[2][3] The current church building, in Gothic and Romanesque Revival style, was completed in 1909.

In the days of the early 18th century, the area of what is now known as Opelousas was settled by a number of Catholics, many of whom were from Nova Scotia and had no established parish in which to worship.

Although there was no official church yet, there was a baptismal ritual which was recorded on May 16, 1756, by Father Pierre Didier, at the home of Jacques Courtableau[2] (now located in Washington, Louisiana).

José [Joseph] de Arazena, the fourth pastor of the church of Opelousas from 1785 to 1789, mentions a Capuchin, Friar Valentin, as the first resident priest in 1764.

[2] Worship at the present site was not begun until the year 1798, when the construction of a wood-frame building was completed, and the parish name was changed to "The Church of St Landry".

Michael Bernard Barriere, pastor from 1813 to 1817, that the church was located just south of present-day Washington, Louisiana, on the “Bayou.”[6] He noted that: "During the year 1798, the present church was moved from the bayou (he spells it "Baillou") [from] the locality called 'Ponte a M.

Michel Prudhomme's French Colonial home, built around 1790, still stands near the church, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

On an official visit by the Bishop William Louis Dubourg, a recommendation was made that a new church be built.

Finally, on March 4, 1828, the new brick church was consecrated by Bishop Rosati, of St. Louis, Administrator of Louisiana.

Gilbert’s next step was affording the girls the same opportunity of acquiring a solid, Christian education.

Gilbert Raymond purchased another piece of land for the creation of a school for the black children of the parish.

The construction of the walls began in the winter of 1908-09 and was completed and occupied, the first Mass being said on the first Friday of April 1909.

When in 1919, Monsignor Albeit Benedict Colliard was made pastor, after the death of Fr.

Colliard paid off the large debt incurred in building the church and added stained-glass windows.

Monsignor Russell J. Harrington is the current pastor, with John W. Miller, Sammy Diesi, and Dwayne Joubert as his Permanent Deacons.