About Sts. Peter & Paul · Scott, Louisiana
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church is a 2,800-family parish in Scott, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana. Established as an independent parish in 1904 (after serving as a mission of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette from about 1897), it is the spiritual home of a large Acadiana Catholic community along Old Spanish Trail. The parish is currently led by Father Mark Derise and operates an affiliated Catholic school, a CCD religious education program, and a wide range of parish organizations including the Catholic Daughters of America, Holy Name Society, Pro-Life Committee, youth groups, and the historic Cemetery Society. Its patron saints, Peter and Paul, are celebrated together on June 29.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Derise
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
Why belong here
Sts. Peter and Paul is a large, multigenerational Acadiana Catholic parish with daily and weekly Mass, a long Catholic school tradition, and an unusually full calendar of prayer life — weekday rosary in the chapel, a Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting, Saturday confessions, and Eucharistic devotion centered on the Eucharist as the heart of parish life. It offers something for nearly every age and state in life: CCD Elementary and High School religious education, youth groups SKOT and SYG, Catholic Daughters of America, Holy Name Society, a Pro-Life Committee, and a Cemetery Society that has continued since the parish's earliest days. With more than 2,800 families, it is large enough to provide a rich sacramental and ministerial life yet rooted in the small-town character of Scott along historic Old Spanish Trail.
Mass times at Sts. Peter & Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00-3:45 PM
- By appointment
Parish Identity & Mission
United with Saints Peter and Paul, the parish proclaims that the source of all blessings is God the Father, that Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life, and that the heart of parish life and prayer is the Eucharist. Following St. Paul's example, parishioners commit to spreading the Gospel, praying without ceasing, and loving one another unconditionally; following St. Peter, they accept responsibility to lead their brothers and sisters to the heavenly kingdom through example, education, and evangelization, submitting their lives to the will of God. The parish recognizes itself as a community of stewards, not owners, who cheerfully return a grateful and sacrificial portion of their time, talents, and financial resources to God.
- Patron saints: Saints Peter and Paul
- Feast day: June 29
- Mission: Eucharistic-centered stewardship, evangelization, and education
Parish History
Sts. Peter and Paul was established as an independent parish in 1904 after serving as a mission of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette from about 1897. The first church was built in 1897 with money from yearly bazaars and land donated by Mrs. Alcide Judice. Archbishop J. B. Blenk sent Father B. J. Durand as the first resident pastor in January 1904; Father Durand built the first rectory and organized the Cemetery Society and first parish choir. The parish has grown steadily from those early Mission days to more than 2,800 families today.
- Mission status: 1897 (under St. John the Evangelist, Lafayette)
- Independent parish established: 1904
- First church built: 1897
- First resident pastor: Father B. J. Durand (Jan 1904 – Mar 1906)
- Present church, school of religion, and parish hall built by Father Lawrence M. Fournet (1949-1968)
Prayer Life & Devotions
In addition to weekend and weekday Masses, the parish maintains an active devotional rhythm. The rosary is prayed in the chapel before each Mass: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11:30 AM; Wednesday and Friday at 5:55 AM; Saturday at 3:15 PM; and Sunday at 5:55, 7:15, and 9:15 AM. A Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting and other spiritual formation opportunities are part of the parish's ongoing prayer life.
- Daily rosary before each Mass
- Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting
- Spiritual formation opportunities
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's religious education program is coordinated through the CCD Office and staffed by Directors of Religious Education Janet Hebert and Beth Duplechin. Programs serve Elementary & Middle School students, High School students, and adults preparing for full communion through RCIA. The religious education building is in continual use not only by CCD students but also by the parish's youth organizations SKOT (Scott Kids of Today) and SYG (Scott Youth Group).
- Elementary & Middle School CCD
- High School CCD
- RCIA
- SKOT — Scott Kids of Today
- SYG — Scott Youth Group
- DREs: Janet Hebert & Beth Duplechin
- CCD Office: (337) 232-6167
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, located at 1301 Old Spanish Trail in Scott, was built in 2008 and is dedicated to forming students in Catholic beliefs while delivering academic excellence. The school is supported in part by the parish through the stewardship contributions of registered parishioner families. In 2023, on the parish's feast day, June 29, the school celebrated its 15th anniversary with the grand opening of a new gymnasium blessed by Diocese of Lafayette Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel; the gym's focal point is a wall that mirrors the altar of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
- Founded 2008 at 1301 Old Spanish Trail, Scott, LA 70583
- Phone: (337) 504-3400
- Celebrated 15th anniversary in 2023 with new gymnasium blessed by Bishop Deshotel
- Families enrolled in the parish are encouraged to use envelopes for stewardship subsidy purposes
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Sts. Peter and Paul is served by a wide range of parish organizations rooted in its long Acadiana Catholic tradition. The Ladies' Altar Society was organized in 1919 (Mrs. L. A. Prejean, first president), the Holy Name Society in 1921 (Sebastian Hernandez, first president), and the Cemetery Society during Father Durand's pastorate (Basile Sonnier, first president) — likely the oldest parish organization. Today, lay faithful also gather in the Catholic Daughters of America, the Pro-Life Committee, and youth organizations SKOT and SYG. Volunteer liturgical ministries include lectors, altar servers, music, and more, and AA meets weekly at the parish.
- Ladies' Altar Society (est. 1919)
- Holy Name Society (est. 1921)
- Cemetery Society (est. under Father Durand)
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Pro-Life Committee
- Lectors, altar servers, music ministry
- AA (weekly on parish grounds)
Stewardship & Giving
Stewardship is presented as central to parish identity: members are called to be responsible caretakers who cheerfully return a grateful and sacrificial portion of their time, talents, and financial resources to God. The parish offers envelopes (mailed every three months) and online giving; cash or checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 610, Scott, LA 70583, dropped off at the office, or placed in the collection basket at Mass.
- Online giving available
- Envelopes mailed every 3 months
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 610, Scott, LA 70583
- Office drop-off: 1110 Old Spanish Trail
Contact & Visit
The parish office, CCD office, and Catholic school each have dedicated phone lines and are open limited weekday hours; the office is closed on weekends. Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish by phone, email, or in person at 1110 Old Spanish Trail, Scott, LA 70583.
- Parish Office: (337) 235-2433
- CCD Office: (337) 232-6167
- School: (337) 504-3400
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours Mon 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm; Tue-Thu 9am-12pm, 1pm-3pm; Fri 9am-12pm; closed weekends
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father B. J. Durand1904-1906
First resident pastor; sent by Archbishop J. B. Blenk. Built the first rectory, organized the Cemetery Society and first choir. Native of France, ordained 1892. Buried in Scott.
- Father J. M. Detchemendy1906-1919
- Father August Baudizzonne1919
- Father Joseph V. Monteillard1919-1929
Built the second church (completed 1928) and gave the impressive gate to the parish cemetery. Ladies' Altar Society (1919) and Holy Name Society (1921) organized under his pastorate.
- Father Alexander Charles1929-1936
- Father Marcel Gaudet1936-1940
- Father S. Bona1940
- Father A. L. Soulier1940-1949
- Father Lawrence M. Fournet1949-1968
Seventh pastor; built the present church, school of religion, and parish hall.
- Father Daniel L. Bernard1968-1974
- Father Daniel Schexnayder1974
- Father James R. Broussard1974-1975
- Father Stanley Begnaud1975-1976
- Father Michael Guidry and Father Gary Schexnayder1976-1978
Co-pastors.
- Father Michael Guidry and Father Michael Des Jardins1978-1983
Co-pastors.
- Father Harold Trahan1983-1984
- Father Frederick Swenson1984-1997
- Father Gilbert J. Dutel1997-2009
- Father Thomas Voorhies2009-2015
- Msgr. Curtis Mallet2015-2016
- Father Mark Derise2016-Present
Current pastor.