About St. Benilde · Metairie, Louisiana
St. Benilde Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Metairie, Louisiana, belonging to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Officially named on August 12, 1964, the parish was carved out of a growing Jefferson Parish suburb and celebrated its first Mass on Christmas Eve 1967 after Archbishop Philip Hannan helped secure Irish Sisters of Loreto of Fermoy to open its parish school. Today St. Benilde is a multi-generational faith community of more than 30 ministries, an attached K–7 parish school (St. Benilde School), a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (weekdays from Monday 7:30 AM through Friday 10:00 PM), and a rich liturgical life centered on the Eucharist and devotion to its patron, St. Benilde, the French Christian Brother canonized in Rome on October 29, 1967.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Benilde (Brother Benilde / Pierre Romancon, 1805–1862), French Christian Brother and schoolteacher
- Rector
- Rev. Robert T. Cooper
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. Benilde is a warm, mid-sized Archdiocese of New Orleans parish with a strong tradition of lay involvement, offering daily and Sunday Mass in English, a near-perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (Monday 7:30 AM through Friday 10:00 PM), regular confession, OLPH Novena on Tuesdays, and Mary's Hour devotions on Saturdays. Parishioners serve in more than 30 ministries and organizations, including a vibrant CYO for high-school teens, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for young children (launched in fall 2023), a Home & School Association, a parish school (Pre-K through 7), and outreach through the parish's six commissions (Spiritual, Sacramental/Liturgical, Educational, Family Life/Youth, Social Services, and Administrative Life).
Mass times at St. Benilde
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 5:25 PM (or by appointment)
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:25 PM (or by appointment)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Chapel: Monday 7:30 AM through Friday 10:00 PM
Parish History
St. Benilde was officially named on August 12, 1964, when Archbishop John Cody appointed Father Peter Brewerton as founding pastor. The parish worshipped in Archbishop Rummel High School's gym for its first three years and celebrated its first Mass in the new church on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1967. Archbishop Philip Hannan recruited the Sisters of Loreto of Fermoy from Ireland to open St. Benilde School in 1968, and the parish grew steadily through the following decades — adding bells, stained glass, a renovated sanctuary, a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and a thriving school.
- Parish named August 12, 1964; founding pastor Fr. Peter Brewerton
- First baptism recorded January 17, 1965; first marriage May 1, 1965
- First Mass in St. Benilde Church — December 24, 1967
- Sisters of Loreto of Fermoy arrive September 1967
- St. Benilde School opens August 28, 1968 (K–5)
- Church bells installed June 1981; stained glass 1981–1982
- Statue of St. Benilde donated by Christian Brothers, Dec 14, 1985
- High altar (from Annunciation Church) and Pieta (from St. Cecilia) installed 2001
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel completed 2006
- Loreto Early Learning Center renovated December 2013
- History compiled by parishioner George Rojas
Devotions
Two named devotions anchor the parish's liturgical week beyond Mass and confession.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Novena — Tuesday evenings, following the 5:30 PM Mass
- Mary's Hour — Saturday 8:00–9:00 AM in the Church
St. Benilde School
St. Benilde School opened August 28, 1968, with kindergarten through fifth grade and has grown into a Pre-K 3 through seventh-grade Catholic school operated in partnership with the parish. The school is committed to spiritual, academic, physical, and social development, with Pre-K 4 through Grade 7 attending weekly Mass, regular Reconciliation during Advent and Lent, Stations of the Cross, May Crowning, and various mission and service activities. The Loreto Early Learning Center was renovated in 2013.
- Opened August 28, 1968 (K–5); expanded to current Pre-K 3 through 7th grade
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Loreto of Fermoy (Ireland)
- Weekly Mass for students in Pre-K 4 through Grade 7
- Home & School Association and School Board partner with parish
- Renovated Loreto Early Learning Center (2013)
- Past principals include Mother Celine Ryan, Sisters Augustine, Goretti, Loreto, and Ita; Cheryl Orillion, Marilyn Malone, Vicki Helmstetter, and Mr. John 'Matt' Downey (2012–present)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Benilde spans early childhood through high school. In fall 2023 the parish officially launched Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (founded in 1954 in Rome by Sophia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi, based on Montessori principles) for students in PK3, PK4, Kindergarten, and 1st grade — held in an atrium space at the parish.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (PK3–1st) — began Fall 2023
- CCD classes (founded 1967)
- First Communion and Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation through parish school
CYO & Youth Ministry
St. Benilde CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) brings together teens in grades 8 through 12 to pray, serve, socialize, and have fun. The CYO meets monthly for a Friday Night Holy Hour/Social and a Sunday CYO or 'Rooted' night, with annual events including the CYO Retreat, Rose Rally for Life, December Lock-Out, the Archdiocesan High School NOLA Youth Conference, and a Tunica Falls hiking trip. CYO sports include volleyball and cabbageball, with teens helping run the Men's Club Cabbageball League each summer.
- Grades 8–12
- Monthly Friday Holy Hour/Social and Sunday Rooted Night
- Annual: Retreat, Rose Rally for Life, December Lock-Out, NOLA Youth Conference, Tunica Falls trip
- CYO sports: volleyball, cabbageball
- Coordinator: Alexandra Walters
Parish Ministries & Pastoral Council
The parish describes itself as a 'welcoming parish' that encourages all members to become active in one of more than 30 ministries. The St. Benilde Parish Pastoral Council, established in the spirit of Vatican II, assists the pastor in planning and decision-making through six commissions: Administrative Life, Family Life/Youth, Social Services, Educational Life, Spiritual Life, and Sacramental/Liturgical Life.
- 30+ ministries and organizations
- Pastoral Council with 9–12 elected at-large members (age 18+)
- Six Commissions: Administrative, Family Life/Youth, Social Services, Educational, Spiritual, Sacramental/Liturgical
- Longstanding ministries: Altar Society, Holy Name Society, Over 50s Club, Home & School Association
Patron Saint — St. Benilde
The parish is named for Brother Benilde (Pierre Romancon, 1805–1862), a French Christian Brother who spent his life as a teacher in France. Pope Pius XII beatified him in 1948, saying he 'did common things in an uncommon way.' Pope Paul VI canonized him in Rome on October 29, 1967 — at which ceremony George Rojas, then President of the St. Benilde Parish Council, represented the parish. A statue of St. Benilde was donated to the parish by the Christian Brothers of Santé Fe Providence on December 14, 1985.
- Brother Benilde / Pierre Romancon (1805–1862), French Christian Brother and schoolteacher
- Beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1948
- Canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 29, 1967
- Parish represented at canonization by George Rojas, Parish Council President
- Statue donated by Christian Brothers of Santé Fe Providence, Dec 14, 1985
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Brewerton1964–1969
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop John Cody; celebrated Masses in Archbishop Rummel HS gym before church was built.
- Monsignor Carter Richaud1969–1989
Longest-tenured pastor (20 years).
- Fr. Alvin O'Reilly1989–1992
- Fr. Carroll Heffner1992–2000
- Fr. Patrick Wattigny2000–2013
Subsequently named Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist, Slidell.
- Fr. Robert Cooper2013–present
Sixth pastor; installed by Bishop Dominic Carmon, S.V.D., on July 14, 2013; reassigned by Archbishop Gregory Aymond.