About Blessed Sacrament - St. Joan of Arc · New Orleans, Louisiana
Blessed Sacrament–St. Joan of Arc is a Roman Catholic parish in the Carrollton neighborhood of Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, formed in 2008 by the merger of the historically Black Blessed Sacrament Parish (founded 1915) and the historically Black St. Joan of Arc Parish (founded 1923). It belongs to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and worships at 8321 Burthe Street in the former St. Joan of Arc Church building. The parish is staffed by the Josephite Fathers (S.S.J.) and is recognized for its Gospel Mass tradition, its African American Catholic heritage rooted in the work of St. Katharine Drexel, and its music ministry led by Tyronne G. Foster and the Arc Singers.
- Established
- 2008 (merged parish; predecessor parishes founded 1915 and 1923)
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament and St. Joan of Arc
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Andrus, S.S.J.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament–St. Joan of Arc offers an unusually rich experience for Catholics seeking a parish that is both deeply traditional and culturally distinctive. It is one of the few parishes in New Orleans with a celebrated Gospel Mass (Sundays at 10:00 AM) supported by a 35-year-old music ministry, Tyronne G. Foster and the Arc Singers, while also offering a Saturday Vigil and a weekday Mass in the convent chapel. Rooted in the African American Catholic heritage fostered by St. Katharine Drexel and the Josephite Fathers, the parish carries special devotions such as the weekly Tuesday novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and prayers for the canonization of Venerable Henriette Delille, alongside ministries in health, music, and faith formation.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament - St. Joan of Arc
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM (or anytime by appointment)
History of the Parish
Blessed Sacrament–St. Joan of Arc was formed in 2008 by merging two African American Catholic parishes in Carrollton, New Orleans. Blessed Sacrament Parish had been established in 1915 to serve Black Catholics in the area, growing out of the earlier Mater Dolorosa mission that had transferred its church and school to the Josephite Fathers in 1909. St. Joan of Arc Parish was established in 1923 after a hurricane destroyed the earlier church on Cambronne Street; the new building was dedicated as a memorial to soldiers and sailors. After Hurricane Katrina, the Archdiocese of New Orleans consolidated nearly three dozen parishes; on August 17, 2008, the final Mass was celebrated at the old Blessed Sacrament church, and the two communities were joined under the present name, with all worship centered at the St. Joan of Arc church on Burthe Street.
Mass & Worship Schedule
Weekend worship centers on a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, a traditional Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM, and the signature Gospel Mass at 10:00 AM featuring Tyronne G. Foster and the Arc Singers. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM in the Convent Chapel Monday through Friday, with an additional Tuesday evening service at 7:00 PM in the Convent Chapel that includes the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the St. Joseph novena, and prayers for the canonization of Venerable Henriette Delille (currently suspended until further notice).
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM
- Sunday Gospel Mass: 10:00 AM
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM (Convent Chapel)
- Tuesday: 7:00 PM Convent Chapel (novena service, suspended)
Music Ministry
Music is one of the defining ministries of the parish and is rooted in more than four decades of leadership. Holly D. Roby-Earls, a Xavier University graduate and certified teacher, has served as cantor and director of music since 1982, leading worship at the 4 PM Vigil and 8 AM Mass; she is a former member of B Sharp, The Moses Hogan Chorale, and the Archdiocesan Mass Choir. Tyronne G. Foster began assisting with the youth choir at St. Joan of Arc in 1988 and went on to develop Tyronne G. Foster and the Arc Singers, a gospel ensemble that has performed throughout New Orleans, across the United States, and in Europe for over 35 years. The Arc Singers lead the parish's celebrated 10:00 AM Sunday Gospel Mass.
- Holly D. Roby-Earls – Cantor/Director of Music since 1982
- Tyronne G. Foster – Director, Tyronne G. Foster and the Arc Singers (since 1988)
- 10 AM Sunday Gospel Mass
- 4 PM Saturday Vigil and 8 AM Sunday Mass
Health Ministry
The parish Health Ministry promotes the wellness of the parish family and surrounding community in spirit, mind, and body. Led by Mary B. Green, PhD, MN, RN and Dawn Spears, RN, with a team of nurses, social workers, and physicians, the ministry supplements spiritual life with health education, illness prevention, and healthy lifestyle programming.
- Mary B. Green, PhD, MN, RN
- Dawn Spears, RN
- Janice P. Rabb, LMSW
- Emile Pierre, MD
- Nakeisha Pierre, MD
- Freida Howard, RN
- Diane B. Wilson, RN
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is served by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.S.J.), a religious order founded for the evangelization of African Americans. Rev. Charles Andrus, S.S.J., serves as Pastor, with Rev. Linus James, S.S.J., assisting in ministry. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Rev. Charles Andrus, S.S.J. – Pastor
- Rev. Linus James, S.S.J.
- Parish office: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Heritage and African American Catholic Identity
The merged parish carries forward two distinct African American Catholic legacies in Carrollton. Blessed Sacrament Parish grew directly from the ministry of St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the same order that founded Xavier Prep and Xavier University of Louisiana. St. Joan of Arc Parish's school was founded in 1893 by the Sisters of the Holy Family, the order co-founded by Venerable Henriette Delille, for whom the parish prays for canonization at its Tuesday novena. The Josephite Fathers, who staff the parish, have ministered in New Orleans to the African American Catholic community since 1909, when Mater Dolorosa turned over its church and school for that mission.
- St. Katharine Drexel / Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (Blessed Sacrament Parish)
- Sisters of the Holy Family / Venerable Henriette Delille (St. Joan of Arc School, est. 1893)
- Josephite Fathers (S.S.J.) since 1909
Visit and Contact
The parish is located at 8321 Burthe Street, New Orleans, LA 70118-1195, in the Carrollton/Riverbend area of Uptown New Orleans. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the weekend or weekday liturgies. The parish office can be reached at (504) 866-7330 or [email protected], and Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube and Facebook channels.
- Address: 8321 Burthe Street, New Orleans, LA 70118-1195
- Phone: (504) 866-7330
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.bssjaparish.com/
- Facebook: BlessedSacramentSaintJoanOfArc
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Howard Byrd, S.S.J.served at predecessor Blessed Sacrament Parish; celebrated final Mass Aug. 17, 2008
Pastor of Blessed Sacrament at the time of the 2008 merger; moved with the community to St. Joan of Arc
- Rev. Charles Andrus, S.S.J.current pastor
Josephite Father serving as current pastor of the merged parish