Tucked into the corner of St. Mary Boulevard and McKinley on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus, Our Lady of Wisdom Church & Catholic Student Center has been the spiritual home of Catholic students in Acadiana since a small Newman Club was founded there in 1923. Known affectionately as the Ragin' Cajun Catholics, the ministry now reaches thousands of college students each year while also serving more than 350 permanent parish families and a wider network of alumni and benefactors across the country. Its mission, in the words of Pastor and Chaplain Father Patrick Broussard, is simple: "To Form Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ."
Mass and Reconciliation
Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Wisdom are celebrated at 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, with the late evening service drawing students after a day of classes and activities. Weekday Masses follow a steady rhythm that fits a college schedule: noon Mass on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 5:30 PM Mass on Tuesday and Thursday. A Saturday Vigil Mass is offered at 4:00 PM, and a First Saturday Mass is celebrated at 8:30 AM each month. Mass is livestreamed for those who cannot be present in person.
Confession is offered generously, with three windows on Sunday morning, evening, and night, and additional time before each weekday Mass. The full Sunday schedule includes 9:00 to 9:50 AM, 5:00 to 5:50 PM, and 8:00 to 8:50 PM. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday bring confessions from 11:00 to 11:50 AM, while Tuesday and Thursday offer them from 4:30 to 5:20 PM. Saturday confessions run from 3:00 to 3:50 PM, with an additional 8:00 to 8:20 AM slot on the first Saturday of each month.
The parish also hosts Wednesday Adoration throughout the semester and a monthly First Friday Adoration, with a dedicated Adoration Chapel whose access code rotates periodically for security.
A Century on St. Mary Boulevard
The story of Our Lady of Wisdom begins in 1923, when the Newman Club was established at what was then the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, the predecessor of UL Lafayette. Within a year, members were already pressing for a chapel of their own. Bishop Jules B. Jeanmard of Lafayette approved the purchase of a lot in 1926 and advanced funds to buy another in 1927. After decades of patience and the intervention of the Louisiana State Board of Education, the Diocese of Lafayette secured a 99-year lease on an acre of campus land at the corner of St. Mary Street and McKinley.
On March 23, 1942, Archbishop Joseph R. Rummel of New Orleans dedicated the Chapel and Catholic Student Center, preaching to a packed house of students, faculty, alumni, and friends. The chapel was spired with a copper steeple and fronted with four large white columns, its red brick exterior opening through wide white doors that bore the insignia of the Diocese of Lafayette. Inside, leaded glass windows depicted the Seven Sacraments, oak statues of the Blessed Mother and Christ the King stood watch, and a Latin inscription above the sanctuary read "Ego Sum Via et Veritas et Vita," "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." All of these original elements remain in the building today.
As the campus and its Catholic population grew, so did the Center. Jeanmard Hall, named for Bishop Jeanmard, was added in 1956 and seated 500 students. A 1965 expansion enlarged the sanctuary, raised its ceiling for skylights, and embedded relics of Saints Maria Goretti, Thérèse of Lisieux, John Vianney, Margaret Mary, Agnes, and Vincent de Paul in the new altar stone. Kurzweg Hall followed in 1966 as a foyer, study lounge, and reception space, and today still runs as Campus Grounds Cafe, serving fair trade and locally roasted Réve coffee.
Building Wisdom for Every Generation
After more than eighty years of faithful use, the 1942 complex is giving way to a brand-new church and student center just steps away. Construction is well underway on the Wisdom for Every Generation capital campaign, a project championed by Father Broussard to give the growing Catholic student body at UL Lafayette a building designed for its current scale and mission. As of July 31, 2026, the campaign had raised $30,148,048 in pledges and gifts, with $20,980,757 already redeemed, against a Capital Reserve Fund goal of $3,500,000.
Several sacred and architectural touches have already been installed. A 44.5-foot steeple, weighing 13,000 pounds and crafted by Campbellsville Industries in Kentucky, was flown by crane to the top of the 87-foot McElligott Family Bell Tower in August, with a 13.5-foot cross bringing the total height to 145 feet. Twenty-two hand-carved Corinthian column capitals from the ALBL Oberammergau Woodcarving Studio in Germany have been fitted throughout the sanctuary, carved from linden wood and standing two feet tall. In the baptistery, mosaicist Matteo Randi of Ravenna, Italy, working with Rugo Stone, has installed a Chi Rho floor mosaic in the new baptismal font, which features a drainage system returning holy water to the earth. A wooden dove representing the Holy Spirit will be installed above the font.
Father Broussard has been intentional about designing the new worship space to gather the entire community as one. The Narthex, Baptistry, and North Vestibule will be wired to extend the Mass audio and visual feed, so parents with fussy children and nursing mothers can step away without leaving the celebration. The new structure also incorporates a Visiting Room within the cafe for nursing mothers seeking privacy.
The Diocese of Lafayette is led by Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, D.D., with Father Broussard serving as Pastor and Chaplain and Father Nick Ware as Parochial Vicar. Father Broussard holds a Bachelor of Philosophy and Theological Studies from St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington and an S.T.B. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and was ordained in 2014. Father Ware earned his Bachelor of Philosophy and Theological Studies at St. Joseph Seminary and an M.Div. from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, with ordination in 2022. Both are UL Lafayette alumni.
Retreats and Student Formation
Retreats are a cornerstone of student life at Wisdom. The Encounter fall retreat brings UL students to Camp Stillwater in Abbeville for a weekend of small groups, talks, Mass, Adoration, food, and rest. Athletes' Retreat is a free one-day gathering for Ragin' Cajuns athletes held at Jeanmard Hall before the semester starts. CONNECT is a two-day conference that introduces new and returning students to the community each fall. The Greek Retreat is designed by and for fraternity and sorority members to explore the intersection of Greek life and Catholic faith.
For those seeking deeper silence, the Silent Retreat at Grand Coteau follows the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius over five days, with each retreatant assigned a personal director. The annual Men's Retreat and the Girls' Retreat round out the calendar, with the women's gathering traditionally held at False River each spring.
Formation Nights fill every Tuesday during the semester with teaching on the truths of the Catholic faith. All are welcome, whether or not they are considering the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. The Cardinal Newman Lecture Series, a tradition stretching back to the 1950s, brings notable Catholic speakers to campus and remains free and open to the public.
Bible Studies, Small Groups, and FOCUS
More than thirty Bible studies meet each week at Wisdom, with new groups launching each semester. The Fellowship of Catholic University Students, better known as FOCUS, has been an integral part of the ministry, sending five missionaries to serve alongside the existing campus staff. Matthew Ebenroth directs the FOCUS team, with Analise Flatt, Isaac Ambs, Sarah Furka, and Leksi Gaska serving as missionaries. They lead Bible studies, mentor students, and invite their peers into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith.
Small Faith Communities extend the same model to anyone wanting prayer, study, and faith sharing in a more intimate setting. Students interested in joining can email Sarah Jara, while parishioners reach out to Katie Austin Landry. The parish also provides a free subscription to FORMED.org for all parishioners, granting access to thousands of Catholic videos, audio programs, and e-books on demand.
Marriage, Vocations, and Family
The Marriage Ministry supports couples from engagement through the wedding day and beyond. Couples must contact the Marriage Ministry Coordinator at least nine months before their desired wedding date. Megan Orillion serves as Marriage Ministry Coordinator and guides couples through the Pre-Nuptial Inquiry, wedding packet review, and the policy agreement required to secure a date on the parish calendar. The ministry also hosts an annual Marriage Ministry Retreat, co-sponsored with Abide Catholic Ministries.
Weddings will eventually be celebrated in the new church once it is consecrated, with receptions available in the Grand Hall beginning in April 2027. The parish is now receiving rental inquiries for that space through Jessica Laurenzano. Other facilities available for rent include the Stuller Lecture Hall, small group meeting rooms, the Library, and the Conference Style multi-room setup.
Our Lady of Wisdom has long been fertile ground for vocations. The parish sponsors nine current seminarians: Matthew Authement, Carter Domingue, Eric Hernandez, Dominic Pagán, and Miguel Pagán, with several additional names held in prayer. Recent ordination announcements include Father John Dugas, ordained by Bishop Deshotel, and Father Austin Barr, ordained by Archbishop Aymond for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish also follows a Vocations Prayer Cross, with sign-ups coordinated through Erin Ardoin.
Family Catechism meets on the first Saturday of each month for public school, private school, and homeschool children in grades K through 6, along with their parents. Parent formation follows the 8:30 AM Mass with a spiritual teaching and informal discussion led by one of the parish priests. Confirmation preparation has been lowered under new Diocesan policy to eighth grade, and a year-round Youth Group for students in grades 7 through 12 meets on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, beginning in September. The youth group is led by a team of Ragin' Cajun Catholic college students.
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Baptisms at Our Lady of Wisdom are usually celebrated on the first Sunday of the month after the 10:00 AM Mass. Parents must be registered active parishioners for at least three months prior, and first-time parents and godparents attend a one-time baptismal class. Canon Law requires at least one active, confirmed Roman Catholic godparent over the age of sixteen who is in good standing with the Church, and Colette LeBlanc in the parish office helps families navigate the paperwork.
First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation are prepared through a two-year program typically beginning in first grade, with First Reconciliation celebrated the year before First Communion. Adults seeking baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation encounter the process through OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, which welcomes anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith. The program operates on a rolling basis and is open to both students and non-students. Katie Austin Landry coordinates formation across these sacramental pathways.
The Anointing of the Sick is available to parishioners in need, with the homebound list maintained through the parish office. Couples seeking a declaration of nullity can be assisted by a parish advocate, Camille Domingue, who is one of thirty-five trained lay advocates in the Diocese.
Men's and Women's Ministry
The Men's Ministry, organized under Campus Minister Mathew Ardoin, brings men together around the virtues and the issues that affect their daily lives. Activities include the student tailgate, the annual Men's Retreat, the Black Coffee Brotherhood, the Men's Discernment Group, and other support communities. The Tony Robichaux Fund for Men's Ministry continues the legacy of the late UL Lafayette baseball coach, supporting outreach and formation of male students through the Catholic Student Center's mission.
Women's Ministry, led by Robin Hebert, includes the annual Women's Retreat, Girls Group, and Women's Nights throughout the semester. These evenings typically combine fellowship, prayer, formation, food, adoration, and praise and worship, with student leaders hiring speakers and arranging logistics. Women's Ministry also hosts the silent Ignatian retreat at Grand Coteau each December.
Community and Service
Catholic life at Wisdom overflows beyond Sunday Mass. Open Porch offers a free lunch for students following the noon Mass on Fridays during the semester. Breakfast at 10 is served after the 9:00 PM Mass once a month. Potluck Community Brunches gather students and parishioners across generations. The student Spirit Team executes the tailgate three hours before every home football game, complete with food, school spirit, and a reserved space on campus.
The parish holds Church Cleanup on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 8:00 to 9:30 AM, and a monthly service project takes volunteers into the wider Acadiana community, including St. Joseph's Diner. The 1/1/1 Campaign partners one church, one school, and one business for a month-long food drive to stock the FoodNet food bank, with Catholic Charities of Acadiana as a regular volunteer partner.
John 15 welcomes freshmen into the community by pairing them with sophomore and junior leaders in family groups that aim to build friendships centered on Christ throughout college and beyond. The parish also maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, with text updates available by texting "Student" or "Parishioner" to 337-284-9387. A weekly email lands every Sunday at 7 PM with the upcoming week's events and important dates.
The Parish Office and Giving
The Church Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Fridays from 8:00 AM to noon, with summer hours of 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Wednesdays from late May through mid-August. Mass intentions are accepted by phone or in person, with one intention per Mass in keeping with canon law and diocesan policy.
Giving is supported through online donations, text-to-give at 337-242-3522, stock transfers, IRAs and 401(k) Required Minimum Distributions, the UL Lafayette Foundation's Catholic Student Ministry Annual Fund, and a designated fund at the Community Foundation of Acadiana. The Class Gift program invites graduating seniors and others to leave a legacy supporting both the annual fund and the endowment for future student ministry. The Boilin' Bash, the parish's signature annual benefit held at Blackham Coliseum each March, raises money for Catholic campus ministry with a Louisiana Extravaganza dinner, live and silent auctions, and live music.
Our Lady of Wisdom has served as a chapel, a student center, a gathering place, and a second home for generations of Catholics at UL Lafayette. With the new church rising alongside the old one and a capital campaign steadily nearing its goals, the parish is preparing to carry that legacy forward as one worshiping family, gathered around the same altar that has welcomed Catholics to St. Mary Boulevard since 1942.