As the oldest parish in the diocese, St. Matthew is the origin from which all other parishes in the area were established. This has led many to affectionately refer to St. Matthew as the “Mother Church” of northeast Louisiana. The history of the parish, which began in 1851, is filled with contributions from the faithful and friends throughout the region. St. Matthew and the clergy who have served there have been a unifying force in the community for the past 150 years.