About Holy Name of Jesus · New Orleans, Louisiana
Holy Name of Jesus Parish is a Jesuit-run Catholic parish in the Audubon neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, located on the St. Charles Avenue campus of Loyola University New Orleans. Founded in 1892 and dedicated in its current form in 1918, the parish serves roughly 800 households and is closely tied to Holy Name of Jesus School, which enrolls about 500 students. The parish is administered by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and remains a hub of worship, education, and outreach in uptown New Orleans.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, S.J. (stepping down April 6, 2026 to become Novice Director for the Jesuits; Fr. Eddie L. Gros, S.J. named acting pastor, with Fr. Mark Kramer, S.J. announced as incoming pastor effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Holy Name of Jesus is a parish with more than 130 years of Jesuit Catholic identity in the heart of uptown New Orleans, on the Loyola University campus. Roughly 800 households pray together at a stately Tudor Gothic church that has broadcast Sunday Mass over WWL since 1919, and the parish reaches out beyond its walls through weekly faith-sharing groups, men's spirituality gatherings, Ignatian retreats, hospitality meals (pizza nights, quarterly community dinners, holiday feasts), and growing work with the poor. With a thriving parish school of about 500 students, adult formation tracks like 'Women of Wisdom' and 'Getting to Know the Saints,' and a pastorate stewarded by the Society of Jesus, it is a community that welcomes Loyola students, young adults, families, and longtime parishioners alike.
Mass times at Holy Name of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:15 PM – 8:45 PM (Loyola Chapel, when university is in session)
- Monday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Church)
- Thursday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Church)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Church)
- Or by appointment: (504) 865-7430
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel at the Parish Center (used by the Journey men's group for silent prayer before meetings)
Our History & Church
Holy Name of Jesus was founded in 1892 by the Jesuits on a stretch of St. Charles Avenue across from Audubon Park, as part of a deal that also produced Loyola University. The original wooden Gothic church, built by six Jesuit carpenter-brothers, was moved on jackscrews in 1910 and replaced by the present Tudor Gothic church dedicated in 1918. The parish's history page at hnjchurch.org walks through each pastorate, the 1919 start of WWL Sunday Mass broadcasts, the 1977 renovation under Piet Kessels, and the centennial Mass in 1991.
- 1886: Fr. John O'Shanahan, S.J., proposes the parish and promises the title 'Holy Name of Jesus'.
- 1886: Foucher Tract land purchased for $22,500.
- May 29, 1892: First church blessed and dedicated; 70 parishioners; first-year income $163.
- July 17, 1910: Original wooden church lifted and rolled to new site.
- December 9, 1918: Present Tudor Gothic church dedicated by Archbishop Bonzano.
- 1919: WWL radio begins broadcasting Sunday Mass from Holy Name.
- 1977: Major $450,000 renovation directed by Piet Kessels; Archbishop Hannan presides.
- 1985: Former Sisters of Mercy convent becomes the Parish Center.
- 1991: Centennial Eucharistic Mass celebrated.
Faith-Sharing & Small Groups
The parish nurtures spiritual growth through several small-group ministries. A weekly discussion of the upcoming Sunday readings meets Monday mornings at 10:30 in the pastoral center. Journey, a men's group rooted in Ignatian spirituality, meets Fridays at 6:00 a.m. — live or via Zoom — beginning with silent prayer in the Adoration Chapel. Come, Lord Jesus!, a new faith-sharing group, was forming in Spring 2025.
- Weekly Sunday-readings discussion — Mondays, 10:30 a.m., Pastoral Center
- Journey (Men for Others) — Fridays, 6:00 a.m., live or via Zoom
- Come, Lord Jesus! — forming Spring 2025; contact Sheila Boysen
Adult Formation
The parish advertises an array of faith-formation opportunities for adults, shaped by Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality. Featured tracks include Women of Wisdom, an Ignatian Parish Retreat, Transformation Through Prayer, and Getting to Know the Saints.
- Women of Wisdom
- Ignatian Parish Retreat
- Transformation Through Prayer
- Getting to Know the Saints
Holy Name of Jesus School
The parish's elementary school, Holy Name of Jesus School, enrolls approximately 500 students (PK–8) and is a cornerstone of parish life. A successful Capital Campaign during Fr. Thibodeaux's pastorate funded both much-needed church renovations and construction of a new classroom and gymnasium building for the school community.
- Enrollment ~500 students
- Capital Campaign funded new classroom/gymnasium building
- Pastors oversee both parish and school
Hospitality & Outreach
Building community through shared meals has become a hallmark of Holy Name under Fr. Thibodeaux. Pizza nights, regular holiday meals (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), quarterly community dinners, and First Friday breakfasts — all run by volunteers — bring together students, longtime parishioners, and visitors. The parish has also expanded its work with the poor and forgotten during this period.
- Pizza nights
- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meals
- Quarterly community dinners
- First Friday breakfasts
- Expanded ministry with the poor and forgotten
The Building & Architecture
The present Holy Name of Jesus Church is a Tudor Gothic structure whose great bell tower, nave, flying buttresses, and clearstory have marked the Catholic presence uptown for more than a century. The 1918-dedicated church houses the Carrara marble main altar donated by Lawrence Fabacher — a Knight of St. Gregory the Great — in memory of his family, along with later-dedicated St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, Blessed Virgin, and St. Ignatius altars. A 1977 renovation under Piet Kessels cost $450,000 and a recent Capital Campaign funded further church renovations.
- Tudor Gothic style
- Bell tower, nave, flying buttresses, clearstory
- Carrara marble main altar (gift of Lawrence Fabacher)
- St. Joseph, Sacred Heart, Blessed Virgin, and St. Ignatius altars (dedicated 1919)
- Major renovation 1977 under Piet Kessels
- Recent renovations funded by Capital Campaign
Visiting & Contact
Holy Name of Jesus is located at 6367 St. Charles Avenue in uptown New Orleans, directly across from Audubon Park on the Loyola University New Orleans campus. The parish phone line is (504) 865-7430 and confessions or other appointments can be requested through that number. The St. Charles Avenue streetcar line runs past the parish.
- Address: 6367 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Phone: (504) 865-7430
- Across from Audubon Park on Loyola campus
- Served by St. Charles Avenue streetcar
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, S.J.2019–2026
Longest-serving pastor in over 40 years; oversaw successful Capital Campaign for church renovations and a new classroom/gymnasium building; departing April 6, 2026 to serve as Jesuit Novice Director in Denver.
- Fr. Ron Boudreaux, S.J.2018–2019
- Fr. Walter C. McCauley, S.J.2013–2018
- Fr. Paul Schott, S.J.2007–2013 (Administrator)
Listed as Administrator.
- Fr. Paul Patin, S.J.2004–2005
- Fr. Edwin L. Gros, S.J.2003–2004 (Administrator)
Listed as Administrator; returning as Acting Pastor in 2026.
- Fr. Donald Hawkins, S.J.1997–2003
- Fr. Daniel A. Creagan, S.J.1991–1997
Tenure spanned the 1991 centennial celebration.
- Fr. Thomas Stahel, S.J.1985–1991
- Fr. Hilton L. Rivet, S.J.1982–1985