Father Jefferson J. DeBlanc, Jr., is the second child of Jefferson J. DeBlanc, Sr., and the late Louise Berard DeBlanc. 

 He was born on 20 August 1951 in Saint Martinville, Louisiana.

He has one sister, Barbara, and three brothers, Richard, Frank, and Michael.  Barbara is married to Tommy Romero, Richard to Irma Chavez, Frank to Margaret Guidry, and Michael to Pamela Roy.  Nieces and nephews are Jonathan Romero, Christie Romero Broussard (married to David Broussard), Estelle DeBlanc, Margie DeBlanc, Amanda DeBlanc, Michael DeBlanc II, and Blake DeBlanc.  His great-nephews are Beau, Sean, T.J., and Trey."

He received the sacraments of initiation in his home parish of Saint Martin de Tours Church, Saint Martinville.  Monsignor Henri Hamel baptized him on 25 August 1951.  He made his first confession on 9 May 1959 and his First Holy Communion on 10 May 1959.  Bishop Warren Boudreaux confirmed him on 20 February 1963. 

After attending Saint Martinville Elementary School and Saint Martinville Junior High, he entered Immaculata Seminary High School in September 1965, graduating on 29 May 1969.  He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, from 1969 to 1971.  He finished his collegiate studies at the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas, graduating on 20 May 1973 with a Batchelor of Arts (B.A.)  His graduate studies in theology were at the Angelicum University, Rome, Italy, with residence at the Pontifical North American College Seminary.  He obtained his Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureatus (S.T.B.) in Sacred Theology on 27 October 1976. 

Bishop James A. Hickey admitted him to Candidacy for Holy Orders on 3 December 1973 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City.  In the same chapel, Archbishop Paul Marcinkus admitted him to the Order of Lector on 3 December 1974 and to the Order of Acolyte on 17 March 1975. 

Archbishop Marcinkus ordained him to the Diaconate on 29 April 1976 in Immaculate Conception Chapel at the North American College.  In the summer of 1976, his diaconal appointment was to Blessed Sacrament Parish of the American Military Community in Darmstadt, Federal Republic of Germany.  During his fourth year of theology, his diaconal apostolate was visiting the sick in Ospedale Santo Spirito, Rome, Italy. 

Bishop Gerard L. Frey ordained him to the Sacred Priesthood on 1 July 1977 in Saint Martin de Tours Church, Saint Martinville, Louisiana.  He celebrated there his first Solemn Mass on 3 July 1977. 

Priestly assignments include associate pastorates at these parishes.

	Saint Peter’s Church, New Iberia, from July 1977 to June 1978
	[Administrator of Saint Paul, Lafayette, in July and August of 1978]
	Saint Margaret Church, Lake Charles, from August 1978 to April 1981
	Saint Landry Church, Opelousas, from May 1981 to May 1984
	Sacred Heart Church, Ville Platte, and Sacred Heart Chapel, Belaire Cove, from June 1984 to May 1986
	Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Abbeville, from May 1986 to March 1987
	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Church Point, and Saint John Chapel, Lewisburg, from March 1987 to March 1989.

His first pastorate was at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Henderson, and Sacred Heart Chapel, Butte La Rose, serving the community as its third pastor from March 1989 to January 1999.

On 13 January 1999, he became the tenth pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Opelousas, where he currently serves.  He is also Chancellor of Opelousas Catholic School, having been appointed in December 1999.

Back to Clergy