About Our Lady of Prompt Succor · Chalmette, Louisiana
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Roman Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Chalmette, Louisiana, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans. Canonically erected on March 1, 1947, the parish today serves more than 1,200 registered families on the east bank of St. Bernard Parish. The parish community worships in a church building completed in 1974, operates an elementary school (the OLPS Panthers), runs a Parish School of Religion, hosts Spanish-language Masses, and lives out the devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the patroness invoked across south Louisiana since her intercession was credited with saving New Orleans from fire in 1812 and with the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- Rector
- Rev. Marlon Mangubat
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette is a large, multigenerational Catholic parish with deep roots in the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 1947. Worshippers will find a full schedule of Masses in English and Spanish, weekly confessions, perpetual eucharistic adoration, an elementary school rooted in the faith, a Parish School of Religion (K-10) and Confirmation preparation through 12th grade, the parish-based O.C.I.A. (formerly RCIA) for those becoming Catholic, and proven adult-formation programs like the ACTS retreats that have welcomed more than 1,500 retreatants over ten years and been 'missioned' to parishes across Louisiana. Outreach to the homebound, prison ministry, the Rummel Ladies, Knights of Columbus council, Court Notre Dame No. 1452 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and Life Teen for high-schoolers give every age and circumstance a way to belong.
Mass times at Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- One-half hour before the 4:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass
- One-half hour before the 8:30 AM Sunday Mass
- One-half hour before the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- One-half hour before the 1:00 PM Spanish Sunday Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM (weekend visitation only 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM) — per parish bulletin
About Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Roman Catholic Church in Chalmette, Louisiana, is a parish of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans. The community describes itself as a place 'where the community finds a connection to God for guidance and inspiration for life's journey.' Through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the parish commits itself to encouraging Christ-centered family life, promoting and respecting the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, reaching out to inactive Catholics and others through evangelization and social outreach, discerning and responding to the signs of the times, and remembering the past with gratitude while living the present with enthusiasm and looking to the future with confidence and hope. Its patroness, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, is the same Marian title whose statue saved the Ursuline monastery from fire in 1812 and whose intercession was invoked before the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
- Vision: strengthen relationship with Jesus Christ and one another in faith, hope, and love
- Fivefold commitment: Christ-centered family life, dignity of all human life, evangelization, discernment, and gratitude for the past
History of the Parish
Canonically erected on March 1, 1947, by Archbishop Charles P. Greco, with Father Aloysius Olinger as founding pastor, the parish began life in borrowed spaces: Father Olinger lived at St. Rita rectory, held offices in the Casteix home on Jackson Street, offered weekday Masses at Providence Academy, Sunday Masses at Menard High School, and sacraments at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. The first Mass was celebrated in the parish's first church on June 6, 1948; that year saw the purchase of the rectory and a parish hall remodeled and furnished by Court Notre Dame No. 1452 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. The school opened in February 1949 with Sister Helen Margaret Schad, C.D.P., as principal. The present rectory was completed in 1959, a convent purchased in 1965, and the Providence property acquired in 1968. Monsignor Frederick J. Lyons succeeded Msgr. Olinger after the latter's death on June 22, 1969; the present church was completed in September 1974, followed by the school expansion and Our Lady's Manor senior apartments in 1983.
- 1947 — Parish erected (March 1, 1947); Fr. Aloysius Olinger, first pastor; 549 founding families
- 1948 — First Mass (June 6); first rectory and parish hall
- 1949 — School construction begins; Sister Helen Margaret Schad, C.D.P., first principal
- 1959 — Present rectory at 401 21st Street completed
- 1965 — Convent purchased at 580 Chester Street
- 1968 — Providence property purchased for future church
- 1969 — Msgr. Frederick J. Lyons succeeds Msgr. Olinger (d. June 22, 1969)
- 1974 — Present church building completed (September)
- 1983 — Our Lady's Manor senior apartments completed (HUD-funded)
Recent Parish History (1983-Present)
Since 1983 the parish has continued to grow in facilities, programs, and outreach. Under Monsignor Steve J. Testa (administrator 1983, pastor 1984-1993), the school grounds expanded, the adjacent house was renovated as a Youth House, and a five-year capital campaign launched programs that remain today. Father H. Gerald Bordelon introduced the Neo-Catechumenate Way and the present Life Teen program and led a $450,000 capital campaign that added four classrooms and two bathrooms to the school. Father Daniel P. O'Connor, who had served at OLPS as a parochial vicar from 1990-92, returned as pastor in 2002; he brought the ACTS retreat movement to the parish in 2008 and opened the Divine Providence Center in April 2013 in honor of the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence who had served the parish and school since its founding. The parish today numbers over 1,200 registered families.
- 1983-1993 — Monsignor Steve J. Testa: HOST program, Scripture Sharing, Parish Suppers, VBS, capital campaign; renovated Madonna Room
- 1993-1999 — Fr. H. Gerald Bordelon: Neo-Catechumenate Way, Life Teen, $450K capital campaign for school expansion
- 1999-2001 — Fr. Scott Chimino (Jubilee Year 2000)
- 2001-2002 — Fr. Victor Vead (church sound/lighting renovations)
- 2002- — Fr. Daniel P. O'Connor: ACTS retreats (2008), Divine Providence Center (April 2013), 'A Tradition of Faith, Held in Trust for the Future' capital campaign
Pastoral Staff and Parish Office
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar supported by a staff of religious-education and administrative personnel. Rectory office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
- Rev. Marlon Mangubat — Pastor — 504-271-3441 ext. 8
- Rev. Andy Gonzalez — Parochial Vicar — 504-271-3441 ext. 9 — [email protected]
- Mrs. Shanon C. Alfonso — Director of Religious Education / PCL — 504-271-3441 ext. 0 — [email protected]
- Mrs. Charol Armand — Principal, Our Lady of Prompt Succor School — [email protected]
- Marie Montalbano — Financial Secretary / Bookkeeper — [email protected]
- Jeanine D. Pellegrini — Parish Secretary — [email protected]
- Dale Neyland — Receptionist (Baptism registrations) — [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children not enrolled in the parish school are served by the Parish School of Religion (PSR), which meets Monday evenings from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, August through April, for students in Kindergarten through 10th grade. High-school Confirmation preparation is offered for 11th and 12th-grade public- and Catholic-school students, with Sunday evening classes in the fall. The parish also partners with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which confirms youth in 11th grade. Contact: Mrs. Shanon Alfonso at 504-271-3441 ext. 0.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR): K-10th grade, Monday evenings 6:30-8:00 PM
- Confirmation Prep: 11th-12th grade, Sunday evenings (fall)
- Service Hour and Sponsor Forms available online
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and provides clear guidelines and preparation for each. Infant baptism requires a birth certificate, baptismal application, parent testimonial, godparent testimonials (one Catholic godparent minimum, at least 16, baptized, confirmed, in a Catholic-valid marriage), completion of the baptismal seminar (held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Parish Center, or online at www.catechismclass.com), and a $50 preparation fee; baptisms are celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays following the 10:30 AM English Mass and during/after the 1:00 PM Spanish Mass. First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared for over two years and may begin in 1st grade. Confirmation is conferred in 11th grade through the archdiocese. Marriage requires at least six months' notice; the Anointing of the Sick and Funeral rites are arranged through the Rectory.
- Infant Baptism — 1st and 3rd Sundays, English and Spanish
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — 2-year prep starting in 1st grade
- Confirmation — 11th grade (Archdiocese of New Orleans)
- Marriage — minimum six months notice
- Anointing of the Sick — by rectory request
- Funerals — handled through the funeral home, which contacts the Rectory
Becoming Catholic (O.C.I.A.)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) — the current name for what is often called RCIA — is the parish's pathway for non-baptized candidates and for already-baptized Christians from other denominations seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. Baptized Christians are not re-baptized but are received through Penance, Profession of Faith, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. The process is described as a 'journey of faith … times of prayer, scripture reading, questioning and storytelling, worship and works of charity' that forms disciples for the fullness of Christian life. Inquiries are handled by Shanon Alfonso at 504-271-3441 ext. 0.
Parish Ministries and Community Life
The parish supports a broad range of lay ministries, youth programs, and adult formation movements, several of which are listed under 'Other Ministries' on the parish website: Homebound Ministry, Prison Ministry, and the Rummel Ladies (a women's society supporting the parish). Life Teen reaches high-school-age parishioners, Vacation Bible School is offered each summer (recently June 8-12, 9 AM to noon for youth 5 years and up), and the ACTS retreat movement — founded in 2008 — has hosted more than 45 retreats and 1,500 retreatants while being shared with parishes from Shreveport to Lafayette. The Knights of Columbus and Court Notre Dame No. 1452 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas remain active parish organizations; the Catholic Daughters originally furnished the parish hall in 1948.
- Homebound Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- Rummel Ladies
- Life Teen (high school)
- Vacation Bible School (Summer)
- ACTS Retreats (since 2008)
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — Court Notre Dame No. 1452
Our Lady of Prompt Succor School
Our Lady of Prompt Succor School is the parish's parochial elementary school. Students pray daily through morning assembly, prayer before classes, at lunch, and at the close of the day; celebrate the Seasons of Advent and Lent, Marian feast days, and the lives of the saints; and attend Mass together each Friday in the parish church across the street. Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is a two-year program housed in the religion classes of Grades 1 and 2, and twice a year (Advent and Lent) the school celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the parish priests. The school's principal is Mrs. Charol Armand, reachable at [email protected].
- Friday school Mass in the parish church
- Two-year First Reconciliation/First Communion preparation (Grades 1-2)
- Twice-yearly school Reconciliation services (Advent and Lent)
- Principal: Mrs. Charol Armand ([email protected])
- Athletic teams known as the 'OLPS Panthers' — olpspanthers.org
Contact and Parish Location
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church is located on Paris Road in Chalmette, the parish seat of St. Bernard Parish on the east bank of New Orleans. The rectory building sits at 401 21st Street, and the parish maintains an auxiliary parking lot across from the existing lot to accommodate growing attendance.
- Address: 2320 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043
- Rectory Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-12:00 PM, 1:00-4:00 PM
- Phone: (504) 271-3441
- General Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aloysius Olinger1947-1969
Founding pastor; organized the first church, rectory, parish hall, and school; died June 22, 1969.
- Monsignor Frederick J. Lyons1969-1983
Completed the present church building in September 1974; added school wings; oversaw completion of Our Lady's Manor in 1983.
- Monsignor Steve J. Testa1983-1993
Administrator from July 1, 1983; Pastor from January 16, 1984. Expanded school playground, created Youth House, established HOST program, Scripture Sharing, Parish Suppers, VBS, and a five-year capital campaign.
- Father H. Gerald Bordelon1993-1999
Began July 1, 1993 after recovering from heart attack (Bishop Sam G. Jacobs served as administrator in interim). Introduced the Neo-Catechumenate Way and the present Life Teen program; led $450,000 capital campaign that added four classrooms to the school.
- Father Scott Chimino1999-2001
Guided parish through the Jubilee Year 2000.
- Father Victor Vead2001-2002
Began renovations of church sound and lighting systems.
- Father Daniel P. O'Connor2002-
Had earlier served as parochial vicar at OLPS as a newly ordained priest (1990-92). Brought the ACTS retreat movement to the parish in 2008 and opened the Divine Providence Center in April 2013.
- Rev. Marlon Mangubat
Current pastor; succeeded previous pastorate listed on parish's official staff page.