About St. David · New Orleans, Louisiana
St. David Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Lower Ninth Ward / St. Claude Avenue corridor of New Orleans, Louisiana, at 5617 St. Claude Avenue. Founded in 1937 to serve African-American Catholics in the city, the parish was established by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.S.J.), the only Catholic religious community of men in the United States dedicated exclusively to Black Catholic ministry. Today the parish is led by Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J., and lives by the theme 'St. David: Faith, Family & Fellowship,' celebrating Mass in the main church on weekends and in the Day Chapel during the week, with a live-streamed Sunday Mass on Facebook.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. David
- Rector
- Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. David is a Josephite-founded parish with a nearly ninety-year history of Black Catholic faith and family life on St. Claude Avenue. The parish keeps a tight, family-sized community with weekday Mass in the Day Chapel, a live-streamed Sunday Mass on Facebook, weekly Rosary and conference-call prayer gatherings, First Friday Holy Hours for peace and an end to violence, and ministries that reach out to the homebound, the incarcerated, those grieving, and neighbors in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. If you are looking for a welcoming parish grounded in faith, family, and fellowship — and connected to the historic African-American Catholic community of New Orleans — St. David is worth a visit.
Mass times at St. David
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:55 PM (or by appointment)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Day Chapel)
- First Friday: 11:00 AM Holy Hour for peace and an end to violence, followed by Mass — sponsored by the 'Disciples' Ministry
About St. David Catholic Church
St. David Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of New Orleans located at 5617 St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1937 for African-American Catholics by the Josephite Order (S.S.J.), it continues to serve its parish family and the surrounding neighborhood under the theme 'St. David: Faith, Family & Fellowship.' The parish is pastored by Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J., and welcomes visitors to weekend Masses (Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil and Sunday morning) and to weekday Masses celebrated in the Day Chapel.
- Address: 5617 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Phone: (504) 947-2853
- Website: stdavidnola.com
- Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans (St. Bernard Deanery)
- Pastor: Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J.
- Parish theme: 'St. David: Faith, Family & Fellowship'
History & Heritage
St. David Parish was founded in 1937 in New Orleans to minister to African-American Catholics, established by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.S.J.). The Josephites were sent from Mill Hill, England, in 1871 by Father Herbert Vaughan to evangelize and pastor the newly freed Black community in the United States, and over the next century they founded parishes, schools, and fraternal organizations (including the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, 1909) across the country. In New Orleans the Josephites run historically Black parishes including All Saints (founded 1919), St. David (1937), and others. St. David today belongs to the St. Bernard Deanery of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
- Founded in 1937
- Founded for African-American Catholics
- Pastored by the Josephite Order (S.S.J.)
- Part of the St. Bernard Deanery, Archdiocese of New Orleans
- Companion Josephite parishes in New Orleans include All Saints and Corpus Christi–Epiphany
Telephone Prayer Call Ministry
An unusual feature of St. David's pastoral outreach is the pastor's weekly telephone-conference prayer line, allowing parishioners to join in prayer from home. The pastor's call with his parishioners runs every Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and a separate call for the Haitian Community runs every Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Both lines use the same conference number and access code, published on the parish homepage.
- Conference number: 1-712-770-4721
- Access code: 222140
- St. David parishioner call: Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Haitian Community call: Thursdays, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Ministries & Groups
St. David Parish runs a wide range of lay-led ministries serving worship, family life, outreach, and youth. The Disciples Prayer Group, founded about five years before the current site copy was written (with Juliana Christiani-Ryce among its founding members), gathers monthly for a First Friday Holy Hour. Parish Life Ministry organizes the annual picnic and the 'Fund Fest' fundraiser; the Pro-Life Ministry promotes the sacredness of life from conception to natural death. Pastoral care is extended through Prison Ministry, Sick & Homebound visits, and Bereavement Ministry. Outreach to neighbors in need happens through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which assists with rent, electric, and water bills. Liturgical service is supported by Altar Servers and CCD / religious education for children.
- Altar Servers — Kimberly Mirabin
- Disciples Prayer Group — Patrick Hagan
- Parish Life Ministry (picnic, Fund Fest)
- Pro-Life Ministry — Hilda Clark
- Prison Ministry — Hilda Clark
- Sick & Homebound — Joyce Mumford
- St. Vincent de Paul — Terry C. Montegut
- Bereavement — Frankie Heguy
- CCD / Religious Education — Ann Parfaite
- Married Couples Ministry — Lester
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry — Elijah Reynolds
- Health Care Ministry
- Maintenance Ministry
- Knights & Ladies of Peter Claver — Michael Gordon; Lena Blaise
Faith Formation (CCD)
The parish's Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program provides religious education for the children of the parish. The current director of religious education (DRE), per the Josephite parish bulletin, is Ann Parfaite, who can be reached at (504) 644-3799.
- CCD / Religious Education — Ann Parfaite, DRE — (504) 644-3799
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J., a Josephite priest, as Pastor. He is assisted by a Pastoral Associate, Sr. Teresa Rooney, CHF, and a parish secretary, Nadine Ancar, in the parish office.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Oswald P. Pierre-Jules, Jr., S.S.J.
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Teresa Rooney, CHF
- Parish Secretary: Nadine Ancar
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. David Catholic Church by phone at (504) 947-2853, or visit in person at 5617 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117. The parish website (stdavidnola.com) carries the latest announcements, the Sunday Mass livestream link to Facebook, and information on ministries and devotions.
- Phone: (504) 947-2853
- Address: 5617 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Website: http://stdavidnola.com/
- Facebook livestream: 'St. David Catholic Church'