CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Back to map

Diocese of Alexandria Home

Parishes & Missions

On behalf of the pastor and laity of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, we wish to extend our heartfelt welcome to all who are interested in learning more about our historic parish.

The Minor Basilica in beautiful, historic Natchitoches, Louisiana is one seven proto-parishes established by His Excellency Bishop S. Jacobs. The parish began as a ministry to Fort St. Jean Baptiste under the patronage of St. Francis.

When the Diocese of Natchitoches was established on July 29, 1853, the Church was reestablished as a Cathedral by it's nascent bishop, August Marie Martin. When the Diocesan See was transferred to Alexandria in August of 1910, the Church's status reverted to a parish.

The history of the Church dates back to the very early 1700s. The present church at Church and Second Streets in Natchitoches was built in 1857 and completed in 1892. The front vestibule was added in 1955 and in 1992 a project to restore the church to its 1892 grandeur was begun and ended with a re-dedication in 1996. On January 10, 2010, the church was dedicated a Minor Basilica, the second to be named in Louisiana after St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

Many of the fixtures inside the church were imported from European Christendom. French and German arts are evident in the hand-painted Stations of the Cross and the magnificent stained glass, respectively. Bishop Augustus Aloysius Martin (+ Sept, 1875), late Bishop of Natchitoches, is buried in the church along with his first Vicar General.

The faithful are engaged in a number of lay apostolates ranging from assisting at the Holy Mass to serving the poor and hungry to educating our young people in the Truths of Faith. Specifically, the lay vocation is expressed liturgically as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, two Choirs and in caring for the sacred vessels and linens. Further, it is expressed catechetically in our historic Catholic School, St. Mary's, in our CCD, RCIA, and Sacramental preparation programs for Matrimony. Charitable works are carried out by our Soup Kitchen, Knights of Columbus Council 1357, Catholic Daughters Court Regina Pacis, Prison outreach and hospital and nursing home apostolates. We are also privileged to have a local vocations club which has aided seminarians and priests with their prayer and finance for many years. The Youth Group meets each Monday in the Parish Hall.

Any of these groups are happy to welcome interested Catholics into their ranks and may be contacted through our main office telephone.

The clergy of the parish also provide for the spiritual lives of the faithful according to the traditions of the Catholic Church, both ancient and new. Both the Ordinary and Extraordinary (Traditional Latin) Forms of the Mass are offered. (The Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass) is celebrated Tuesdays at 8am and Sundays at 4pm.) Daily devotions are prayed before daily Masses and Confessions are heard before all Weekend Masses. First Friday devotions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are offered in honor of our Lord's Sacred Heart monthly. Two confraternities offer spiritual fellowship to young men and to ladies. Spiritual programs ranging from scripture study to practical Catholicism are planned for the near future.

All in all, the historic Basilica of the Immaculate Conception remains a place of living and vibrant faith. All are most welcome!

The Basilica is open to the public from 7am to 4pm on weekdays. The Parish Gift Shop is open around the noon hour on weekdays and the Bishop A.F.M. Martain museum is open by appointment only.