 He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on April 12, 1925.Following his return to Louisiana, he served as a curate at St. John the Evangelist Church in Plaquemines until 1929, when he became chaplain of the Newman Club at Louisiana State University.He also served as state chaplain of the Knights of Columbus (1932–1944) and pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Houma (1946–1950).