St. Andrew Church, the catholic community of Amelia, Louisiana

Our Parish

In January 1965, the Most Rev. Archbishop John Cody of the Archdiocese of New Orleans officially established St. Andrew as a parish. However, in the fall of 1965 Hurricane Betsy made the wooden church unsafe and a new church was built on a new site. As the new church was being built, daily Mass was held in the rectory and later in the camp of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Verret Jr, while Sunday Mass was offered in the Aucoin Elementary School cafeteria. The dedication of the new church by Archbishop Philip Hannan of New Orleans took place on November 20, 1966. The bell from the old church was dedicated in memory of Fr. Andrew Souby and placed in front of the new church where it can be seen today.

The mausoleum was built in the old cemetery in 1973 on the site of the old church. In the early 70’s a parish hall was built and in 1984 a C.C.D. building which put the parish in debt but ended a long pilgrimage for religious education from home to home. The Cajun Food Festival (the parish fair) used to help support the parish and was held in September or October.

Fr. Adrian Caillouet served as the first pastor until June 1972. The other pastors who followed were:

  • Msgr. Albert Bergeron 1972-1975;
  • Msgr. Robert Vincent 1975-1985;
  • Fr. Warren Chassaniol; 1985-1992; Fr.
  • Joeseph Pilola 1992-1995;
  • Fr. Charles Perkins 1995-2003;
  • Fr. Gregory Fratt came to St. Andrew on December 26, 2003. He was transferred in the year 2007.

In June 27, 2007, Fr. Evelio “Toto” Buenaflor Jr arrived at St. Andrew parish.

In November 2011, Fr. Joseph Chacko became our new pastor.

Our current pastor is Rev. Joel Cruz