble with perpetually running water.
- Original church blessed October 19, 1927 (Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard)
- Parish charter dated January 4, 1929
- Cemetery purchased January 11, 1934
- New church first Mass: Sunday, February 16, 1969 (Rev. Oscar Chauvin)
- Old church torn down in 1971
- Blessing of new church: Thursday, May 1, 1969 (Bishop Maurice Schexnayder)
- Family Life Center groundbreaking: May 9, 1990; first Mass: December 28, 1990
- 90th anniversary celebrated 2017 (Bishop Douglas Deshotel, Father Aaron Melancon)
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is served by Reverend Nicholas Dupré as Pastor, who also serves the companion parish of St. Benedict the Moor in Duson. The parish office is staffed by a Data Entry clerk, Director of Religious Education, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Program Coordinator, and Bulletin Editor — together forming a small but active parish team.
- Pastor: Reverend Nicholas Dupré
- Parish Clergy: (Pastor and assisting clergy, as listed on the official Staff page)
- Parish Staff: Vicki Alleman (Data Entry), Stephanie Touchet (Director of Religious Education), Jackie Wiltz (Secretary/Bookkeeper), Becky Brasseaux (Program Coordinator), Elnora Washington (Bulletin Editor)
Companion Parish: St. Benedict the Moor
St. Theresa shares its pastor and parish staff with St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, the second Catholic church in the Duson community, located at 9135 Cameron Street, P.O. Box 8, Duson, LA 70529. St. Benedict the Moor's separate office can be reached at 337-873-6772 (fax 337-873-3023), sharing the same fax line as St. Theresa. Together, the two parishes form one Catholic community serving the town of Duson.
- Address: 9135 Cameron Street, P.O. Box 8, Duson, LA 70529
- Phone: 337-873-6772
- Shared fax: 337-873-3023
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education is overseen by a Director of Religious Education on the parish staff, supported by a Program Coordinator who helps organize catechetical and parish programs. Combined with the parish's Sacramental life — including a baptismal font with perpetually running water, built from marble of an older altar — St. Theresa invests seriously in forming children and adults in the Catholic faith.
- Director of Religious Education: Stephanie Touchet
- Program Coordinator: Becky Brasseaux
- Religious Education programs (children and adult formation) offered through the parish
Parish Office & Communications
The parish office handles communications through its Secretary/Bookkeeper, Bulletin Editor, and Data Entry clerk, keeping the parish bulletin, sacramental records, and day-to-day operations running for both St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and the companion St. Benedict the Moor parish.
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Jackie Wiltz
- Bulletin Editor: Elnora Washington
- Data Entry: Vicki Alleman
Family Life Center
The Family Life Center is the parish's major gathering hall. Monsignor Ignatius A. Martin announced plans to construct the building during his tenure, ground was broken on May 9, 1990, after the 10:00 AM Mass, and the building's first official event Mass was celebrated on December 28, 1990. That Mass doubled as a celebration of Monsignor Martin's 75th birthday, with Bishop Harry Flynn as celebrant and Monsignor Martin as co-celebrant. The Family Life Center is regularly used for parish events, faith formation, and community gatherings.
- Announced by Msgr. Ignatius A. Martin
- Groundbreaking: May 9, 1990 (after 10:00 AM Mass)
- First official Mass: December 28, 1990
- Celebrant of dedication Mass: Bishop Harry Flynn (co-celebrant: Msgr. Martin)
Parish Cemetery
St. Theresa maintains a parish cemetery on N A Street in Duson. Reverend Louis Bertrand, a former pastor, purchased the property on January 11, 1934. The St. Theresa Cemetery later absorbed the adjacent private 'Floyd Cemetery' — the first cemetery in Duson — and a granite marker was erected on the site to honor the Floyd ancestors buried there. The cemetery remains an active parish ministry to this day.
- Purchased January 11, 1934 by Reverend Louis Bertrand
- Adjoins the historic Floyd Cemetery (Duson's first cemetery)
- Granite marker honors the Floyd ancestors buried there
Visit, Contact & Address
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Theresa of the Child Jesus at its Duson office. The mailing address is shared with the companion St. Benedict the Moor parish — both use P.O. Box 8, Duson, LA 70529, with the same fax line.
- St. Theresa Office: 209 C Street, P.O. Box 8, Duson, LA 70529
- St. Theresa Office Phone: 337-873-4962
- Shared Fax: 337-873-3023
- St. Benedict the Moor Office: 9135 Cameron Street, P.O. Box 8, Duson, LA 70529
- St. Benedict the Moor Phone: 337-873-6772
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Oscar J. Chauvin1927–
Chancellor of the Diocese of Lafayette; celebrated the first Mass in the original 1927 church and the first Mass of the new church on February 16, 1969.
- Reverend Louis Bertrand
Purchased the parish cemetery on January 11, 1934.
- Monsignor Ignatius A. Martin
Made significant parish improvements including the Family Life Center (broken ground May 9, 1990, dedicated December 28, 1990), new baptismal font, rostrum, tabernacle, updated PA system, and conversion of side-aisle confessionals into devotionals.
- Father Aaron Melancon
Joined the parish for the 90th anniversary celebration in 2017 with Bishop Douglas Deshotel.
- Reverend Nicholas Dupré
Current pastor, also serving St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church.