About Holy Name of Mary · New Orleans, Louisiana
Holy Name of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Algiers, on the Westbank of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1848 and originally known as St. Bartholomew, it was the first Catholic parish in Algiers and was renamed Holy Name of Mary in 1872. Often called the 'Cathedral of the Westbank' for its striking Gothic Revival architecture, the parish serves roughly 1,000 families in the historic Algiers neighborhood across the Mississippi from the French Quarter. It belongs to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and offers both English and Latin (Extraordinary Form) Masses, with a heritage reaching back to the Marist Fathers who administered it from 1865 to 1999.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- The Holy Name of Mary
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Holy Name of Mary is a welcoming Algiers parish with deep roots — the first Catholic community on the Westbank — and a stunning Gothic Revival landmark just steps from the ferry to the French Quarter. Members enjoy a traditional liturgical life that includes both English and Latin (Extraordinary Form) Masses, daily Mass in the rectory chapel, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full schedule of confessions. With roughly 1,000 families across a diverse membership, it offers the warmth of a historic parish with the spiritual richness of extraordinary-form worship.
Mass times at Holy Name of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Church)
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:15 AM (Chapel) and 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM (Chapel)
- Tuesday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Chapel)
- Friday: 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM (Chapel)
- Or anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (Chapel)
About Holy Name of Mary
Holy Name of Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in the Algiers neighborhood on the Westbank of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1848, it is the first Catholic parish established in Algiers and belongs to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish is sometimes called the 'Cathedral of the Westbank' because of its striking Gothic Revival architecture, designed by Alexander Norman and dedicated in 1929. Today it serves roughly 1,000 families with a diverse membership drawn from across the historic Westbank community.
- First Catholic parish in Algiers, founded 1848
- Approximately 1,000 families
- Algiers neighborhood, New Orleans Westbank
History
Originally named Saint Bartholomew in honor of the family that donated the land, the parish was the first Catholic community in Algiers. In 1872 it was renamed Holy Name of Mary, and a wood-framed church was built several blocks away in 1873. The Marist Fathers took over administration in June 1865 and ran the parish until June 1999. The early wooden church survived the 1895 Algiers Fire but was ultimately destroyed by the 1915 hurricane, termites, and foundation problems. The present Gothic Revival building, dedicated November 25, 1929, incorporated the old church's communion rail, statuary, and stained glass windows. In August 2009, the parish of St. Julian Eymard was merged into Holy Name of Mary.
- 1848 — Parish founded as Saint Bartholomew; first Catholic parish in Algiers.
- 1865 — Marist Fathers assume administration of the parish.
- 1872 — Renamed Holy Name of Mary.
- 1873 — First wood-framed church built on the Verret Street site.
- 1895 — Parish survives the Algiers Fire.
- 1897–1899 — James Blenk, S.M. serves as pastor; later becomes Archbishop of New Orleans.
- 1915 — Hurricane causes irreparable damage to the 1873 church.
- 1927 — Lofty spire structure dismantled.
- 1929 — Present Gothic Revival church dedicated on November 25.
- 1999 — Reverts to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
- 2009 — St. Julian Eymard parish merged into Holy Name of Mary.
Architecture & Building
The parish church is a Gothic Revival building designed by architect Alexander Norman in 1929. It measures 178 feet in length and 100 feet in width, with a tower that once held a large riverboat bell donated by a local steamship company. The interior features seventy-five stained glass windows — many crafted by the Franz Mayer firm of Munich, Germany — including two rose windows in the transept and a five-panel window behind the altar. Four limestone statues over the front entrance were sculpted by Enrique Alférez, the New Orleans artist whose work appears across the city. Statuary, stained glass, and the communion rail from the 1873 church were incorporated into the new building.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Architect: Alexander Norman
- Dedicated: November 25, 1929
- Dimensions: 178 ft long × 100 ft wide
- 75 stained glass windows, including Franz Mayer (Munich) rose windows and altar window
- Four Indiana-limestone statues by Enrique Alférez over the entrance
Sacraments & Devotions
Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 PM in the church, and on weekday mornings in the chapel, plus Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. Confession is also available by appointment at any time. Eucharistic Adoration is held on Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 AM in the chapel.
- Saturday Confessions: 3:00–3:45 PM (Church)
- Weekday Chapel Confessions: 7:00–7:15 AM and 7:45–8:00 AM (M/W/Th); 7:45–8:00 AM (F); 5:30–6:00 PM (Tu)
- Adoration: Tuesday 8:30–9:30 AM (Chapel)
- Confessions by appointment
Clergy & Marist Heritage
Holy Name of Mary was administered by the Marist Fathers of the Society of Mary from June 1865 until June 1999, when governance reverted to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. One of the most notable members of the parish's clergy was James Blenk, S.M., who served as pastor from 1897 to 1899 before becoming the seventh Archbishop of New Orleans. After 1999 the parish has been led by archdiocesan clergy.
- 1865–1999: Administered by the Marist Fathers
- 1897–1899: James Blenk, S.M., served as pastor
- 1999: Reverted to the Archdiocese of New Orleans
Visiting & Location
The parish is located at 400 Verret Street in Algiers, just across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter. It is a short walk from the Algiers Ferry terminal — making it easy to reach from downtown New Orleans. The parish office can be reached at (504) 362-5511 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 400 Verret Street, New Orleans, LA 70114
- Phone: (504) 362-5511
- Email: [email protected]
- A short walk from the Algiers Ferry, downtown New Orleans, and the French Quarter
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Marist Fathers (Society of Mary)1865–1999
Administered the parish from June 1865 until it reverted to the Archdiocese in June 1999.
- James Blenk, S.M.1897–1899 (pastor)
Member of the Marist order who served as pastor; later became the seventh Archbishop of New Orleans.