Our Lady of Prompt Succor

About Our Lady of Prompt Succor

Our Lady of Prompt Succor (OLPS) is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Alexandria that has anchored Alexandria's Garden District for more than 75 years. The parish's vision is to be a welcoming community that attracts Catholics, non-Catholics and the wayward into an ever growing family of faith, nurturing the spiritual and physical needs of others through enthusiastic celebration of the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), daily prayer, study of the faith, witness, service, education and hospitality. The parish's stated values include cherishing the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, humbly imitating Jesus Christ, pursuing the Truth, and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

Our Patroness — Our Lady of Prompt Succor

The parish takes its name and devotion from Our Lady of Prompt Succor. According to the parish's own history page, in 1815 Catholics in New Orleans credited Mary's intercession with protecting the city during the Battle of New Orleans; the anniversary is commemorated yearly on January 8 with a Mass of Thanksgiving. Pope Pius V authorized the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor and the singing of the yearly Mass of Thanksgiving on January 8. In 1894, Pope Leo XIII issued a decree granting the Solemn Coronation of the Miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, exposed to public veneration in the chapel of the Ursuline Convent, New Orleans. With the approval of the Holy See, the bishops of the diocese of Louisiana in June 1928 chose Our Lady of Prompt Succor as patroness of the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana, designating January 15 as the patronal feast.

Parish History

OLPS was canonically erected on March 1, 1947 by Bishop Charles P. Greco, with the Rev. Aloysius Olinger as first pastor and 549 founding families. The first Mass was celebrated on June 6, 1948. The parish acquired its first rectory (572 Chester Street) in 1948, opened its school in February 1949, built the present rectory (401 21st Street) in 1959, purchased the 580 Chester Street Convent in 1965, and acquired the Providence property in 1968 for the present church.

• March 1, 1947: Parish canonically erected
• June 6, 1948: First Mass in the first church
• 1949: Parochial school opens under Sister Helen Margaret Schad, C.D.P.
• 1959: Present rectory completed at 401 21st Street
• 1965: Convent purchased at 580 Chester Street
• 1968: Providence property acquired for the new church

Liturgical Ministries

OLPS has an extensive lay liturgical ministry roster. The Adult Traditional Choir sings at the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass and special Christmas/Easter services; a contemporary Christian music group plays and sings at the 5:30 PM Youth Mass; and a Youth and Young Adult Music Ministry is active. The Altar Society — open to both men and women — hosts parish receptions for First Communion, Confirmation, and priestly transitions, and prepares and decorates the Church for major feasts.

• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Communion to Sick and Homebound
• Lectors (Readers)
• Ushers
• Greeters
• Youth Altar Servers (3rd grade and up)
• Adult Altar Servers
• Music Ministries (Adult Traditional Choir, Contemporary, Youth & Young Adult)
• Altar Society

Faith Formation & Youth

OLPS runs a CCD religious education program, a Coordinator of Confirmation (Kevin Malone), a Jr. High Youth Ministry (Felicia Schneider), and a Sr. High Youth Ministry (Grace Johnson). In the Diocese of Alexandria, Confirmation is ordinarily celebrated in the 11th grade and requires a diocesan preparation program. The parish welcomes those interested in becoming Catholic through the RCIA process, coordinated by Mrs. Shelley Michiels.

• CCD (LeeAnn Borrel)
• Confirmation preparation — 11th grade (Kevin Malone)
• Jr. High Youth Ministry (Felicia Schneider)
• Sr. High Youth Ministry (Grace Johnson)
• RCIA / Becoming Catholic (Shelley Michiels)
• Safe Environment Program

Outreach Ministries

Outreach at OLPS is organized around prayer and tangible service to those in need. The Outreach Prayer and Note Writing Ministry meets every Monday at 10 AM to pray for those on the parish prayer list and to send handwritten cards to the sick, lonely, homebound, hospitalized and those in nursing homes. Helping Hands volunteers gather the second Saturday of the month after the 8:00 AM Mass to do odd jobs for parishioners who can no longer do them. St. Timothy Food Pantry is a core food-security ministry, supported each July by the parish School Supply Drive. The annual Christmas Cheer Giving Tree and Food Boxes, and the Lenten collection of personal-care items for Mathews Memorial Nursing Home residents, round out the calendar.

• Outreach Prayer and Note Writing Ministry (Mondays 10 AM)
• Helping Hands Ministry (2nd Saturday after 8:00 AM Mass)
• St. Timothy Food Pantry
• School Supply Drive (each July)
• Christmas Cheer — Giving Tree and Food Boxes
• Nursing Home Easter Basket Distribution
• Nursing Homes & Assisted Living / Homebound visits
• Domestic Church (marriage formation — 4 active circles in Alexandria)

Family Life & Hospitality

Family Life & Hospitality ministries focus on welcoming newcomers and building community. Parish Suppers are served Wednesday evenings during the school year from 5:00–6:30 PM in the Divine Providence Center, prepared by the Knights of Columbus Council 8029 ($7/plate). J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) is the parish senior ministry for parishioners 62 and older, with a monthly social or outing on the third Wednesday from September to June in the Madonna Room, a Christmas covered-dish luncheon in December, a Lenten Day of Recollection, and twice-yearly Anointing of the Sick at the Senior Mass in November and April.

• Welcome Committee
• Domestic Church
• Parish Suppers (Wed 5:00–6:30 PM, Divine Providence Center)
• J.O.Y. Ministry — Just Older Youth (seniors 62+)
• Nursing Home Easter Basket Distribution
• Catholic Daughters Court Notre Dame
• Knights of Columbus, Council 8029 (3rd Thursday, 6:00 PM, Madonna Room)

Sacraments

OLPS prepares parishioners for all the major sacraments. Baptism requests can be submitted online through the parish website, with families choosing Fr. Rusty Rabalais, Fr. Thomas Kennedy, or another ordained minister. Confirmation is ordinarily celebrated in 11th grade with a diocesan preparation program. Anointing of the Sick is offered at the twice-yearly Senior Mass (November and April) and is also available at any time by contacting either priest — anyone anticipating surgery is encouraged to celebrate it beforehand.

• Baptism (request form on website)
• Confirmation (11th grade, diocesan prep required)
• First Holy Communion
• Anointing of the Sick (Senior Masses Nov & Apr; or on request)
• Marriage / Matrimony

Our Lady of Prompt Succor School

Adjacent to the Church at 420 21st Street, OLPS School has been educating students in Alexandria's Garden District since 1949. Today the school serves Pre-School through 6th grade, with Meredith Rhoads as Principal. The parish describes its educational mission as 'Academic Excellence Grounded in Faith,' striving to develop the whole student academically and faithfully.

• Grades: Pre-School through 6th
• Principal: Meredith Rhoads
• Address: 420 21st Street, Alexandria, LA 71301-6568
• Phone: (318) 487-1862

Parish Staff

OLPS is led by Fr. Rusty Rabalais (Pastor / Vicar Forane for the Central Deanery) and Fr. Thomas Kennedy (Parochial Vicar), with Rev. Joy Antony, V.C. serving as Chaplain to CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, and Deacon Les Glankler assisting. A lay staff manages parish operations, music, faith formation, youth ministry, programs, and finances.

• Fr. Rusty Rabalais — Pastor (ext. 205)
• Fr. Thomas Kennedy — Parochial Vicar (ext. 214)
• Julie Bayone — Parish Manager (ext. 201)
• Grae McCollough — Director of Music Ministry (ext. 231)
• LeeAnn Borrel — Coordinator of CCD (ext. 211)
• Kevin Malone — Coordinator of Confirmation (ext. 228)
• Felicia Schneider — Coordinator of Jr. High Youth Ministry (ext. 229)
• Jordan LaCour — Coordinator of Programs (ext. 216)
• Renea Ducote — Bookkeeper (ext. 212)
• Margaret Shiver — Receptionist (ext. 200)
• Meredith Rhoads — Principal of OLPS School