About St. Patrick · New Orleans, Louisiana
St. Patrick's Church, affectionately known as 'Old St. Patrick's,' is a Roman Catholic parish in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, at 724 Camp Street. Established in 1833 by Bishop Leo-Raymond de Neckere as the first parish outside the original city limits, it served New Orleans' growing Irish-Catholic community in the Faubourg St. Mary ('American Quarter'). The current Gothic Revival church, completed in 1840 and designed by architect James H. Dakin with James Gallier as construction engineer, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Today it is still an active parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, offering both English and Traditional Latin Masses and serving a downtown congregation that draws worshippers from across the archdiocese.
- Established
- 1833
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Garrett M. O'Brien, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Old St. Patrick's remains an active downtown parish in the heart of New Orleans—rooted in the city's Irish Catholic heritage yet serving worshippers who travel from across the archdiocese. Daily Traditional Latin Masses are celebrated alongside English Masses, and weekday Masses are followed by Adoration and the Rosary, giving the parish a distinctive devotional rhythm. As a National Historic Landmark with Leon Pomarede's 1841 murals, fan-vaulted ceilings, and a 185-foot Gothic Revival tower, the church itself is a treasure; parishioners worship inside a building that served as New Orleans' pro-cathedral in 1850–51. It is a place for those who love the Traditional Latin Mass, historic sacred art, and a tight-knit downtown Catholic community that came back from Hurricane Katrina stronger than ever.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:00–7:10 AM and 11:00–11:20 AM
- Saturday: 7:30–7:50 AM
- 30 minutes before every Weekend Mass
- By appointment: (504) 525-4413
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday: following the 11:30 AM English Mass (Adoration/Rosary)
- During Lent: Friday at Noon — Stations of the Cross, followed by Adoration/Rosary
History of Old St. Patrick's
St. Patrick's was founded on April 21, 1833 by Bishop Leo-Raymond de Neckere, C.M., as the first Catholic parish in New Orleans outside the boundaries of the original French Quarter. It was established to serve Irish Catholic immigrants settled in the Faubourg St. Mary district—the 'American Quarter'—who wanted to worship in English rather than be crowded into the French-dominated St. Louis Cathedral. Bishop Antoine Blanc encouraged the community to build, and a small wooden church went up on Camp Street, soon overflowing at every Sunday Mass. The Irish then commissioned a grand permanent church intended to rival the Cathedral.
- April 21, 1833 — Parish established in Faubourg St. Mary by Bishop Leo de Neckere, C.M.
- 1838, July 1 — Cornerstone of the permanent church blessed by Bishop Antoine Blanc
- 1840, February 23 — First Mass celebrated in the new church
- 1841 — Leon Pomarede paints the three altar murals
- 1850 — Designated pro-cathedral of the diocese
- 1851, September 16 — Archbishop Antoine Blanc receives the pallium here as first Archbishop of New Orleans
- 1965 — Severe damage from Hurricane Betsy
- 1975 — Designated a National Historic Landmark
- 1978–1990 — 12-year restoration under Monsignor John P. Reynolds, completed with architect and parishioner Samuel Wilson, Jr.
- December 2, 1990 — Restoration completed
- October 2, 2005 — Reopened after Hurricane Katrina
Architecture & Sacred Art
Old St. Patrick's is one of the earliest and finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. The exterior is fairly simple; the interior is highly ornate. Architects Charles and James Dakin designed the church with an exterior inspired by England's York Minster and a ceiling modeled on Exeter Cathedral. James Gallier, called in to correct a defective foundation in the swampy ground, also designed the groined ceilings, the altar, and the original organ, while leaving the 185-foot tower standing straight. The interior is dominated by three monumental murals painted in 1841 by French artist Leon Pomarede for $1,000 each: The Transfiguration (center), Christ Walking on the Water (right), and St. Patrick baptizing the princess daughters of Ireland's King Laoghaire (left). Slender columns support elaborate fan vaulting, especially above the altar, where sixteen stained glass windows are incorporated in a half-dome. Doorways, windows, the organ, and the altar all conform to Gothic architectural design. The 1978–1990 restoration preserved the cypress pews, the carved wooden pulpit, and the Pomarede murals, and added a sophisticated lighting system highlighting the vaulted ceilings and arches that had been in darkness for more than 150 years.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Architects: Charles and James Dakin (design); James Gallier (construction engineer, interior appointments including altar, organ, and groined ceiling)
- Bell tower: 185 feet tall
- Nave: 85 feet tall
- Vestibule: 40 feet
- Fan-vaulted ceiling modeled on Exeter Cathedral
- Three Pomarede murals: The Transfiguration, Christ Walking on the Water, St. Patrick baptizing the princesses of Ireland
- Carved cypress pews and wooden pulpit (restored)
- Sixteen stained-glass windows in a half-dome behind the altar
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, with two permanent deacons and a dedicated lay staff. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed on civil holidays and Holy Days of Obligation). Individual staff can be reached by extension at the parish phone number (504) 525-4413.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Garrett M. O'Brien, JCL (ext. 1004, [email protected])
- Deacon: Deacon Chris J. DiGrado, MD ([email protected])
- Deacon: Deacon Kenneth J. Uhlich, Jr., MATS ([email protected])
- Office Manager: Ms. Cheryl Toy (ext. 1001, [email protected])
- Wedding Coordinator: Mrs. Paige A. Saleun (504-291-2217, [email protected])
- Bookkeeper: Mrs. Jennifer Suarez (ext. 1002, [email protected])
- Parish Apostolate Coordinator: Mrs. Marti Luke (ext. 1000, [email protected])
- Buildings and Maintenance Manager: Mr. Jason Liuzza (ext. 1005, [email protected])
- Organist and Choirmaster: Mr. B. Andrew Mills (ext. 1003, [email protected])
Sacraments
St. Patrick's celebrates the sacraments of the Church in both English and the Traditional Latin form. Couples preparing for marriage work directly with the parish Wedding Coordinator. Funerals and the Anointing of the Sick can be arranged through the parish office.
- Mass and the Eucharist (English and Traditional Latin)
- Confession (daily and by appointment)
- Marriage / Wedding preparation — coordinator: Mrs. Paige A. Saleun, 504-291-2217
- Funerals and Requiem Masses (Latin Requiem Low Masses on special dates)
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care by appointment via the parish office
Music, Liturgy & Choir
Sacred music at St. Patrick's is directed by Organist and Choirmaster B. Andrew Mills. The parish is notable in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for its daily Traditional Latin Mass and for special liturgical celebrations throughout the year—from Candlemas and Ash Wednesday to the Palm Sunday procession, the Sacred Triduum, and the Rorate Mass.
- Organist and Choirmaster: Mr. B. Andrew Mills (ext. 1003, [email protected])
- Daily Traditional Latin Mass (M–F 7:15 AM; Sat 8:00 AM; Sun 9:15 AM)
- Annual Latin liturgical celebrations include Candlemas (Feb 2), Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday with procession, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Solemn Liturgy, Immaculate Conception (Dec 8), Rorate Mass (December), and Requiem Low Masses
Visit & Contact
Old St. Patrick's is a working downtown landmark at 724 Camp Street, with the church building open for prayer and visitation throughout the week. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The weekly bulletin — published online as PDFs — lists current Mass intentions, special Mass schedules, parish news, and contact information.
- Address: 724 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
- Phone: (504) 525-4413
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed on civil holidays and Holy Days of Obligation)
- Church open: Monday–Friday 6:30 AM – 4:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Weekly bulletin available in print and as PDF on the parish website under /bulletin/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James I. Mullon
Second pastor; Irish immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran of the War of 1812. Inspired and directed construction of the present church building. Served for decades. His remains are the only ones sealed beneath the sanctuary, and his portrait hangs in the rear of the church.
- Most Rev. John (Monsignor) P. ReynoldsPastorate culminated in a 12-year, multimillion-dollar restoration completed in 1990
11th pastor. His family had lived in the neighborhood in the early days of the parish. Inspired a total restoration directed by noted architect and parishioner Samuel Wilson, Jr.