About St. James Major · New Orleans, Louisiana
St. James Major Catholic Church was a Roman Catholic parish in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, located at 3736 Gentilly Boulevard. Founded in 1920 to serve the growing Catholic population drawn to Gentilly by the 1914 construction of the Industrial Canal, the parish was distinguished by its expansive original boundaries — from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi state line, Florida Avenue to Touro Street — and by its more than a century of service through multiple generations. As of July 1, 2024, St. James Major was merged with Transfiguration of the Lord and St. Gabriel the Archangel parishes to form the new St. Martin de Porres Parish under Father Francis Offia, with worship now centered at the Transfiguration of the Lord campus. The parish had offered Mass in English, with a Sunday 10 AM and 6 PM schedule, a Saturday 4 PM vigil, Tuesday–Friday daily Mass, Saturday confessions, and First Friday adoration.
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- St. James the Greater (St. James Major)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Labre (last pastor of St. James Major before 2024 merger into St. Martin de Porres Parish, where Fr. Francis Offia became the first pastor)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
St. James Major has been a faithful Catholic community in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans for more than a century, offering the sacraments and devotions that mark traditional parish life: weekday Mass, a Saturday vigil and two Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, First Friday adoration, and a Monday Communion service in the chapel. Parishioners long cherished the church's well-known lectors and musicians, and the parish held an annual SJM Family Day, a Christmas nativity installation, and a weekly bulletin that kept the community connected. While the parish itself merged into the new St. Martin de Porres Parish in July 2024, the St. James Major legacy continues through the faith, friendships, and traditions its members carry forward.
Mass times at St. James Major
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:30 AM
Overview of St. James Major Parish
St. James Major Catholic Church was a Roman Catholic parish in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, at 3736 Gentilly Boulevard, within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish was founded in 1920 to serve the booming Catholic population in Gentilly brought on by the 1914 construction of the Industrial Canal, and for more than a century it served as a spiritual anchor for families across Gentilly, Gentilly Terrace, the Lakefront, and beyond. As of July 1, 2024, St. James Major was merged with Transfiguration of the Lord and St. Gabriel the Archangel to form the new St. Martin de Porres Parish under Father Francis Offia, with the Transfiguration of the Lord Church at 5621 Elysian Fields Avenue as the permanent worship site. The Rev. Michael Labre was the last pastor of St. James Major.
- Founded: 1920
- Diocese: Archdiocese of New Orleans
- Patron: St. James the Greater (St. James Major)
- Original boundaries: lake to the Mississippi state line, Florida Avenue to Touro Street
- Merger: July 1, 2024 into St. Martin de Porres Parish
History of the Parish
The Catholic roots of Gentilly stretch back through the 1800s, when the area was served by priests from St. Maurice, St. Vincent de Paul, Annunciation, Sts. Peter and Paul, and Holy Trinity. In 1911, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish was founded and most of Gentilly was placed within it. The decisive shift came in 1914, when the Industrial Canal was dug through Gentilly, drawing a wave of Catholic families. Archbishop Blenk began assigning priests specifically to the area, and in 1917, under the direction of Rev. John Prim of Holy Trinity, plans were laid for a new Gentilly parish.
- 1914: Industrial Canal construction brings a large influx of Catholics to Gentilly; Archbishop Blenk begins assigning priests to the area.
- 1917: Rev. John Prim of Holy Trinity begins planning a new Gentilly parish; Auxiliary Bishop Laval donates land to Our Lady Star of the Sea for use in Gentilly.
- February 1920: Rev. Minor H.A. Chauvin is named the first pastor of the new parish.
- 1920: A lumber storage shed on Spain Street/Lombard/Gentilly Road/St. Roch is designated as the first St. James church; parishioners choose the name 'St. James Major' to distinguish it from the other St. James in the archdiocese.
- July 1920: Father Chauvin builds a two-story building on St. Roch Avenue with a church below and residence above.
- 1923: Parish population reaches ~1,400; land at Franklin Avenue is acquired for a school.
- 1932: Father Chauvin dies of appendicitis at age 43; Rev. DeLafuente serves as temporary administrator; Rev. Thomas Gaffney is named the second pastor in September.
- c. 1935: Under Fr. Gauci, regular Sunday Mass is offered at a private residence near Seabrook due to overcrowding; Rev. Vernon P. Alleman is assigned as a second assistant; Fr. Gauci is transferred in October and Rev. Sidney Skiffington becomes pastor.
- 1946: Post-WWII housing shortages drive development into Gentilly Terrace and the Lakefront; Mass is held in the former rectory at St. Roch and Gentilly Boulevard.
- 1953: The new church on Gentilly Boulevard is completed and dedicated; Father Carl Schutten is named pastor; the parish plant now includes the new church, a new rectory, the high school and an expanded grammar school, and a Mount Carmel convent.
Mass, Sacraments, and Devotions
St. James Major offered a full schedule of Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Monday Communion service. Weekday Masses were celebrated in the chapel from Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 AM, with a Monday Communion service in the chapel at the same time. The parish's Sunday schedule included a 10:00 AM and a 6:00 PM Mass, with a Saturday vigil at 4:00 PM. Confessions were heard Saturday afternoons, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was offered on First Fridays.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM
- Monday Communion Service: 8:30 AM in the Chapel
- Tuesday–Friday Daily Mass: 8:30 AM in the Chapel
- Confessions: Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday, 8:30 AM
Parish Life, Ministries, and Community
St. James Major was known as a tight-knit Gentilly parish with active lectors, ushers, musicians, and a parish council. Former Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman was a longtime lector. The parish's music ministry featured organist Yui Asano and soloists such as Claire Shackelton. The community gathered for an annual SJM Family Day, a Christmas nativity installation, and a weekly printed bulletin that carried parishioner acknowledgments and announcements. A parish social-media presence on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram kept the community connected.
- Lector ministry (including longtime lector and former Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman)
- Ushers
- Parish Council
- Music ministry (organist Yui Asano, soloists including Claire Shackelton)
- Weekly bulletin and announcements
- SJM Family Day (annual gathering)
- Christmas nativity installation
Contact and Location
St. James Major Catholic Church was located in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans at 3736 Gentilly Boulevard, with the parish ZIP code 70122. The parish could be reached by phone at (504) 304-6750 and by email at [email protected]. The official website, saintjamesmajor.org, has since redirected to the merged St. Martin de Porres Parish at smdpnola.com.
- Address: 3736 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70122
- Phone: (504) 304-6750
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://saintjamesmajor.org/ (now redirects to https://smdpnola.com/)
- Social: Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram accounts linked from the official site
The 2024 Merger into St. Martin de Porres Parish
On October 29, 2023, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond announced a sweeping parish pastoral-planning process for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and on June 28, 2024, he revealed the new parish names and worship sites. St. James Major, along with Transfiguration of the Lord and St. Gabriel the Archangel in Gentilly, was merged on July 1, 2024, to form the new St. Martin de Porres Parish, with the Transfiguration of the Lord Church at 5621 Elysian Fields Avenue as the permanent worship site. Father Francis Offia was appointed the first pastor of the new parish. Under canon law, all of the assets and liabilities of the closing parishes 'follow the people' to the newly merged parish, and the broader community of parishioners from St. Gabriel's was encouraged to bring their gifts and traditions forward to help build the new parish.
- Announcement of merger: October 29, 2023 (Archbishop Aymond)
- New parish name announced: June 28, 2024 (St. Martin de Porres)
- Effective date: July 1, 2024
- Merged with: Transfiguration of the Lord and St. Gabriel the Archangel (Gentilly)
- New pastor: Father Francis Offia
- Worship site: Transfiguration of the Lord Church, 5621 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Minor H.A. Chauvin1920–1932
First pastor; took up residence at 3865 Gentilly Road, later moved into the Lafaye mansion at Franklin and Gentilly; built the two-story church/residence on St. Roch Avenue in July 1920; began acquiring land at Franklin Avenue for a school in 1923; died of appendicitis at age 43 in 1932.
- Rev. DeLafuente1932
Appointed temporary administrator after the death of Father Chauvin.
- Rev. Thomas Gaffneyfrom September 1932
Named the second pastor of St. James Major.
- Fr. Gauciearly-to-mid 1930s (transferred October 1935)
Began regular Sunday Mass at a private residence near Seabrook to relieve overcrowding; transferred out in October 1935.
- Rev. Sidney Skiffingtonfrom October 1935
Became pastor upon the transfer of Fr. Gauci.
- Father Carl Schuttenfrom 1953
Named pastor the year the new Gentilly Boulevard church was completed and dedicated.
- Rev. Michael Labre
Last pastor of St. James Major before the July 1, 2024 merger into the new St. Martin de Porres Parish; presided at the parish's final Masses in 2023–2024.