Our current pastor

REV, Joseph Sai Tran, SVD.
337-893-5428

The vision of Saint (Fr.) Arnold Janssen, SVD, founder of the Society of the Divine Word, popularly referred as the Divine Word Missionaries, was realized on May 23, 1934, at St. Augustine Seminary in Bay St. Louis, MS. History was made by ordaining the first four African-American priests in the Southern Province of the United States of America. The newly ordained young and brave African-American priests were: Fr. Anthony Bourges, SVD; Fr. Francis Wade, SVD; Fr. Vincent Smith, SVD and Fr. Maurice Rousseve, SVD. 

Times were difficult for the first African-American priests in the Deep South. The four priests were rejected by several dioceses. After repeated meetings, all four were finally accepted by the Diocese of Lafayette under the administration of Most Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard, D.D. Bishop Jeanmard created a new church parish so that Fr. Bourges, Fr. Wade, Fr. Smith and Fr. Rousseve could have a place to minister. The new parish became, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lafayette, LA. This bold and courageous move of acceptance of the four African-American priests by the Diocese of Lafayette would set events in motion to creating world history and the history of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maurice, LA. 

While history was being created in Lafayette, LA, the African-American people of Maurice, LA attended, worshipped, and received the Sacraments at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Everyone also participated in the bazaars. Eyewitness accounts and interviews revealed a great deal of hurt and pain endured by the African-American parishioners. During that time, Jim Crow Laws reigned. Negative attitudes and name calling towards African-Americans were very common. 

The people walked to church, rode in wagons or came to church by horse and buggy. Inside the church, a small side aisle, inscribed as “a little corner” was assigned to the African-American attendees of St. Alphonsus. The side aisle consisted of 6-7 benches at the rear of the church. There were also seats along the back wall of the church. If these assigned benches were full, then the African-American parishioners had to stand up in the back during mass. Also, they were the last to receive the Eucharist. The pastor of St. Alphonsus, Fr. Veekmans, and the African-American parishioners were concerned about the lack of space in the church to accommodate all of the African- American parishioners. Many of the African-American parishioners did not attend mass because there was not enough space for them. After years of being treated as second-class citizens, the African-American parishioners wanted to have their own place of worship. 

On March 30, 1946, Most Rev. Jules B. Jeanmard D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, informed Very Rev. Joseph F. Eckert, SVD, Provincial of Divine Word Missionaries at Bay St. Louis, MS, that he was ready to transfer the care of the African-Americans in the parish of Mauriceville, LA to the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries Community. 

On June 16, 1946, Bishop Jeanmard separated the African-Americans living within the territorial limits of the parish of St. Alphonsus from the jurisdiction of the pastor of St. Alphonsus. Bishop Jeanmard entrusted the people into the spiritual care of Reverend Fathers, from the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries. The pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church of Duson, LA, Fr. Francis Wade, SVD, would have full parochial jurisdiction over the African-Americans living within the territorial limits of St. Alphonsus Parish of Maurice.  

Fr. Francis Wade, SVD, became the first pastor appointed to start the new parish in Maurice, LA. He was assigned by Bishop Jeanmard to conduct all marriages, funerals, Sunday Mass, etc. for the African-Americans in Maurice, LA. So, Fr. Wade met with the people of the newly formed parish and placed three objectives before them: (1) to find a temporary location for Holy Mass; (2) to find a permanent building site; and (3) to raise money to build a church. At meetings with the new parishioners, Fr. Wade estimated that the cost of the new church would be between $10,000.00 and $15,000.00 with the equipment. Some of the men expressed concern over the estimated cost and worried that future generations would continue to be in debt to pay for the church. The people remembered the times of depression and how hard it had been for them to pay a few hundred dollars for their home mortgages. The marriages, funerals, Sunday Mass, etc. were originally held at the St. Joseph Society Hall. Some men questioned whether it was appropriate to have services in the St. Joseph Society Hall. After some consideration, St. Alphonsus’s Church Hall became the place for Sunday Mass and other ceremonies. The hall at St. Alphonsus Church was described as being cold in the winter. A small kerosene heater did not provide the needed warmth for all in attendance. 

In July 1946, Fr. Wade considered a name for the new parish. The people of the St. Joseph Society in Maurice, LA always held a yearly dinner on the Feast of Corpus Christi--Fete Dieu. Mass was celebrated. The members came from surrounding areas on that feast day. Fr. Wade suggested the name, Corpus Christi, for the name of the new church parish. On July 13, 1946, Bishop Jeanmard suggested that perhaps the people would prefer the name, St. Joseph, since the St. Joseph Society was such an integral part of the African-American parishioners. Thus, the name of the new church would be, St. Joseph Catholic Church. 

Fr. Wade was authorized to find a suitable lot and building for the church. He had a difficult time finding property because no one would sell him any land. Mr. Doris Catalon of Maurice offered a plot. On August 28, 1946, Fr. Francis Wade negotiated with Mr. Doris Catalon and purchased the existing church grounds for the sum of $1,000.00. Fr. Wade then purchased a former Army chapel at Camp Claiborne, in Alexandria, LA for $2,026.00. The chapel had to be deconstructed and moved to its present location in Maurice. The estimated cost to convert the chapel into a church in Maurice was $12,000.00. The chapel was 81 ft. long and 37 ft. wide. Finally, St. Joseph Church had their first Mass on September 7, 1947. Fr. Wade lived on the newly purchased land in a small second-hand 16X16 government building. Parishioners said that he slept on the floor. St. Joseph was established as a Parish Church on June 30, 1948.    

By the end of April 1949, the Rectory was built and completely furnished. The rectory expense, including furniture, was $6,271.27. The rectory is still in existence today. The people of St.Joseph, benefactors, the St. Joseph Society, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Society of the Divine Word, and a loan from The Diocese of Lafayette, was able to pay off this mortgage in less than 3 years!  

On July 28, 1949, the Congregation of St. Joseph Catholic Church was established as a corporation. Fr. Francis Wade, SVD, was the pastor. Mr. Pierre Trahan and Mr. Eldridge Catalon served as the first 2 trustees of the church parish. The people of the newly-formed Congregation of St. Joseph Church worked extremely hard and “Walked by Faith”! Each family was asked to give $50.00 for the Building Fund and allowed three years to pay. The families taxed themselves by donating the money they received from selling their first bale of cotton. These “First Fruits” were given in order to build the church. All money received from the bazaars, dances, baked goods, gumbos, dinners and entertainment was earmarked for the Building Fund. Fr. Wade was pleased with the spiritual progress in the parish. There were 150 families. Less than one dozen of the families was within one-mile walking distance. There were 250- 350 people in attendance at Mass on Sundays. The weather played a major role on the number in attendance because most families had to travel at least three miles. The majority of the parishioners traveled on dirt roads by wagon, horse and buggy or walked to Mass.  

St. Joseph Church Hall was built in 1957 under the direction of Fr. Leo Weng, SVD. CCD classes were conducted in the homes of parishioners for the outlying areas of LaCote /Lencoe, Duhon, Judice and Lafayette. The children of the town of Maurice had CCD classes on Wednesday nights. There were also CCD classes for two weeks in the summer. Syrup and bread never tasted so good! Some days CCD children would be treated to sodas. These treats were handed to the children by volunteers through the serving window that is still used today in the church hall. The Holy Sacrament Sisters from Lafayette taught CCD to the children in the hall on Sundays. Every Sunday one of the men of the parish would pick up the nuns from their convent and bring them back. After desegregation, the children who attended Maurice Elementary School would participate in CCD classes during the school day at St. Alphonsus Church. The students who were not enrolled at Maurice Elementary would attend CCD classes at St. Alphonsus late afternoons. There were volunteer teachers from St. Joseph Church who taught CCD at St. Alphonsus. Later, St. Joseph decided to return CCD instruction to our hall with volunteer staff. This tradition continues today.  

The first organization noted in December 1949 was Altar Ladies. The Ushers’ Organization played an integral role. The Knights of Peter Claver was noted in 1952. In 1953, CCD and KPC Ladies Auxiliary were indicated. In 1956, the Sacred Heart League was established. The Young Ladies Sodality of Mary was organized in the 1960’s.  

Throughout the history of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maurice, LA, the Divine Word Missionaries has staffed the parish. The current pastor, Fr. Joseph Tran, SVD, and all former pastors and administrators of St. Joseph have provided love, spiritual growth and selfless sacrifices for the parishioners of St. Joseph. Visiting clergy, who have served at St. Joseph, Bishop Douglas Deshotel and the Diocese of Lafayette, the Catholic Extension Society, benefactors, the church community and all parishioners and non-parishioners have supported the church-- financially and spiritually. Our brave and wise ancestors have left us a legacy of hard work and “Celebrating 75 Years of Praising God and Making a Difference”. We are still enjoying the fruits of our ancestors’ labors----the Rectory, the asphalt parking lot, the addition to the Church and the renovations to the Hall. The participation and involvement of the church community has been tremendous throughout the years.  

All participation and involvement in weekend liturgy, past and present, including: the CCD program, Prayer Group and Rosary Group, Young Ladies Sodality, Ushers’ Organization, Altar Ladies, Social Club, Building Committee, Sweets/Bingo Committee, Trustees, Pastoral Council, Bazaar Committee, Stewards, Altar Servers, Youth Group, Finance Committee, Bereavement Committee, Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver and Jr. Divisions, Communion Ministers, Lectors and Commentators, Maintenance Crew, all choirs and musicians, and all other church and non- church organizations work hard to keep the uniqueness and richness of our heritage and history.