Five Weekend Masses, with One in Spanish on Saturday Evening
Annunziata Catholic Church sits on Acadian Drive in Houma, the seat of Terrebonne Parish, and draws Catholics from across the bayou country for five weekend liturgies. Saturday brings a Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and a Hispanic Mass at 7:00 PM, and Sunday is filled by Masses at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 5:30 PM. The Saturday evening Spanish Mass is the heart of the parish's Hispanic Ministry and gives Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Houma area a regular weekend Mass in their own language.
Confession Before Every Mass
Reconciliation is heard thirty minutes before every scheduled Mass at Annunziata, so a brief stop before liturgy is often enough. Those who need a different time can call the parish office to set an appointment with a priest.
The Seven Sacraments
Annunziata prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church. The seven sacraments listed on the parish's sacramental menu are Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Confirmation, First Confession and Eucharist, Holy Orders, Marriage, and Reconciliation.
Baptism
Parents begin by registering with Annunziata as parishioners, then attend a Baptism Seminar held the first Saturday of every month, where a parish representative walks through the rite and the role of parents and godparents. Baptism dates are scheduled with the secretary after the seminar. The paperwork includes the baptizand's birth certificate and a Confirmation certificate for each godparent, with at least one godparent of the same sex as the child. The suggested offering is $50, though the parish notes that no one should let money keep them from joining the Church.
First Confession, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and the Rest
Children preparing for First Confession and First Eucharist move through the parish's Family of Faith and Altaration programs. Older students preparing for Confirmation continue with the Encounter, Catholic Faith Handbook, and Decision Point curriculums, all of which are tied to the high-school years of youth formation. Catholics discerning a call to Holy Orders can approach the pastor, and adult Catholics preparing for Marriage begin with the parish's six-month process. Reconciliation is heard before every scheduled Mass and by appointment. Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing serious illness or surgery.
Weddings, Funerals, and Mass Intentions
Couples planning to marry at Annunziata contact the parish at least six months before the wedding, meet with the pastor, and schedule Pre-Cana through the diocese. Funeral Masses and wakes are arranged by calling the office, ideally after meeting with a funeral home. Mass intentions and sanctuary candles can be reserved by phone, with a suggested donation of $5 per Mass and $10 per sanctuary candle.
Family of Faith: Formation from First Grade Through High School
Annunziata's youth formation program follows the diocesan curriculum, anchored by the verse from Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” The program is built around the home, the parish, and the classroom working together.
Elementary students in grades 1 through 5 follow A Family of Faith, a family catechesis series that centers on one home lesson per month, regular community meetings, and parent sessions. The whole family takes part in the catechesis rather than the child alone.
Sixth graders work through Altaration, a series that walks them through the mystery of the Mass, the importance of the sacrament, their participation in it, and the Eucharistic feast they encounter. Older students continue with Encounter, the Catholic Faith Handbook, and Decision Point as they move toward Confirmation.
Advent, Lent, and Summer: Adult Formation
Adults at Annunziata gather three times a year for formation rooted in the Church's seasons. During Advent, the group walks to the stable with the Holy Family and the Nativity scene, meeting weekly for discussion, insight, and mutual care. Lent brings a deep dive into the Passion of the Lord, again in weekly gatherings. In summer, the series focuses on growing deeper in relationship with Christ, with weekly meetings for discussion and care. Each season is built around the same rhythm of weekly discussion, shared insights, and pastoral care among the participants.
The Altar Society: Prayer, Reception, and Preservation
The Altar Society is one of the parish's oldest lay organizations. Membership is open to men and women 18 and older who belong to Annunziata, and people from outside the parish may also participate; annual dues are $10, due in February. Members may be active or inactive, and active members choose which areas of the ministry they want to support.
The society's work falls into four areas. In spiritual support, members maintain the Divine Mercy Prayer Corner, lead rosaries for the deceased on request, offer Masses for members, and sit with grieving families. In parish life, they help with receptions and parish events and provide breakfast refreshments when a society member passes. The fundraising arm organizes Sweet Sales, Table Sales, and sales from the Religious Articles Case, with the proceeds directed to specific parish needs. Members also keep the worship area in good order, from candelabras, banners, altar cloths, and linens to vestments, sacred vessels, and books, and they maintain the church's collection of saint articles while keeping a historical record of donations for future generations. The society gratefully acknowledges the Hispanic community for its help in decorating the church each season.
Hispanic Ministry, Knights of Columbus, Music, and St. Vincent de Paul
Hispanic Ministry is rooted in the Saturday 7:00 PM Spanish Mass and is woven into parish life, including seasonal decorating at the church. The Knights of Columbus council serves as the parish's Catholic fraternal organization. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul carries the parish's traditional works of charity, and a Music Ministry supports liturgical life at every Mass.
The People Who Run the Parish
Fr. Jean-Marie Nsambu serves as Pastor and Administrator. Malory Solet is the Coordinator of Faith Formation, and Julie Clement is the Youth Minister. The parish is also guided by a Finance Council, which handles temporal matters, and a Pastoral Council, which advises on spiritual and pastoral life.
Visiting Annunziata
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Because of construction on the property, the office is by appointment only; the parish can be reached at (985) 876-2971. The address is 2011 Acadian Drive, Houma, LA 70363. Online giving is available through the parish's giving portal, and the weekly bulletin is posted online for those who want to follow announcements, Mass intentions, and the parish calendar.