Rev. Fr. Austin Leger

Opelousas – Reverend P. Austin Leger, 89, retired priest of the Diocese of Lafayette passed away on Monday, January 31, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.

News of his death has been received with sadness by people throughout the Diocese.  His love of God and love for His Church was experienced by his dedication as a priest in his availability to those entrusted to his care and anyone who needed him, even in retirement, for the past 59 years.

The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotels, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, will be the principal celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Eunice on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 10:30 a.m.

Fr. Leger was born on April 27, 1932, in Church Point, Louisiana.  He attended Saint Marys college seminary in Kentucky and St. John seminary in Arkansas. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lafayette on June 2, 1962.  He served as an associate pastor in the parishes of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Kaplan and St.  Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas.  Fr. Leger faithfully served as Pastor of the parishes of St Peter, Morrow and Resurrection Chapel, Whiteville; St Francis Regis and Administrator of St. Catherine, Arnaudville; St Bridget, Lawtell and Sacred Heart Chapel, Prairie Ronde; and St. Martin de Tours, St. Martinville.  Fr.  Leger retired on June 16, 2008.

He is survived by his sister, Orphise Young (Gurvais) of Eunice.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Zannie Leger and Eve Marie Thibodeaux; sisters, Leona Jane Leger, Thelma Macip (Dudley), and Velma Doucet (Sidney); brothers, Leonce Leger (Pat) and Nolton Leger (Bessie).

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas from 5 PM until 8 PM with a vigil service (Rosary) at 6:30 PM. Visitation will resume at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Eunice, on Friday, February 4, 2022, from 8:30 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass.  Fr. Leger will be buried with his parents at Saint Paul Cemetery in Eunice.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Diocese of Lafayette, Fr. Austin Leger Seminarian Burse, 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA. 70501.

Family and friends are invited to view and sign the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 S. Union St., Opelousas, LA 70570 (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.