From historic museums exploring everything from our musical or spiritual heritage to how food gets to your table, along with outdoors from hiking greens to golfing greens, and shopping authentic main streets and arts, boutiques, antiques and uniques as well as a beautiful, cultural drive along our Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway, enjoy the attractions of Acadia, Cajun Harvest Country.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When are services?
Weekend Masses
Saturday Vigil | 4:00 pm
Sunday | 7:30 am & 9:00 am
Weekday Masses
Monday | 7:00 am
Tuesday | 5:30 pm
Wednesday – Friday | 7:00 am
When is confession?
Reconciliation | Saturday 4:00 pm, Tuesday 5:00 pm
What should I wear?
We want you to feel comfortable. After all, we are thrilled that you’re joining us and want you to be more focused on the service than what you’re wearing. In the summertime, it’s not uncommon to see people wearing sandals, shorts, and a shirt. Others prefer to still put on their “Sunday best,” and that’s fine too! However, we do request that shorts be of a conservative length (no “short-shorts”) and that in general, clothing be respectable and conservative.
How do I get to St. Theresa Catholic Church?
Our parish is located at 417 West 3rd Street, Crowley.
Church Parking Lot.
Where do my children go?
Bring them to Church with you.
I’m not Catholic, how do I know when to sit, stand and kneel?
There’s no need to be self-conscious about the postures and responses used during worship. Most visitors just follow the lead of our parishioners. However, we do have worship aids located in each pew that provide you with the order of the mass, the postures, and the words to each prayer. If you don’t see a worship aid in your pew, ask an usher, and they will be happy to bring you one.
I’m not Catholic, is it okay for me to participate in communion?
Communion, or The Eucharist, is the most intimate expression of our faith. Catholics believe that the host is literally the body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest presiding over the service. Most evangelicals think of Communion as symbolic, so it makes sense that they are not as strict about having the right relationship to it as Catholics and Orthodox Christians who believe it is a sacrament and the true presence of Christ. So, if you are not Catholic, we ask that you not receive communion. However, those not receiving the Body of Christ and Precious blood are invited to come forward with their hands crossed over their chests for a special blessing.
Am I expected to put money in the offering?
If you are visiting with us, we don’t expect you to put money in the offering, and you are welcome to just let it pass you by. If you consider our parish your church home, we’d love for you to prayerfully consider giving to our parish on a weekly basis.
Welcome to FBC Crowley! The Rice Capital of America. Whether you are visiting or looking for a church to call home, we want you to know there’s a place for you here. Our desire is to be a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching, people-loving church where you and your family can grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and find opportunities to serve. From our worship gatherings to our small groups and ministries for every age, we pray you’ll experience the Grace, truth, and hospitality of Jesus among us. If there’s any way we can pray for you or help you get connected, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It would be an honor to have you with us!
The church of St. Joseph came into existence in 1872 under the pastorship of Most Rev. Napoleon J. Perche, third Archbishop of New Orleans (1870 – 1883).
The first church under the pastorship of St. Joseph was built on a ridge between the two settlements of Pouppeville and Castille on the Valsin LeBlanc plantation.
In 1872, Fr. Joseph Anthonioz, S.J., a widely known and devoted missionary became the first pastor, serving concurrently Church Point and Mermentau. With the coming of the newly-built Southern Pacific Railroad, the present town of Rayne was growing fast. In 1880, Fr. Anthonioz had the church raised on its foundation. Placing wooden wheels under it, rounded up 120 well yoked oxen and the one mile trek began. It took weeks before the church finally came to rest on its present location, a property formerly bought by the Jesuits.
After the death of Fr. Anthonioz, the Jesuit fathers turned over the parish of St. Joseph to the Archdiocese, and Most Rev. Francis Janssens, fifth Archbishop of New Orleans, appointed Fr. Blaise Branche second pastor of St. Joseph’s. Two years after his arrival in Rayne, Fr. Branche undertook the building of the present rectory (1894). In 1899, Fr. Branche had a new church built (the second church) at a cost of $5,524.
Fr. Amable Doutre served as the third pastor of St. Joseph’s. Under his guidance, Mt. Carmel Academy progressed. By 1912, it was offering high school courses and in 1917 Alma Duclos became Mt. Carmel’s first graduate.
In 1923, Fr. Hubert Lerschen arrived in Louisiana. One of his first moves on becoming the fourth pastor was to seek permission to take over the school directed by the Sisters of Mt. Carmel. Mother Clare, Superior General of the Sisters of Mt. Carmel, gave permission that St. Joseph Parish take over Mount Carmel Academy. On August 1, 1929, the parish acquired the property from the Sisters and Mount Carmel Academy became St. Joseph High School. The State Department of Education accredited St. Joseph School in 1930 as a Junior High and two years later gave accreditation as a Senior High.
During Msgr. Lerschen’s pastorate, a third church was built in 1952, the beautiful imposing edifice which now serves the people of God of St. Joseph’s.
In 1963, Fr. Emery Labbe became the fifth pastor. Under Fr. Labbe’s pastorate, upon recommendation by the Diocesan Department of Education, the Catholic high schools of Acadia Parish were consolidated. St. Joseph, Rayne; St. Francis, Iota; and St. Michael’s, Crowley, consolidated in 1967 to become Notre Dame High School located in Crowley. As a result, St. Joseph became strictly an elementary unit. In 1971, St. Joseph and Our Mother of Mercy schools paired, and St. Joseph’s changed its name to Rayne Catholic Elementary.
We are thrilled that you have found us and would love for you to join us in service very soon!
We desire to see a perpetually growing, multi-generation, multi-cultural community of faith in the heart of South Louisiana – one that has a passion for making an impact in their region and around the world.
Presently, we are developing plans for a new church ministry campus to facilitate the growth that God has planned for this community of faith.
Sunday Services:
11:00am – Traditional Worship