12. St. Joseph's Church and Shrine on the Westbank

Erected in 1926, this was the third church building erected on the site at 610 Sixth Street. Beautiful historic St. Joseph’s, a landmark in Gretna and on the Westbank is built in the impressive Spanish Baroque style. Its adjoining Holy Family Memorial Garden is a place for prayer and meditation.

The first Mass celebrated in Gretna, Louisiana was on Christmas 1857 in Mr. O’Donnell’s house and St. Joseph Parish was born! In 1858 land was acquired for $900 on Lavoisier Street and plans were laid to build a church building. With time lost to a crevasse, flood and a yellow fever epidemic, the original church was finished in 1859. A rectory was built by 1866 and the first St. Joseph Parochial School was underway.

The first nuns in Gretna, the Sisters of Christian Charity were introduced in 1871 as teachers at the school and a convent prepared for them was named the Convent of Sacred Hearts. St. Joseph School went on to educate thousands of children until its closure in 1992.

Over the years, church parishes were carved out of the huge parochial territory of St. Joseph in Gretna making it the “Mother Church” of fourteen parishes on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, stretching as far as Grand Isle.

St. Joseph Parish grew and at a cost of $25,000, a second church, a brick Gothic structure with a tall spire was dedicated in 1910. The 1915 hurricane struck hard and after repairs allowed for some usage, the building was finally demolished.

In 1926 the cornerstone for the third, present church was laid, an impressive Spanish Renaissance type building dedicated at Easter 1927. By the 1957 Centennial, the parish grounds were five times the original 1857 purchase and included classrooms and a gymnasium.

In World War II, the parish lost sixteen servicemen in whose honor the present two holy water fonts were dedicated. Stations of the Cross carved from one 18-ton block of Carrara marble were fitted into the arches above the French doors. Vatican II’s revised liturgical rites led to sanctuary and altar position changes.

With the arrival of Rev. Francis Carabello in 1980, major restorations in the church complex occurred including artistic designs in the sanctuary and church. By the 1990’s, the Holy Family Memorial Garden was created and the circa 1920 auditorium and 1958 gymnasium were renovated. In 2007, the sesquicentennial year, mosaics were added in the entrance foyer and a church plaza with a 14-foot granite cross and benches were installed.

In the 2013 Year of Family and Faith, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond proclaimed St. Joseph Church as a place of pilgrimage and the new title, “St. Joseph Church and Shrine on the West Bank” was designated.

St. Joseph Church in historic Gretna is a hidden gem in the New Orleans area that houses many historical churches. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and prepares one of the largest St. Joseph Day Altars in the state.

This beautiful old church continues to be a vital part of the community and the lives of its parishioners. It has been the source of Catholic life of past generations and for those yet to come. All are welcome at St. Joseph’s services and ministries.

Office
open are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. – noon

Church and Garden
open for prayer daily from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Weekend Masses
Saturday – 4 p.m. Vigil
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30. 11:30 am. & 6:30 p.m. (Haitian/Creole)

Daily Masses
Monday-Friday 12:10 p.m.
Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Mass & Novena
First Friday 8 a.m. Mass followed by Adoration until 12:10 p.m. Mass

PHOTOS