New Parish Communities Formed

After several months of conversation and discernment, the newly formed parish communities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans are prepared to publicly announce their new parish names. This comes after announcements were made in October of last year that 11 parishes from across the metro area would be merging into five new parishes. All changes are effective July 1 of this year.
The following is a listing of the new parishes:

St. John Paul II – St. Bonaventure in Avondale and Our Lady of the Angels in Waggaman are merging to become St. John Paul II at the site of the current Our Lady of Angels in Waggaman. Fr. Vincent Phan will serve as the first pastor of the new parish.

St. Michael the Archangel – St. Gertrude in Des Allemands and St. John the Baptist in Paradis are merging to become St. Michael the Archangel at the site of St. John the Baptist in Paradis. Fr. Lance Campo will serve as the first pastor of the new parish.

Mary, Help of Christians – In keeping with the Salesian tradition, St. John Bosco in Marrero and St. Rosalie in Harvey will merge to become Mary, Help of Christians. The new congregation will continue to worship at both sites until November. St. Rosalie Church will become the permanent worship site. Salesian Father Mark Hyde, who currently serves as pastor of both parishes, will serve as the first pastor of the new parish.

St. Josephine Bakhita – St. Mary of the Angels and Our Lady Star of the Sea both in New Orleans will merge to become St. Josephine Bakhita Parish at the site of St. Mary of the Angels. Fr. Francis Kamau, FMH will serve as the first pastor of the new parish.

St. Martin de Porres – St. James Major, St. Gabriel the Archangel, and Transfiguration of the Lord all in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans will merge to become St. Martin de Porres Parish at the site of the current Transfiguration of the Lord. Fr. Francis Offia will serve as the first pastor of the new parish.

Also of note, St. Hubert Parish in Garyville is merging into St. Peter and will remain St. Peter Parish. Fr. Ray Hymel will serve as the next pastor of the parish. Additionally, the parish of St. Theresa of Avila is being divided and merged into the neighboring parishes of St. Patrick on Camp St. and St. Alphonsus in the Lower Garden District. Fr. Garrett O’Brien will remain the pastor at St. Patrick. Fr. Chung Tran, CSsR will remain the pastor of St. Alphonsus.