About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Kenner, Louisiana
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Kenner, Louisiana, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where it is the oldest parish church on the east bank of Jefferson Parish. The parish sits in the Rivertown neighborhood and traces its roots to 1869, when it was established as St. Mary's Mission Church to serve the growing community of "Kennerville." It was renamed Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1936 and is known for its rich Italian and Sicilian devotional traditions, a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and an associated parish elementary school. The current pastor is Father Charles Dussouy, supported by Deacon Greg Gross and a lay staff.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Rector
- Father Charles Dussouy
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of the oldest Catholic communities in East Jefferson and offers a rich devotional life rarely found in a single parish: a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, a Sunday Latin Mass, the weekly Perpetual Help Novena, the Holy Face and St. Philomena devotions, and Italian-American traditions like the St. Rosalie procession and the St. Joseph Altar. Add daily and Sunday Masses in English, a parish elementary school, faith formation for all ages, and service groups for outreach, and the parish provides both deep prayer and active fellowship for Catholic families in Kenner.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 pm
- Sunday 30 minutes before all Masses
- Sunday 4:00 – 4:50 pm
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Parish History and Identity
Our Lady of Perpetual Help sits in Kenner's historic Rivertown neighborhood and traces its life as a Catholic community to 1869, when it was established as St. Mary's Mission Church for the farming community of "Kennerville." Its roots actually go back further, to 1848, when this stretch of river farmland was part of the old city of Carrollton and the upper reaches of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Parish. The parish became a separate entity when Carrollton was annexed to New Orleans in 1874, and in 1936 it was renamed in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It is the oldest parish church on the east bank of Jefferson Parish.
- Founded 1869 as St. Mary's Mission Church under Father Francis Xavier Cueppens
- Became its own parish (St. Mary's) after Carrollton's 1874 annexation to New Orleans
- Renamed Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1936
- Oldest parish church on the east bank of Jefferson Parish
Italian and Sicilian Heritage
Sicilian and Italian immigrant families populated the parish in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and left a deep devotional mark that is still felt today. Two annual traditions continue as living expressions of that heritage: the St. Rosalie Mass, procession and benediction in September, and the elaborate St. Joseph Altar each spring. The parish's 2019 St. Rosalie procession even featured the recitation of the rosary in the Sicilian dialect.
- St. Rosalie Mass, procession and benediction – 2nd Sunday of September
- St. Joseph Altar – collaboration between the Holy Name and Altar Societies with 19 types of home-baked Italian cookies
Pan Am Flight 759 Memorial
The parish maintains a memorial to those who died in the crash of Pan Am Flight 759 in Kenner on July 9, 1982. An annual Remembrance Mass for the victims is offered every July.
- Annual Pan Am 759 Remembrance Mass each July
- Memorial located at the parish
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Charles Dussouy, Pastor, and is assisted by Deacon Greg Gross. The lay staff coordinates the parish office, faith formation program, and parish school.
- Father Charles Dussouy – Pastor
- Deacon Greg Gross – Deacon
- Mrs. Gina Radecker – Pastoral Assistant
- Mr. Jared Croal – Faith Formation
- Ms. Kasey Williams – Office Manager
- Mr. Jacob Owens – School Leader
Devotions and Novenas
The Rosary is prayed before every Mass, and the parish hosts several beloved Marian and Eucharistic devotions throughout the month. These devotions reflect the parish's strong identity as a community of prayer.
- Rosary before all Masses
- Perpetual Help Novena after every Tuesday Mass
- Holy Face Novena / Oil Blessing after the 1st Tuesday Mass
- St. Philomena devotion after the 1st Thursday Mass
Faith Formation and Parish School
Faith formation for parish children is coordinated by Jared Croal. The parish also operates Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, a Pre-K through 7th-grade Catholic elementary school originally founded as St. Mary's School in 1928. The school was first staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, who commuted by streetcar from St. Alphonsus in New Orleans until the convent was built in 1929; the Sisters continued to teach at the school through 1993. The school is accredited by Cognia and is part of the schools of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
- Faith Formation program (Jared Croal)
- OLPH School founded 1928; Sisters of Mercy staffed the school 1928 – 1993
- School currently serves students age 4 through 7th grade
- School accredited by Cognia; Mercy Center dedicated August 2004
Parish Life and Service
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish sustains an active lay life of prayer and service. The Men's Club meets to study scripture twice a week, and service and prayer groups provide ongoing opportunities for fellowship and outreach.
- Men's Club – twice-weekly scripture study
- Holy Name Society
- Altar Society
- Service and prayer groups
Office and Contact Information
The parish office is open weekday mornings and serves as the hub for scheduling baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other pastoral needs, as well as for coordinating access to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
- Address: 1912 Short Street, Kenner, LA 70062
- Phone: (504) 464-0361
- Office Hours: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Monday – Friday (closed weekends and Holy Days)
- Website: https://www.olphla.net/
- Facebook: facebook.com/olphla.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis Xavier Cueppens1868–
Pastor of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin who erected St. Mary's Mission Church in 1868, the origin of the parish