About Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos · New Orleans, Louisiana
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish was formed in 2001 through the merger of five historic local parishes — Annunciation, St. Cecilia, St. Gerard (a parish for the hearing-impaired), Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Vincent de Paul — and is housed in the 1866 red-brick former St. Vincent de Paul Church on Dauphine Street. The parish serves a multilingual Catholic community with Masses in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language, reflecting both its Creole/French heritage and its present-day Hispanic and deaf communities.
- Established
- 1838
- Patron
- Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Parish is one of New Orleans' most historically rooted Catholic communities, worshipping in an 1866 basilica-plan church that has been lovingly restored after fire and hurricane damage. It is also one of the most welcoming parishes in the archdiocese, offering Mass in English, Spanish, and with American Sign Language — a direct inheritance from St. Gerard, the former deaf parish merged into the community. Trilingual Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, a Parish School of Religion (Escuela Parroquial de Religión), an active Altar Society, and ministries serving the hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking faithful make this Bywater parish a rare, inclusive spiritual home.
Mass times at Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday & Friday 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM (by appointment only)
- 1st Friday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM during All Night Eucharistic Adoration
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM in church
Adoration times
- First Friday: 7:00 PM Mass followed by Adoration until 8:00 AM Mass on Saturday (All Night Eucharistic Adoration)
History of the Parish
The parish was founded in 1838 by Bishop Antoine Blanc as the third parish in New Orleans, originally named St. Vincent de Paul after the secondary patron of the Diocese of New Orleans. It served the Creole and French residents of the Third Municipal District (the Faubourgs downriver from the Vieux Carré), and its French tradition was so strong that English sermons were not given until the 1880s. In 1864, Fr. E.J. Foltier became pastor and in 1866 commissioned architect Louis Reynolds to design the present red-brick basilica-plan church; the interior was painted by Achille Paretti. A clock tower was added in 1924. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales have ministered here since 1963.
- Parish founded 1838 by Bishop Antoine Blanc
- Original frame church replaced by 1866 brick church designed by Louis Reynolds
- Interior murals painted by Achille Paretti
- Clock tower added in 1924
- Served by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales since 1963
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 13, 1976
The 2001 Merger and Renaming
In 2001, as part of a study of parish facilities, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans merged five parishes — Annunciation, St. Cecilia, St. Gerard (a parish for the hearing-impaired), Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Vincent de Paul — into a new parish named in honor of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, the Redemptorist missionary who died of yellow fever in New Orleans in 1867. The new parish was housed in the church and facilities of the former St. Vincent de Paul.
- Annunciation
- St. Cecilia
- St. Gerard (parish for the hearing-impaired)
- Sts. Peter and Paul
- St. Vincent de Paul (became the host parish)
Fire of 2003 and Restoration
On May 25, 2003, a devastating fire gutted the interior of the 1866 church, destroying the main altar, several murals, and the sacristy. The priceless stained-glass windows — many installed under pastors Rev. Arthur Drossaerts and Rev. A.M. Barbier and directed by Emile Frei of the Frei Glass Company of St. Louis — were saved by the New Orleans Fire Department. During the restoration, the former altar of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and the pulpit of St. Cecilia were moved into the building.
- Main altar destroyed by fire on May 25, 2003
- Stained-glass windows saved by NOFD
- Altar from Sts. Peter and Paul and pulpit from St. Cecilia relocated into the church
Hurricane Katrina and the New Organ
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 added further damage, especially to the roof of the nearby St. Gerard Center (the former Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception). The fire-damaged pipe organ was not replaced as part of the initial fire restoration; instead, Seattle-area volunteers and the Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, Washington, donated and rebuilt a new grand organ combining two Moller instruments, completed in June 2008.
- Hurricanes Katrina & Rita caused further damage in 2005
- Roof replaced on St. Gerard Center
- New grand organ installed in June 2008 (Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, WA)
Patron: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R.
The parish is named for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (1819–1867), a Bavarian-born Redemptorist priest known as the 'Cheerful Ascetic.' Ordained in Baltimore in 1844, he was an itinerant missionary preacher and confessor. After a brief assignment in Detroit, he was transferred in September 1866 to St. Mary of the Assumption in New Orleans, where he ministered to the poorest and most abandoned. While caring for victims of yellow fever in 1867, he himself contracted the disease and died on October 4, 1867, at age 48. Pope John Paul II beatified him on April 9, 2000. His feast day is October 5.
- Born January 11, 1819, in Füssen, Bavaria
- Ordained December 22, 1844, in Baltimore
- Transferred to New Orleans September 28, 1866
- Died of yellow fever October 4, 1867
- Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000
- Feast day: October 5
Faith Formation: Parish School of Religion
The parish operates a Parish School of Religion (Escuela Parroquial de Religión) meeting Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, providing religious education for the parish's youth in both English and Spanish.
- Parish School of Religion / Escuela Parroquial de Religión
- Saturdays 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Ministries & Community Life
Parish life is supported by a number of active groups, including the Altar Society and trilingual ministries. The deaf ministry (inherited from the former St. Gerard parish) provides American Sign Language interpretation at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass. The Spanish-language ministry hosts the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass, a 6:00 PM Thursday Mass, and weekly Spanish homilies & announcements. The parish also participates in Online Giving and the archdiocesan iGiveCatholic campaign.
- Altar Society
- Deaf Ministry / ASL Interpretation (Sun 9:30 AM Mass)
- Spanish-language Ministry (Sun 11:30 AM & Thu 6:00 PM)
- Online Giving
- iGiveCatholic
Music & the Pipe Organ
The parish's musical life centers on a grand pipe organ installed in June 2008. It was a gift of the Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, Washington, combining two Moller organs donated by Seattle-area volunteers as part of a post-Katrina hurricane-relief effort. The church originally had a Pilcher pipe organ installed by Father Chapuis in 1879, with substantial maintenance in 1899 by Mr. Pilcher and an electric blower added in 1903; a 1950s Wicks instrument replaced it before the fire.
- Original Pilcher organ installed 1879
- Electric blower added 1903
- 1950s Wicks organ (lost in 2003 fire)
- Present grand organ installed June 2008 (Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, WA)
Sacraments & Service
The parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates the Sacraments, including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation (Confession). Inquiries are handled through the parish office.
- Baptism
- First Communion & Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession)
Architecture, Art & Stained Glass
The 1866 red-brick basilica-plan church is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Its interior features murals by Achille Paretti and a notable collection of stained-glass windows installed as memorials: ten under Rev. Arthur Drossaerts and twelve under Rev. A.M. Barbier, personally directed by Emile Frei of the Frei Glass Company of St. Louis. A clock tower was added in 1924.
- Red-brick basilica plan, 1866
- Murals by Achille Paretti
- Memorial stained-glass windows by Emile Frei
- Clock tower added 1924
- NRHP reference No. 76000971 (April 13, 1976)
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (504) 943-5566, fax (504) 943-5501, or by email at [email protected]. The church is located at 3037 Dauphine Street in New Orleans' Bywater neighborhood (Dauphine is one-way eastbound at this location). The parish shares weekly bulletins, Spanish and English/Sign-Language homilies, and event announcements through its website and Facebook page.
- Office: (504) 943-5566
- Fax: (504) 943-5501
- Email: [email protected]
- 3037 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Facebook: facebook.com/seeloschurchno
- YouTube channel linked from parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edmond D'Hauw, Fr. Font, Fr. Francon, Fr. Bonifay, Fr. Schifferer, Fr. Solomon, Fr. Leveque, Fr. Detour, Fr. Riordan, Fr. GudeonBefore 1864
Early succession of short pastorates before Fr. Foltier.
- Fr. Etienne (E.J.) Foltier1864–1878
Designed and built the present red-brick church in 1866.
- Fr. Arthur Drossaerts1892–1903
Later Archbishop of San Antonio; ten memorial stained-glass windows installed under his administration.
- Fr. A.M. Barbierafter 1903
Twelve additional stained-glass windows installed under his administration.
- Bishop Jean M. Laval1911–1937
Auxiliary bishop; served as pastor.