St. Francis Xavier

Parish History

Established January 1, 1924 by Archbishop John Shaw out of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, with Father Francis Xavier Rombouts as founding pastor. First Masses were said in a Bucktown chapel, then in a leased Orpheum Street home (still standing) that doubled as church and rectory while the Metairie Road building now used as the parish office was constructed. The parish school opened in 1926 with the Sisters of Mercy riding the streetcar in daily. The 1939 church built by Father Felix Miller is today's St. Joseph Hall; the single-story school opened in 1951 as the first floor of the present school building. The parish marked its centennial on April 20, 2024 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

• Founded: January 1, 1924
• Founding pastor: Rev. Francis Xavier Rombouts
• Patron chosen by the founding pastor: St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit missionary to the East
• 100th anniversary Mass: April 20, 2024

Clergy and Staff

The parish is led by pastor Rev. Joseph (Joe) Palermo ([email protected]). He is assisted by Fr. Andrew Sanchez (who coordinates CYO Youth, Young Adult Ministry, and the website) and retired priest Fr. Will Sigl (who still helps at the parish and was celebrated with a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 28). The diaconate includes Deacon Robert (Bobby) Normand and Sharon Normand (Family Life, Marriage, Welcome Ministry, Lectors, Home-Bound EM) and Deacon Kevin Darrah (Vocations). Day-to-day parish operations are managed through the Parish Office at 504-834-0340, with Rachel Griffin (Bulletin Editor) and Claudia Todaro directing Faith Formation, CCD, RCIA, Bible Study, Vacation Bible School and Sacrament Preparation.

Parish School

St. Francis Xavier Parish School has been educating Metairie children since 1926, when the Sisters of Mercy first staffed it. It is led today by Principal Jessica Dwyer ([email protected], 504-833-1471), supported by a School Board chaired by Kevin McGlone and a Home and School Association run by Samantha Davis. The school is also supported by CYO Sports (Vincent Liberto) and a Summer Camp directed by Penny Montgomery ('Camp Jaguar SFX').

• Opened: 1926 (Sisters of Mercy)
• Principal: Jessica Dwyer
• School Board: Kevin McGlone
• Home and School Association: Samantha Davis
• CYO Sports: Vincent Liberto
• Summer Camp: Penny Montgomery

Faith Formation & Religious Education

All parish religious education runs through the Parish Office's director of formation, Claudia Todaro ([email protected], 504-834-8348). Programs include the Parish School of Religion (CCD), Sacrament Preparation, Bible Study, Vacation Bible School and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults entering the Catholic Church. Father Palermo also oversees Evangelization and Faith Formation parish-wide.

• CCD / Parish School of Religion
• Sacrament Preparation
• Bible Study
• Vacation Bible Study
• RCIA
• Evangelization / Faith Formation (Fr. Joe Palermo)

Music & Liturgy

Liturgy at SFX is coordinated by Father Joe Palermo, with a robust Music Ministry led by Linden Uter (Music Coordinator & 10 AM Choir Director), Jamie Diliberto (6 PM Choir Director & Cantor), and Garrett Fried (6 PM Pianist). The Sanctuary Society, under Jack Siciliano, cares for the church's sacred vessels and linens; liturgical roles are filled by Altar Servers (Carolyn Diaz), Lectors (Deacon Robert Normand) and Eucharistic Ministers (Carolyn Diaz, plus Deacon Normand for the homebound).

• Music Coordinator & 10 AM Choir: Linden Uter
• 6 PM Choir Director & Cantor: Jamie Diliberto
• 6 PM Pianist: Garrett Fried
• Sanctuary Society: Jack Siciliano
• Altar Servers: Carolyn Diaz
• Lectors: Deacon Robert Normand
• Eucharistic Ministers: Carolyn Diaz

Parish Ministries & Organizations

The parish maintains an unusually broad slate of more than 50 ministries, organized into spiritual, service, parish-life, and youth/family categories. The full contact list (dated 10/6/23) is downloadable from the parish website and groups include Adoration Chapel (Dottie Watson), Bereavement (Paige Rahn), Catholic Addiction Support (Mary Lou McCall), Daughters of Isabella (Joan Reilly), the Fatima Rosary March (Cathy Lorio), Fellowship Sunday (Suzy Friedrichs), Hospitality Committee (Suzy Friedrichs and Susan Murphy), the Knights of Columbus (Kent Finger), Lay Carmelites of Mt. Carmel (Dottie Watson), the Men's Club (Dustin Poche'), the Praise Him! Prayer Group (Jennifer Heath), Respect Life (Ron Carter), the St. Joseph Altar Society (Rick and Jeannie Redmann), the Sharing Program for Seniors (Carol Pritchard), Social Justice (Bob Thomas), St. Vincent de Paul (Melanie Rose), 'That Man is You' men's group (Mike Wibel), Ushers & Greeters (CJ Rowden), 'Walking with Purpose' women's group (Jennifer Heath), Welcome Ministry (Deacon Bobby and Sharon Normand), Young Vincentians (Robert Adoue), and many more.

Parish Life & Major Events

Beyond Sunday liturgy, SFX hosts signature community events each year: the Old Metairie Christmas Market (Brigette Starr), Old Metairie Fest (OMF Committee), and the Summer Cabbage Ball (Brigette Starr). Parish retreats are held at the Cenacle Retreat House on the Lake; the 2025 retreat is scheduled August 1–2 on the theme 'Trusting the Sacred Heart of Jesus in All Things.' Father Joe is also leading a Belgium–Holland–Fatima Pilgrimage November 8–18, 2026, with a registration deadline of July 3, 2025.

• Old Metairie Christmas Market
• Old Metairie Fest
• Summer Cabbage Ball
• Annual SFX Parish Retreat at Cenacle on the Lake
• Belgium–Holland–Fatima Pilgrimage (Nov 8–18, 2026)

Outreach & Charity

St. Francis Xavier runs a substantial social-outreach footprint anchored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society (Melanie Rose) and Deacon Ed's Food & Helping Hand pantry (Woods and Peggy Allen). Other outreach ministries include the Sharing Program for Seniors (Carol Pritchard), Respect Life (Ron Carter), Social Justice (Bob Thomas), Catholic Addiction Support (Mary Lou McCall), the Disabilities Advocate (Marcie O'Dwyer), Parish/Storm Cleanup Days (CJ Rowden), and the parish's Young Vincentians affiliate (Robert Adoue) of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

• St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Deacon Ed's Food & Helping Hand
• Sharing Program for Seniors
• Respect Life
• Social Justice
• Catholic Addiction Support
• Disabilities Advocate
• Parish/Storm Cleanup Days
• Young Vincentians

Sacraments

Sacramental preparation is centralized through Claudia Todaro and the Parish Office. Baptisms are arranged through Rachel Griffin ([email protected]); the parish school of religion (CCD), the parish's Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, and the RCIA program are all coordinated through the same office. Marriage preparation is led by parish couples (Heath, LaMorte, Fredrica teams); wedding day coordination is handled by Linda Jones ([email protected], 504-421-7946). Funeral coordination also runs through the Parish Office. Home-bound parishioners are visited by Deacon Robert Normand with the Eucharist.

• Baptisms: Parish Office / Rachel Griffin
• Eucharist & Confirmation prep: Claudia Todaro
• RCIA: Claudia Todaro
• Marriage Preparation: Heath / LaMorte / Fredrica couples teams
• Wedding Coordinator: Linda Jones (504-421-7946)
• Funeral Coordination: Parish Office
• Home-Bound EM: Deacon Robert Normand

Get Involved & Safe Environment

Anyone interested in volunteering is required to complete the Archdiocese of New Orleans Safe Environment training, background check and approval before serving. Background checks remain valid for three years. Training and approval are arranged through Cindy Bird at the parish office (504-834-0340) and the archdiocesan portal at nolacatholic.org/safe-environment.

• Safe Environment training required for all volunteers
• Background check required (valid 3 years)
• Coordinator: Cindy Bird (504-834-0340)
• Training portal: nolacatholic.org/safe-environment

Contact & Location

St. Francis Xavier Parish is located at 444 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005. The parish office can be reached at (504) 834-0340. The parish school can be reached separately at (504) 833-1471. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

• Address: 444 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005
• Parish Office: (504) 834-0340
• Parish School: (504) 833-1471
• Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans