About St. Clement of Rome · Metairie, Louisiana
St. Clement of Rome is a Roman Catholic parish in Metairie, Louisiana, within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Founded in 1965 and carved from the original territory of St. Christopher the Martyr Parish, it serves families on the west bank of Jefferson Parish with a full schedule of Masses in both English and Spanish, a K-8 parish school, a Parish School of Religion (PSR), and a perpetual adoration chapel. The parish takes its name from Pope St. Clement I (c. 35–99 AD), the fourth bishop of Rome and one of the Apostolic Fathers, whose feast day is celebrated each November 23.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Clement of Rome (Pope St. Clement I)
- Rector
- Rev. Joe Krafft
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. Clement of Rome is a bilingual Catholic community (English and Spanish) with four Sunday English Masses and a weekly Spanish Mass, perpetual adoration, a 1968 parish school, and an active PSR program for grades 1-7. Members of all ages can join the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for grades 8-12, the Alpha faith-exploration series for adults, the Knights of Columbus Council #3246, the St. Anthony food ministry, and the Respect Life Ministry — making it a place where families can grow together across generations.
Mass times at St. Clement of Rome
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours daily
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM — Holy Hour, First Friday after Mass
- Thursday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Hora Santa / Holy Hour in Spanish, Primer Jueves (First Thursday)
Our Story
St. Clement of Rome Parish was founded in 1965 by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, carved out of the original territory of St. Christopher the Martyr Parish as that postwar community grew beyond one pastor's ability to serve. The parish opened its school three years later in 1968 with the help of Presentation Sisters from Ireland. Today it continues that educational and sacramental mission in Metairie, with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, perpetual adoration, and ministries serving children, youth, adults, and the elderly across generations.
- Founded 1965
- School opened 1968
- First graduating class 1971
- One of six daughter parishes of St. Christopher the Martyr
Our Patron Saint
St. Clement of Rome (also called St. Clement I) was the fourth Bishop of Rome, reigning from about 90 AD until his death around 99 AD, and is honored as one of the Apostolic Fathers. He is traditionally said to have known and worked with St. Peter, and is famous for a letter to the Corinthians that helped sustain the early Church through persecution under Domitian and Trajan. Medieval tradition places his death in exile in Crimea, where he was reportedly thrown into the Black Sea with an anchor; he is the patron of mariners, stonecutters and tanners.
- Fourth Bishop of Rome (Pope), c. 90-99 AD
- First of the Apostolic Fathers
- Famous letter to the Corinthians
- Patron of mariners, stonecutters and tanners
- Feast day: November 23
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, and three deacons, supported by a lay staff in operations, music, religious education, and administration.
- Rev. Luis F. Rodriguez — Pastor
- Rev. Peter P. Finney III — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Kenneth Boe
- Deacon David Caldero
- Deacon Roy Ibarra (PSR contact)
- Cynthia Bird — Operations Manager
- Louis Hackett — Music Director
- Claire Gallagher — Director of Religious Ed and Youth Ministry
- Blanca González — Office Assistant
- Theresa Laughlin — Administrative Assistant
- Gail Stromeyer — Technology Coordinator
Parish School of Religion (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion provides Catholic religious education for children in grades 1 through 7 who do not attend the parish school. Classes meet Sundays from 8:00 to 9:30 AM followed by the 10:00 AM family Mass. Registration for the 2025-2026 year was open ahead of the September 14, 2025 start date. A Special Needs Class is also offered so children can learn their Catholic faith at their own level. Elementary students are expected to complete one full year of PSR before receiving First Reconciliation or First Holy Communion.
- Grades 1-7
- Sundays, 8:00-9:30 AM followed by 10:00 AM Mass
- September 14, 2025 start date for 2025-2026 year
- Special Needs Class available
- Contact: Deacon Roy Ibarra, 504-887-7821
St. Clement of Rome School
The parish school opened in 1968 on the campus at 3978 West Esplanade Avenue and serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school marked its 50th anniversary on August 30, 2018 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, a former St. Clement deacon intern. Faculty and staff often include alumni who returned to teach or lead, and the school is recognized in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for both academic excellence and Christian formation.
- Address: 3978 West Esplanade Ave., Metairie, LA 70002
- Phone: (504) 888-0386
- Opened 1968 with Presentation Sisters from Ireland
- First graduating class 1971
- Patricia Speeg — Principal
- Kimberly Downes — Assistant Principal
- Helen Roussel — Religion Coordinator and Director of Admissions
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Children and teens have a continuum of faith formation options. PSR serves elementary students (grades 1-7), the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) welcomes teens in grades 8-12 with monthly Sunday gatherings, service projects, sports leagues, and trips such as the NOLA Catholic Youth Conference and the March for Life, and Alpha offers an eight-session faith-exploration series for adults that meets weekly from 8:15-9:30 AM with a meal, video and small-group discussion.
- CYO for grades 8-12 — monthly Sunday meetings
- Sports: volleyball, basketball, football, cabbage ball
- Trips: NOLA Catholic Youth Conference, March for Life, summer mission trips
- Alpha for adults — 8 weekly sessions + Friday evening/Saturday retreat
- Director: Claire Gallagher
Community & Service Ministry
The Community and Service Ministry coordinates several outreach arms that respond to local need: the St. Anthony Ministry, which partners with Second Harvest Food Bank, prepares food boxes and Thanksgiving baskets and helps coordinate the Hotel Hope Advent Mission; All God's Babies; the Respect Life Ministry, which advocates for the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death; and Knights of Columbus Council #3246, which supports seminarians, Hotel Hope, the Women's New Life Clinic, the St. Anthony Ministry and All God's Babies.
- St. Anthony Ministry — food boxes and Thanksgiving baskets
- All God's Babies
- Respect Life Ministry
- Knights of Columbus Council #3246
- Annual clothing drive for New Orleans Mission
- Members serve as acolytes, extraordinary ministers, lectors, and ushers
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and administers the seven Catholic sacraments, with specific parish policies on baptism, marriage, sick calls, funerals, and First Communion preparation.
- Baptism — 1st and 3rd Sundays after the Noon Mass; appointment required
- First Reconciliation / First Holy Communion — requires one year of PSR
- Matrimony — six months' notice to a priest or deacon
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care — notify Parish Center for hospitalization
- Funerals — contact Parish Center before funeral home arrangements
Visit & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors to worship with the community. The Parish Center handles most inquiries; the church is located on West Esplanade Avenue and the school and parish offices are nearby on the same campus.
- Parish Center: 4317 Richland Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002
- Church: 3990 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002-3027
- Phone: (504) 887-7821
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: scrparish.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/scrparish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Luis F. Rodriguezcurrent
Current pastor, listed on the 2012 parish bulletin and on the official website.
- Rev. Peter P. Finney III
Parochial vicar under Pastor Rodriguez.