St. Joseph the Worker, Pierre Part

Priests from Plattenville and Paincourtville visited the Pierre Part area celebrating Mass in the homes of residents. The first chapel was built in 1858. Pierre Part became an independent parish in 1867, but just two years later it once again became mission to Plattenville and Paincourtville.

Inundated by high water in 1882, the chapel was forced to close. The interior of the chapel was destroyed except for one small statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The statue fell off its stand but landed on its feet in water. The water did not harm this statue as it had the other statues, and, as a result, the statue was salvaged and placed on the island in the bay across from the chapel. The community of St. Joseph the Worker in Pierre Part celebrates annually the protection of their chosen patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a yearly May Crowning and Mass offering.

Perhaps the most unique part of the history of the Pierre Part church involves the chapel boat, instituted by Father Jules Toups to visit the mission areas of Bayou Pigeon, Bayou Godel, Belle River, and Four-Mile Bayou. The chapel boat, Mary, Star of the Sea was pulled by a motorboat named the St. Francis Xavier. The people, who lived in areas once thought to be inaccessible, were able to hear the Word of God, attend Mass, and receive catechetical instruction.

Tragedy again struck this community on Friday, March 29, 1940, when a tornado cut a path through Pierre Part destroying the church and rectory, killing 4 persons and leaving 110 homeless. The tornado passed just south of the elementary school, sparing the lives of 300 students who were inside.

In 1964, a new church was constructed in Pierre Part, larger and with a unique roof design. This beautiful, modernistic structure might well symbolize the survival of the Catholic faith in Pierre Part: strong, sturdy and deeply bonded to history. Much of the funding for improvements at Pierre Part has been provided by annual church fairs, which not only manifest the commitment of community members to gather to “pass a good time,” but also to benefit the conviction that they are about something greater than themselves. St. Joseph the Worker Parish remains a beautiful witness to the love of Christ.