St. Eloi Catholic Church at 1335 Bayou Dularge Road, Theriot, LA 70397 US - Our Organization's History

After the War Between the States, a priest would come occasionally to Theriot, On Bayou DuLarge, to say Mass in the country store owned by the St. Martin Family. The country store was located on the west bank of the bayou opposite the present Church. In the early part of 1875 Mrs. Michael Eloi Theriot donated in memory of her late husband, 3 arpents of land to be used for a Church and cemetery site.

All of the pioneers worked in the swamps and neighboring stretches, gathering and hauling timber for the Church which they were to build. When the structure was almost completed a delegation went to Archbishop Perche in New Orleans to tell him they had built a Church and now they wanted a priest. With in a short time Archbishop Perche made the trip to Theriot and himself blessed the new Church. At the same time he also celebrated the first mass to be said in this new Church. The Church was dedicated under the invocation of St. Eloi (in English St. Eligius) in 1875. The first Pastor  Fr. Jean Geoffrey was sent during lent of 1875 where he held the Pastorate of St. Eloi until July of 1882.

St. Eloi Church is one of the eldest daughters of the Mother Church St. Francis de Sales, now the Cathedral of Houma-Thibodaux Dioceses. It is noted that the Daughter Parish "St. Eloi", has had more Pastors than the Mother Church as of 1995. At this writing 21 Pastors and 5 Assistant Pastors. The Church was named for the Patron Saint of Mr. Michael Eloi Theriot, who spearheaded the founding of the parish.

St. Eloi's present day Church was dedicated on January 9 ,1972 and has been described as a Modern Jewel. The present facilities consist of the Church Rectory, a large community center, and a Historic Cemetery.

St. Eloi has the distinction of being the first Catholic Parish to participate in the Ecumenical Blessing of the Fishing Fleet with St. Andrew Episcopal Mission. The unprecedented event took place on Sunday, August 13, 1975.

St. Eloi Parish is fortunate to have Father Jerome Escasa (Pastor) as well as two Deacons, Rev. Mr. Daniel Bascle and Rev. Mr. Glenn Porche.

NOTE: St. Eloi celebrated it's 125th  year in 1995 while under Fr. Alfredo Loresco. This history was written and or compiled from other publications for the celebration.