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A ramble through the precious old registers of the cathedral is like a reunion of New Orleans families and a front row seat to Louisiana’s past. These old registers give us a glimpse into the narrative of the masses, from the affluent leaders to the workers and enslaved. All the great names familiar in the history of French and Spanish colonial days are to be found—French noblemen and Spanish officials, Counts and Marquises, Barons and Baronesses, Spanish Grandee, Chevaliers and military officers—as brides and grooms, witnesses, and godparents.
After the Good Friday fire in 1788, which destroyed the Church of St. Louis and numerous irreplaceable sacramental records, Auxiliary Bishop Cirilo of Barcelona ordered that all records must be kept in a safe place. At this time, the archdiocese had not been created yet, and the Louisiana colonial territory was under Spanish rule and ministered to by the Diocese of Havana, Cuba. This order created the Cathedral Archives in the sacristy of the St. Louis Cathedral, which became the Archdiocesan Archives.
Today the archives are kept in a secure vault by a team of archivists, who are dedicated to preserving the history of New Orleans and the surrounding area.
History of the Churches of New Orleans
Name of Church: Opened: Closed: Church Description: All Saints 1919 Open In 1919, All Saints Parish was opened by the Josephite Fathers to minister to African American Catholics on the Westbank. Five years after opening the church, the Holy Family Sisters opened All Saints School. In 2016, the church celebrated its ninetieth anniversary, with a vigil lead by Archbishop Aymond. Today, the church serves parishioners on the Westbank. Annunciation 1844 2001 In 1844, Bishop Blanc decided there was a need for a church parish in the Faubourg Marigny. Due to the growing number of people worshiping at the Widows Asylum Chapel, it was converted into Annunciation Parish. As the congregation grew, there was a demand for a larger place to worship. In 1846, a new church was completed. In 2001, Annunciation and four other area parishes merged to form Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos 2001 Open In 2001, five Marigny Parishes were combined to create Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish: St. Cecilia, St. Gerard Majella, Sts. Peter and Paul, Annunciation and St. Vincent de Paul. The new parish worships at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos continues to welcome worshipers today. Blessed Sacrament 1915 2008 In 1915, Blessed Sacrament Parish was established in the Old Southern University building for African Americans. The church officially opened in 1918, with 500 parishioners, a school, and 230 students. Blessed Sacrament celebrated its last Mass on Sunday, August 17, 2008. This church merged with St. Joan of Arc to form Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc Parish. Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc 2008 Open In 2008, Blessed Sacrament and St. Joan of Arc merged to form Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc Parish. Masses are celebrated at St. Joan of Arc Church, where the parish welcomes the people. Blessed Trinity 2008 Open In 2008, Blessed Trinity was formed from a merger of three different churches: St. Matthias, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Monica. Currently, Masses are celebrated at St. Matthias Church. Corpus Christi 1916 2008 In 1916, Corpus Christi Parish was established by the Josephite Fathers for African Americans, and it soon became a place of community in the Seventh Ward. The sons and daughters of the parish formed the nucleus of six other parishes erected from the original Corpus Christi territory. In 2008, Corpus Christi merged with Epiphany to form Corpus Christi-Epiphany Parish. Epiphany 1948 2008 Epiphany Parish was established in 1948 due to overcrowding at Corpus Christi. Within its first year, its congregation totaled 3,200 people. In 2008, the church was closed, and the parish merged with Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi Epiphany 2008 Open In 2008, a merger of Corpus Christi and Epiphany Churches formed Corpus Christi-Epiphany Parish. Today, Masses are celebrated at Corpus Christi Church. Good Shepherd 2008 Open In 2008, Good Shepherd Parish was formed by merging together three parishes: St. Stephen, St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel. The boundaries of the new parish extend from Seventh to Leontine Streets, and Carondelet Street to the river. The new parish worships at St. Stephen Church. Holy Ghost 1916 2008 On October 31, 1915, 200 people attended the first Mass at Holy Ghost Parish, which was held in a shotgun house. The parish was created for African Americans Catholics who lived in the area. The next year, Mother Katharine Drexel, foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, donated $14,000 to purchase property for a proper church. The cornerstone was laid on July 30, 1916, and the church opened just two months later. In 2008, Holy Ghost and St. Francis De Sales merged to form St. Katharine Drexel Parish, which worships at Holy Ghost Church. Holy Name of Jesus 1892 Open On May 29, 1892, the first Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Parish was celebrated. The church became known as "Little Jesuits." In 1918, a new larger church was completed. The old church was dismantled and ferried across the river to become Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Westwego. Today, Holy Name of Jesus continues to thrive in the university area. Holy Name of Mary 1848 Open On Christmas Eve, 1848, Archbishop Blanc blessed St. Bartholomew, in memory of the head of the Duverje Family, who donated the plot of land on which the church was built. Around 1871, construction started on a new church. It opened on May 4, 1873, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under the title Holy Name of Mary. Today, this church serves Catholics on the Westbank of New Orleans. Holy Redeemer 1919 1965 Holy Redeemer Parish was established in 1919, after the church was purchased by the archdiocese from the members of the Third Presbyterian Church. The first Mass was in December 1919, and the church was dedicated just one month later, in January 1920, by Archbishop Shaw. Holy Redeemer was closed in 1965, after 45 years of service and worship. Holy Spirit 1972 Open In August 1972, Archbishop Hannan created a new parish and challenged its parishioners to submit three possible names, of which he choose Holy Spirit. In 1975, many Vietnamese refugees joined this parish. After twenty years, the parish finally had a church to call its own. Holy Spirit continues nourishing its people in the name of the Lord. Holy Trinity 1847 1997 In 1847, Holy Trinity Parish was founded to serve German Catholics who lived below Canal Street. Four years later, a fire destroyed the church, but the community rebuilt and rededicated it. In 1997, the church was closed. The building reopened in 2011, as the Marigny Opera House. Immaculate Conception 1851 Open In 1846, the Jesuits erected two buildings in the Central Business District to serve as a chapel, a residence and a college. The College of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1847; a church parish of the same name was established in 1851; and the first Mass was offered in the church on August 15, 1857. In 1928, due to structural damage caused by construction in the area, the church was demolished. It was rebuilt and reopened on March 2, 1929. The rebuilt church is a replica of the original church from 1857. Today, Immaculate Conception continues to thrive in the heart of the Central Business District. Immaculate Heart of Mary 1954 2008 In 1954, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish was established in New Orleans East. In August of 1955, construction of the church began; it was completed and dedicated in September 1956. In 1963, the parish boundaries were divided to create Resurrection of Our Lord Parish. In 2008, the parish was assumed by Maria Goretti. Incarnate Word 1922 2008 On June 25, 1922, Revered Frederick W. Bosch was appointed the first pastor of Incarnate Word Parish. Upon his arrival, there was no rectory, and the chapel was small and inadequate. In February 1929, Archbishop Shaw laid the cornerstone for the new church. After Hurricane Katrina, the church was assumed by Mater Dolorosa. Mary Queen of Vietnam 1983 Open In 1976, Mary Queen of Vietnam Church began in a mobile home. In December 1983, the parish was officially created and had a roster of over 12,000 people. One year later, they had collected $645,000 in cash and pledges for a new church, which opened in 1986. The church lives on and is considered the mother of all Vietnamese churches in the area. Mater Dolorosa 1888 Open In 1872, German parishioners started planning for the erection of their own parish, which was officially created in 1888. They bought twelve lots of ground on Cambronne Street, opposite Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish. Archbishop Perché gave his approval to use the German language for all church events. In 1899, Archbishop Chapelle decided to end the separation of French and German Catholics in the area and combined the two Carrollton area churches. Today, Mater Dolorosa is open and welcomes Catholics of all nationalities. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1848 1899 In March 1848, Bishop Blanc called on Father Zeller to organize a parish in the Carrollton area. From a private home in the neighborhood, Father Zeller began to conduct services for French, German and Irish Catholics. The new structure was placed under the title of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1899, it merged with Mater Dolorosa. Notre Dame de Bon Secours 1858 1925 In 1858, Notre Dame de Bon Secours Parish was established for French speaking Catholics in the Irish Channel. The first Mass was celebrated on January 6, 1859. The church stood for almost seven decades, but ravages of time took its toll on the little church. On August 23, 1925, the last Mass was celebrated, and the church was demolished the following year. Our Lady of Good Counsel 1887 2008 In 1887, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish was established by Archbishop Perché. A new church was finished later that year. In 1894, the current brick church was completed. Hurricane Betsy, destroyed the church's bell tower. In 2008, the parish merged with St. Stephen and St. Henry Parishes to form Good Shepherd Parish. Our Lady of Guadalupe 1918 Open In 1827, St. Anthony of Padua was created as a mortuary chapel. The chapel hosted funerals for victims of yellow fever in order to limit church parishioners' exposure to the disease. In the 1870s, Archbishop Perché converted the chapel into a church for Italian immigrants. In 1918, the church's name was changed to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and began serving the Spanish-speaking Catholic population of the city. In 1935, the church established a devotion to St. Jude, and continues to operate and celebrate the St. Jude Novena. Our Lady of Lourdes 1905 2008 Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was established in 1905 within the boundaries of Napoleon, Freret, Jena and LaSalle Streets. In September 1905, the first church was dedicated. In 1925, to accommodate a growing population, a new church was built on Napoleon Street, featuring twin white spires. In 2008, Our Lady of Lourdes merged with two other parishes to form Blessed Trinity Parish. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 1871 1972 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish was built in 1871, to serve French-speaking Catholics in New Orleans. The parish was created from part of the surrounding parishes of St. Ann, St. Augustine, and St. Rose de Lima. The first church was destroyed by the Hurricane of 1915, and the second church was destroyed by a fire in 1945. In January 1972, Archbishop Hannan closed the parish and the territory became part of Corpus Christi. Our Lady of the Rosary 1907 Open In 1907, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish was established. The current church building was finished in 1925, and features a large dome with stained glass windows. The magnificent dome depicts the lives of all Protestants, Jews, Catholics and non-believers. Today, the church continues serving the local community. Our Lady Star of the Sea 1911 Open In November 1911, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish was created by Archbishop Blenk. The first Mass took place on Christmas Day. The church was destroyed in the Hurricane of 1915, and Masses were temporarily held at Delatour's Theater. A new church was erected within six months, and it continues to minister to locals. Resurrection of Our Lord 1963 Open In 1963, Resurrection of Our Lord Church was established on the site of an old junkyard in New Orleans East. Oil and aeronautics industry workers were moving into the area, and the church served those communities in its early days. Later, the church welcomed some of the earliest Vietnamese refugees to the area. Resurrection of Our Lord Church continues to serve the local community. Sacred Heart of Jesus 1879 2008 In 1879, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was established. The first parishioners were Irish immigrants who came to the area to dig the New Basin Canal. The church's baptism book includes a record for Louis Armstrong. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church closed following Hurricane Katrina, and the remaining parishioners were merged into the congregation of St. Anthony of Padua. St. Alphonsus 1850 Open Founded in 1850, St. Alphonsus Parish was created as a church for the Irish. In 1955, to celebrate the centennial year of St. Alphonsus, the church was renovated and a bigger sacristy was added with updated electricity. Before the renovation was complete, an arsonist set three different fires in the church, but only caused minimal damage. Today, the church is no longer used for worship; instead it is utilized for a variety of cultural activities in the city. Masses for the parishioners of St. Alphonsus Parish are now held at St. Mary's Assumption Church. St. Andrew the Apostle 1952 Open In 1952, Archbishop Rummel created St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Algiers. There was no physical church at that time and Masses were held in private homes on the Westbank. The first official Mass held in the church was on Christmas Eve 1952, the parishioners cleaned and decorated the church for their first service. In 1972, the parish boundaries were divided to create Holy Spirit Parish. Today, the church is open and welcomes members. St. Ann 1852 1971 In 1852, Archbishop Blanc divided St. Augustine Parish to form St. Ann Parish. The church was established to care for the growing number of Catholics who were settling in the area around Bayou Road. In the 1920s, the church moved to Ursuline Avenue to accommodate the increasing number of parishioners. Years later, St. Ann Parish moved to Metairie. St. Anthony of Padua 1915 Open In 1827, a small mortuary chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua was built in the rear of the city. In 1915, Archbishop Chappelle decided to close St. Anthony Chapel on Rampart Street and create a new parish church on Canal Street. In August of 1915, St. Anthony of Padua Parish was blessed and dedicated to the service of God. In 2008, St. Anthony of Padua and Sacred Heart of Jesus united in Christ as one parish. Today, the parishioners worship at St. Anthony of Padua Church. St. Augustine 1841 Open
In 1841, with the population increasing outside of the French Quarter, Bishop Blanc saw the need to build a church in the Treme area, which lead to the establishment of St. Augustine Parish. The Ursuline Sisters donated the property at the corner of Bayou Road and Saint Claude Avenue on the condition that church be named St. Augustine. On October 9, 1842, the church was officially dedicated. St. Augustine is the oldest church in the United States with a multicultural congregation throughout its history.St. Boniface 1871 1917 In 1869, St. Boniface Church was erected for German parishioners of Holy Trinity who wanted a place to worship in their neighborhood. Two years later, St. Boniface was dedicated as a parish church. The membership grew to include many French and Creoles from the rear of the city. In 1917, St. Boniface Parish was assumed by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. St. Brigid 1977 2008 In June 1977, St. Brigid Parish was founded in New Orleans East. Parishioners used meeting rooms at Delgado College East for two years until their church was completed. After four years, this parish had doubled its following. On July 3, 2008, the parish was suppressed and assumed by Mary Queen of Vietnam. St. Cecilia 1897 2001 In 1897, St. Cecilia Parish was carved out of St. Maurice and St. Vincent de Paul Parishes. The church was officially dedicated by Archbishop Janssen with a celebration Mass. The Hurricane of 1915 completely destroyed the church and school, causing the need for a temporary church in the Presbytery. Additionally, World War I delayed the completion of the new church for almost seven years. In 2001, the church merged with four other area churches to form Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish. St. David 1937 Open
Dedicated in 1937, St. David was the first parish established in New Orleans by Archbishop Rummel. The church was opened for African Americans living below the Industrial Canal. The church is currently open and welcomes parishioners.St. Dominic 1924 Open In 1912, Lakeview Mission was established as the first formal place of worship in Lakeview. In 1924, the mission officially became a parish, and was named St. Dominic, after the founder of the Dominican Order, who were in charge of ministering to the parish. Over the years, the community around St. Dominic grew from scattered shacks and cottages to a modern, densely populated community. Today, St. Dominic Parish serves the Lakeview community. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini 1952 2008 In 1952, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish was founded. The architecture of the newly built church made it one of the most outstanding modern churches in the United States. In 1962, the church was honored with the Design of Sanctuary Award from the Church Architectural Guild of America. Due to the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina the church was demolished. In 2008, the parish merged with St. Raphael the Archangel and St. Thomas the Apostle to form Transfiguration of the Lord Parish. St. Francis de Sales 1867 2008 Founded in 1867, St. Francis de Sales Parish was carved from the boundaries of St. John the Baptist Parish. The church served a large portion of the rear uptown section of the city. In 1977, the church was in desperate need of repair, and the parish community raised $65,000 for renovations. After Hurricane Katrina, the church was closed. In 2008, it merged with Holy Ghost to form St. Katherine Drexel Parish. St. Francis of Assisi 1890 Open St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established in 1890, by Archbishop Janssens. One year later, 700 people were worshiping in the parish. During the late 1890s, the parish lost almost 200 parishioners to a yellow fever outbreak, but the church persevered. In 2015, the parish celebrated 125 years of worship. St. Gabriel the Archangel 1954 Open In 1954, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish was established by Archbishop Rummel in Gentilly. In 1966, the parishioners worshiped in their newly built church for the first time. By 1993, the parish was predominately African American and continues to have a very strong connection and loyalty to the faith community. St. Gerard Majella 1971 2001 St. Gerard Majella was founded in 1971, as a church for the hearing impaired. This parish worked side by side with Holy Trinity and St. Vincent de Paul to bring the gospel to different groups of people. St. Gerard Majella merged in 2001, with five other parishes in the area to form Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish. St. Henry 1856 2008 Founded in 1855, St. Henry Parish was created in response to German immigrants requests to hear Mass in their own language. In 1911, Archbishop Blanc required St. Henry to serve more than just those of German descent. In 2008, St. Henry merged with two other parishes to form Good Shepherd Parish. St. James Major 1920 Open In February 1920, St. James Major Parish was established in Gentilly. That same year, the church celebrated its first Mass in a temporary chapel on Spain Street. In 1922, the newly organized Holy Name Society built a hall that would serve as the parish church until 1952, when the construction of the present church was completed. St. Joan of Arc 1909 2008 In 1909, St. Dominic Church was founded for African Americans by Archbishop Blanc and the Josephite Fathers. The Hurricane of 1915, completely destroyed the church. It was soon rebuilt and renamed St. Joan of Arc Parish, as a memorial to soldiers and sailors. In 2008, the church merged with Blessed Sacrament to form Blessed Sacrament-St. Joan of Arc Parish. St. John the Baptist 1851 2006 In 1851, St. John the Baptist Parish was established and the church building was completed three months later. The erection of the church brought many to the area contributing to the economic development. In 1853, a yellow fever epidemic hit the city of New Orleans and devastated the Parish of St. John the Baptist and the surrounding areas. Today, the church is under the care of the pastor of St. Patrick Church, and is only open for weddings and funerals. St. Joseph 2014 Open In 1975, Archbishop Hannan welcomed the first Vietnam refugees to New Orleans. During the beginning of the Vietnamese community in Woodlawn, Father Viet-Chau received permission from the Little Sisters of the Poor to use their chapel to offer Mass. In 1980, the Woodlawn Community became St. Joseph Mission Church. On May 31, 2014, on the Feast of Visitation of Mary, Archbishop Aymond decreed that St. Joseph Mission would officially become St. Joseph personal parish on July 2, 2014. St. Joseph 1844 Open St. Joseph Parish was established in February 1844, to serve the growing population outside of the French Quarter. The original St. Joseph Church was located on Tulane Avenue, opposite Charity Hospital. After the original church was renovated, it later became St. Katherine. On December 18, 1892, the new St. Joseph Church was dedicated, and still stands more than 100 years later. St. Julian Eymard 1952 2008 St. Julian Eymard Parish was originally opened in 1924, as St. Joseph Chapel, in order to serve a growing population of Catholics in Algiers who lived on the lower coast. In 1952, St. Joseph Parish was canonically established. Eleven years later, the church was renamed in honor of St. Julian Eymard, the newly canonized Marist father. In 2009, St. Julian Eymard Parish was assumed by Holy Name of Mary. St. Katherine 1892 1966 Founded in 1892, St. Katherine Parish was created for African Americans Catholics and was officially dedicated in 1895. The original church was named St. Joseph, but its congregation outgrew the church within years of its construction. After the building was vacated, the church was renamed St. Katherine. The church was demolished in 1966, due to serious damage caused by Hurricane Betsy. St. Katharine Drexel 2008 Open In 2008, St. Katharine Drexel Parish was created by merging Holy Ghost Parish and St. Francis de Sales Parish. Today, the congregation worships at Holy Ghost Church. St. Leo the Great 1920 2008 Before its official dedication in 1920, the Parish of St. Leo the Great began in a chapel car. The parish was created when Archbishop Shaw's realized there was a need for a church in the back of the seventh ward. After nine months of worshiping in a chapel car, the first Mass was held in the church. In 2008, St. Leo the Great merged with St. Raymond to form St. Raymond-St. Leo the Great Parish. St. Maria Goretti 1965 Open On January 2, 1965, Archbishop Cody established St. Maria Goretti Parish in the Little Woods neighborhood. The first Mass in the new parish was offered on January 3, 1965. With rapid growth in New Orleans East, it was obvious that St. Maria Goretti Church must expand its facilities. The existing church could only seat 325 people and classroom space became essential. Two years later, a new church that seated 950 people was completed. In 2008, St. Maria Goretti assumed the parishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Simon Peter and is still open today. St. Mary 1845 2008 In 1845, St. Mary officially became the Bishop's Chapel. This was the third church built on the property, and it was connected to the Ursuline Convent. St. Mary was a favorite place of worship for Italians, Creoles and Germans of the city. The church, formally known as St. Mary's Italian and Our Lady of Victory, is open to visitors as a museum and for certain sacramental celebrations. It is also part of the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, along with the St. Louis Cathedral. St. Mary of the Angels 1925 Open St. Mary of the Angels Parish was established in the spring of 1925, when Archbishop Shaw invited the Franciscans from Cincinnati to care for a proposed parish behind Claiborne Street in downtown New Orleans. The first Mass was celebrated August 2, 1925, feast day of Our Lady of the Angels, the patroness of the parish. St. Mary of the Angels will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. St. Mary's Assumption 1858 1925 In 1858, St. Mary's Assumption Parish was built by German immigrants. The church served as a testament to their faith and as a proud statement that they were here to stay. In 1925, Archbishop Shaw declared St. Mary's Assumption a chapel of ease. The church was damaged by Hurricane Betsy and was closed for ten years. By the 1980s, St. Alphonsus Parish moved into St. Mary's Assumption Church, which now serves as the active sacramental church of the parish, and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. St. Matthias 1920 2008 St. Matthias Parish was established in 1920, by Archbishop Shaw. In 1921, the church was dedicated and celebrated its first Mass. In 2008, St. Matthias merged with Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Monica to form Blessed Trinity Parish. Today, the parishioners of Blessed Trinity worship in the former St. Matthias Church. St. Maurice 1852 2008 Founded in 1852, St. Maurice Parish Church was officially dedicated in 1857 with a celebratory Mass. The yellow fever outbreak in 1878, devastated the parish with a loss of twenty-eight parishioners. In 2008, 151 years after its construction, the church was closed, and assumed by St. David. St. Michael 1869 1966 In 1869, territory for St. Michael Parish was taken from the boundaries of St. Alphonsus and St. Theresa of Avila Parishes. On May 8, 1870, St. Michael Church was dedicated by Archbishop Perché. In 1965, Hurricane Betsy severely damaged the church and the rectory. This financial burden, coupled with a dwindling number of parishioners and the shortage of archdiocesan priests, led to the closing of St. Michael in 1966. St. Monica 1924 2008 In 1924, St. Monica Parish was built at the request of Archbishop Blenk. It was created from a portion of Holy Ghost Parish, and would serve the community until 2005. After the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the church was closed and suppressed. In 2008, the church merged with two other parishes to form Blessed Trinity Parish. St. Nicholas of Myra 1971 2006 St. Nicholas of Myra was established in 1971, and destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Father Arthur “Red” Ginart, lost his life caring for this flock by staying inside the church during Hurricane Katrina. Work began in 2012 to restore the church and by September 2013 the majority of construction was finished. In March 2014, St. Nicholas of Myra became a mission of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish. St. Patrick 1833 Open St. Patrick Parish was established in 1833. It brought many firsts to New Orleans: an English speaking Mass, a church for the Irish, and the first church outside of the boundaries of the original city. On September 16, 1851, Archbishop Blanc received his pallium at St. Patrick to become the ecclesiastical head of the fourth archdiocese in the United States. At the time, St. Patrick was the pro-cathedral, while St. Louis Cathedral was being rebuilt. Today, the church caters to the expanding commercial area and to the spiritual needs of many families who travel far distances to attend its services. St. Paul the Apostle 1947 Open On June 15, 1947, Archbishop Rummel dedicated St. Paul the Apostle Parish to serve a predominantly African American community. St. Paul was the first Catholic Church established in New Orleans East. The church was recently rededicated and continues to draw on the richness of its diversity. St. Peter Claver 1920 Open In 1920, St. Peter Claver Parish emerged from what was for nearly seventy years a parish know as St. Ann. The stately church building, that still stands today, was build in 1852. St. Peter Claver played an important part in the growth of the Treme area as the city spread. In 1983, the Society of St. Edmund came to St. Peter Claver Parish to serve the African American Community. Today, the parish has more than 2,400 registered families. St. Philip the Apostle 1952 2006 In 1949, the Louisa Street Mission was renamed St. Philip the Apostle. Three years later, St. Phillip the Apostle Parish was established. In 1967, a new church was built and dedicated. Its first Mass was held on Thanksgiving Day. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina damaged the church and it was not reopened. The parish was assumed by St. Mary of the Angels, and the church was demolished. St. Pius X 1953 Open In August of 1953, St. Pius X Parish was established and dedicated. Originally named after Blessed Pius X, the parish was renamed St. Pius X after his canonization. In 2005, after New Orleans and the surrounding areas were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, St. Pius X served many of the first responders in the area. The church did not flood and was able to aid in the reconstruction efforts. St. Raphael the Archangel 1947 2008 Founded in 1947, St. Raphael the Archangel Parish began as a Chapel on a Navel Air Field. In 1958, the Naval Air Field became the University of New Orleans Campus. After the campus opened, the old wooden chapel was replaced by a new large brick church. In 2008, the Parish was suppressed and merged with two other churches to form Transfiguration of Our Lord. St. Raymond - St. Leo the Great 2008 Open St. Raymond-St. Leo the Great Parish was established in 2008, from a merger of St. Leo the Great and St. Raymond Parishes. The congregation worships in the former St. Leo the Great Church. St. Raymond 1929 2008 On October 27, 1927, the first Mass at St. Raymond Church was celebrated. In 1929, the parish was officially established. In October 2002, the church had recorded 6,398 baptisms. In 2008, St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great merged to form St. Raymond-St. Leo the Great Parish, which worships at St. Leo the Great Church. St. Rita 1920 Open St. Rita was established in 1921, in response to the growing population around Carrollton and Claiborne Avenues. The first Mass was celebrated in a private home on Passion Sunday; a few months later the congregation moved to a dirt floor basement. On May 22, 1922, the new church was officially dedicated on the feast of St. Rita. St. Rose of Lima 1857 2006 In 1857, a shack on Maurepas and Mystery Streets was converted into the Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and established as a parish. During 1858, the name of the chapel formally became St. Rose of Lima Church. In 2005, the church had severe water damage from Hurricane Katrina, was closed and assumed by Our Lady of the Rosary. The church building underwent a complete renovation in 2012 and became the Bayou Treme Center. St. Simon Peter 1986 2008 On June 14, 1986, St. Simon Peter Parish was officially established on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the church, and it was closed. On July 3, 2008, St. Simon Peter Parish was assumed by St. Maria Gorretti. St. Stephen 1849 2008 St. Stephen Parish was established in 1849 by Bishop Blanc. The parish was given to the Vincentian Fathers to serve a large German settlement in the area. Mass was originally celebrated in parishioners' homes until a simple church was completed in 1850. St. Stephen is the second largest Catholic Church in New Orleans. In 2008, the parish merged with two other parishes to form Good Shepherd Parish, which worships in St. Stephen Church. St. Theresa of Avila 1848 Open In 1849, one year after St. Theresa of Avila Parish was established, the new church was dedicated. Before it was officially established as a parish, St. Theresa was a chapel for St. Patrick Orphanage. Due to the growing population in the river neighborhoods, Archbishop Blanc established the parish and commissioned architect T. E. Giraud to design a new permanent church building in Roman Byzantine style. This church is a thriving parish in the Lower Garden District. St. Theresa of the Child Jesus 1929 2008 On November 20, 1929, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish was established. This church is also known as St. Theresa the Little Flower and St. Therese of Lisieux. On August 11, 1949, Archbishop Rummel blessed a new church. After Hurricane Katrina, the church was assumed by Incarnate Word. St. Thomas the Apostle 1974 2008 Founded in 1974, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was formed from the campus ministry at University of New Orleans. The official dedication of the University Center was in 1981, by Archbishop Hannan. In 2008, St. Thomas the Apostle merged with two other parishes in the Gentilly neighborhood to form Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish. St. Thomas More 1970 2008 On February 19, 1970, St. Thomas More at Tulane University was declared an official parish of the Archdiocese. Under the administration of the Dominican Fathers, the parish grew and became an important part of the lives of many Catholic Tulane students. In 2008, St. Thomas More Parish was closed, but continues to serve as the University Catholic Center. St. Vincent de Paul 1838 2001 In the late 1830s, during a meeting of sixteen men in the private parlor of Mr. Giguel, St. Vincent de Paul Parish was founded. In 1838, work began on St. Vincent de Paul Church, but due to financial issues, the work slowed and the church was not completed until 1840. In 2001, St. Vincent de Paul merged with four other congregations to form Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish. Masses are celebrated at St. Vincent de Paul Church. In 2016, on the 150th anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul church building, a fifty year old time capsule was opened. Sts. Peter and Paul 1848 2001 Founded in 1848, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish was created for the Irish Catholics who desired to have English sermons. The first church that was built was small, and the congregation soon outgrew it. In 1860, a new church was erected, and the tall spire on the top became a landmark in the area. In 2001, Sts. Peter and Paul Church merged with four other parishes to form Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish. Transfiguration of the Lord 2008 Open In 2008, Transfiguration Parish was created. Three parishes in the Gentilly neighborhood flooded during Hurricane Katrina and were combined into this new parish. Transfiguration of the Lord is located in the former St. Raphael the Archangel Church at the corner of Elysian Fields and Prentiss Avenues. On October 16, 2011, the church was rededicated.