St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Mermentau, LA was founded in 1882. It goes back to the days of the Jesuits' missionary activity in South Louisiana about the time of the Civil War. Father Abbadie, S.J. from Grand Couteau, celebrated the first Mass in Mermentau around 1863. In the late 1860's, Fr. Anthonioz, S.J. continued the work and gave special attention to the settlement of Coulee Trieve (later re-named Estherwood).
Our mission chapel is St. Margaret of Scotland in Estherwood, LA. We are part of the West Region of the Diocese of Lafayette.