About Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament · Shreveport, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is a historic African American parish in Shreveport, Louisiana, founded in 1923 and located at 1558 Buena Vista Street in the Allendale neighborhood. It is the oldest Black Catholic parish in Shreveport and one of the few established during the Jim Crow era to serve the Black community fully, originally under the ministry of the Spiritan Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) with funding from St. Katharine Drexel and her religious sisters. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Shreveport and in 2023 joyfully celebrated its centennial with a Mass offered by Bishop Francis Malone. Today it continues as a small but vibrant worship community served by a pastoral administrator, with Sunday Mass in English, weekday Masses, adoration, and a number of lay ministries including the Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Rector
- Rev. Duane C. Trombetta (Pastoral Administrator, since 2021)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Shreveport
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament is a small, welcoming historic parish with deep roots in Shreveport's Allendale neighborhood and a centennial story of African American Catholic life in northwest Louisiana. It offers Sunday and weekday Mass, Wednesday adoration with Benediction, Saturday confessions, and lay ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144 — making it a place where families, prayer, and service come together across a century of community life.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 6:45–7:15 PM (after Saturday Mass), and other times by appointment
- Wednesday 6:00–6:30 PM (after the 5:00 PM Mass, per third-party listing)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM, followed by Benediction and Holy Mass
History of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
The roots of the parish reach back to 1917, when Rev. Eugene Phelan, head of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (the Spiritans), formally asked Bishop Van de Ven of the Diocese of Shreveport to establish a Black Catholic parish in Shreveport. On January 9, 1918, Rev. Joseph H. Cronenberger negotiated the purchase of property on Allen Avenue, Buena Vista, and Alston Street. Mother Superior Katherine Drexel and the Sisters of the Convent of the Blessed Sacrament pledged to buy the property for $1,700 and committed a total donation of $10,000 to the project. The first Masses were celebrated in 1923 in a converted shotgun house at Holy Trinity Hall next to a neighborhood store, and in 1924 Rev. J. A. Kirkbride was given permission to build a church hall — that building remains the parish church today. The Sisters of the Convent of the Blessed Sacrament came to staff the church in 1927, and the parish went on to found Notre Dame High School and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy. The parish celebrated its centennial in January 2023 under the theme '100 Years of Servicing Our Families, Our Community, Our God.'
- 1917 — Spiritans request a Black Catholic parish in Shreveport.
- 1918 — Rev. Joseph H. Cronenberger negotiates purchase of land at Allen / Buena Vista / Alston.
- St. Katharine Drexel pledges $10,000 for the property.
- 1923 — First Masses at Holy Trinity Hall in a shotgun house.
- 1924 — Present church building constructed as a church hall.
- 1927 — Sisters of the Convent of the Blessed Sacrament arrive to staff the church.
- 1925 — Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy founded.
- 2023 — Centennial celebration with Bishop Francis Malone.
Centennial Celebration (2023)
On Sunday, January 29, 2023, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated its 100th anniversary with a 9:00 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Francis Malone, followed by a parish reception. Pastoral Administrator Fr. Duane Trombetta noted that 'many months of planning have gone into this and we're so excited that the day is nearly here,' and that history was central to the celebration: 'Sharing that venerable history of our church, our parish, our schools. And celebrating all the people who have served here, worshiped here, prayed here, and just build the community here.' The parish also unveiled a virtual 3D interactive photo tour of the church and the adjoining Drexel Community Center in honor of the centennial.
- Centennial theme: '100 Years of Servicing Our Families, Our Community, Our God'
- Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Francis Malone
- Virtual 3D photo tour of church and Drexel Community Center launched
- Vocations honored: Fr. Raney Johnson (ordained 2021) and Fr. Jim Moran, C.O.
Clergy and Parish Staff
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament is currently served by a Pastoral Administrator with the assistance of a deacon, rather than a residential pastor — a model common in some smaller parishes. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Pastoral Administrator: Rev. Duane C. Trombetta (since 2021)
- Deacon: Rev. Deacon Charles Thomas
- Parish Office: 1558 Buena Vista Street, Shreveport, LA 71101
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Phone: (318) 222-3791
- Email: [email protected]
Parish Ministries and Organizations
OLBS supports a small but active set of parish organizations that animate its worship and outreach. The Music Ministry welcomes new singers and instrumentalists into the choir. The St. Vincent de Paul Society serves those in need, and the Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144 is a vibrant lay organization with deep roots in the African American Catholic community. The parish also promotes spiritual direction and offers parishioners free access to FORMED.org, a major Catholic digital content platform.
- Music Ministry / Choir — recruiting new members
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 144
- Spiritual Direction
- FORMED.org digital resource subscription for parishioners
- Parish Centennial planning committee
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy
Founded in 1925, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Academy is the parish school, located at 2932 Murphy Street, Shreveport, LA 71103. It serves Pre-K 3 through Kindergarten with an average class size of about 20 students, in a faith-based environment supported by the parish, the Diocese of Shreveport, and the Office of the Superintendent. The school's motto is 'Enter to Learn and Learn to Serve,' and religion is integrated throughout the day, with Christ presented as the foundation of spiritual life.
- Address: 2932 Murphy Street, Shreveport, LA 71103
- Grades: Pre-K 3 through Kindergarten
- Motto: 'Enter to Learn and Learn to Serve'
- Religion integrated across the curriculum
- FREE Pre-K 4 Program for qualifying parents
- After-school enrichment available
- Financial aid available; tuition approximately $3,650/year
Music and Liturgy
Music at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament is offered as a way to deepen relationships with God, strengthen fellowship, and grow in Catholic worship. The parish choir welcomes new members who can make a regular commitment to rehearsals and liturgies. The parish website includes a teaching reflection on sacred music, quoting Pope Benedict XVI on music's power to 'lead us to the Creator of all harmony.'
- Choir open to new singers and instrumentalists
- Contact the Church Office to join
- Sacred music reflection based on Pope Benedict XVI
- Rehearsal and liturgy commitment expected
Visit, Contact, and Directions
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament welcomes visitors to its historic church in Shreveport's Allendale neighborhood and offers a virtual 3D tour for those unable to visit in person. Parishioners and newcomers can contact the office by phone or email, and may use the 'Get Directions' link on the official website.
- Address: 1558 Buena Vista Street, Shreveport, LA 71101
- Phone: (318) 222-3791
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olbschurchsport.org/
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Virtual 3D interactive tour available on the parish website