Fr. Louis LaRoche of St. Anthony of Padua Parish requests permission from Archbishop James Blenk of New Orleans to establish a church in Basile. One month later, permission is granted.

Mass is held a few times per month in Basile’s newly built one-room schoolhouse at the corner of Second Street and Ryan Avenue. Before the school was built, Mass was celebrated in private homes.

Fr. LaRoche departs, and Fr. Celestin Chambon takes over as pastor of St. Anthony’s, continuing to visit Basile regularly.

Basile’s founders—August Gustave (Gus) Fuselier, James J. Lewis, and Louis S. Burg—donate six lots (entire Block 5) for the construction of a Catholic church. That same year, Basile is officially incorporated as a village in Louisiana.

The first Catholic church in Basile is constructed as a mission of St. Anthony’s in Eunice. Visiting priests refer to it as the Basile chapel. Fr. Chambon celebrates the first Mass in the new church.

Fr. Frederick William Bosch replaces Fr. Chambon.

Fr. Edmund Daull replaces Fr. Bosch.

The Basile mission is formally established as St. Augustine Parish by Bishop Jules Jeanmard, the first bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette. Fr. Eugene Derivas is appointed the first pastor, serving both Basile and St. Paul’s in Elton.

After the passing of Fr. Derivas, Fr. William Frantzen becomes pastor of both Basile and Elton.

The first Eucharistic Missionary Sisters arrive. St. Augustine is formally incorporated, with Fr. Armand Cyr becoming the third pastor and the first resident priest of Basile. (His predecessors, Frs. Derivas and Frantzen, resided at the rectory in Elton.)

The original church building burns to the ground. Mass is temporarily held in an abandoned saloon at the corner of Lewis and Stagg Avenue (Main Street) in downtown Basile, LA.

A second church is built and occupied 14 months after the fire. Bishop Jeanmard dedicates the new St. Augustine Church, rectory, and convent.

A new Assumption Church is created, and Black Catholics from St. Augustine become members of this new congregation, which is a mission of St. Joseph’s in Elton, LA.

A parish hall, later referred to as the Youth Center, is built.

Fr. Armand Cyr celebrates two decades as pastor of St. Augustine.

Fr. J.C. Speyrer begins his 38.5-year tenure as pastor of St. Augustine.

A new convent and School of Religion are built and opened.

A modern rectory is built to house the parish priests.

Gus Johnson becomes the first priest from the Basile community.

David Andrus of Basile joins the Society of Jesuits.

Assumption Church is incorporated into St. Augustine Parish.

Basile-native Douglas Deshotel is ordained to the priesthood.

The Eucharistic Missionary Sisters leave the parish, and lay teachers take over the CCD program.

A new parish hall, later named the J.C. Speyrer Center, is built and opened.

Fr. J.C. Speyrer retires but remains involved in parish life, moving across the street from the church.

Fr. Ken Domingue is appointed parish administrator and is installed as pastor in 1995.

The second St. Augustine Church is closed, and Masses are held at the Speyrer Center while demolition and new construction take place.

The third St. Augustine Church is completed and dedicated.

Parishioner Robbie Leger is ordained as a deacon.

Fr. Ken Domingue completes his service at St. Augustine. Fr. Bill Rogalia is appointed pastor, assisted by Deacon Leger.

Due to illness, Fr. Rogalia steps down, and Fr. Bryan Taylor is appointed pastor.

Fr. J.C. Speyrer passes away and is laid to rest next to the crucifix in St. Augustine Cemetery.

Fr. Bryan Taylor is transferred, and Fr. David Hebert is appointed pastor.

The Very Reverend Douglas Deshotel, a former altar boy to Fr. Speyrer, is named Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette.

Fr. David Hebert is transferred and is succeeded by Fr. Keenan Brown.

St. Augustine Catholic Church marks 100 years as a parish, celebrating a century of faith, service, and community.