Church History - The Mission Years

Before the 20th Century | Mission Years | Early Parish Years

The Waiting Years | A Time of Rebirth | A Time of Renewal

THE MISSION YEARS

On May 1, 1923 the resolution was adapted by the Board of trustees of St. Joseph�s

Church in Gretna, and the new chapel was born at Ames Farms. Many French-speaking

and black families from the country were moving into the area looking for employment in

the factories that were springing up all along the river. They too became part of this

community which at this time changed its name to Amesville. The original frame building

with some additions remained the church for St. Joseph until 1978.�In 1924 the

Amesville Mission was officially included in the Parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in

Westwego. At the same time, the Mission of Immaculate Conception in Marrero became

a separate parish. More People moved into the area, the factories flourished up and

down the river but the area held on to its strong rural and small-town character.

Jefferson highway (which is now called Fourth Street) was the main street in town.

There was no Westbank Expressway at that time. Since the area was, and still is

unincorporated, physical improvements were slow in coming.

After 1936, five lots of property were purchased on Pine Street to build a new

school building. Previously, two rooms at the back of the church had been used for

the school. The new school building was dedicated in August of 1939. It was built at

a cost of seven-thousand-dollars with money donated by Johns-Manville and

Celotex Corporations.

Blacks Catholics who had moved from Vacherie, Edgard and other areas of St.

James Parish continued to invest themselves in the community. Because of segregation

(that means the separation of races), they were accustomed to sitting in only the last three

pews of the church. They had separate religion classes and they were not allowed to

participate in the mission school or any other church organizations or activities.

Blacks were only allowed to receive a Catholic education across the river in New

Orleans or at All Saints School in Algiers. Ironically, the first religious vocation from

St. Joseph in Amesville came among the black community. In September of 1942, a

young woman named Helen Cullier entered the Sisters of the Holy Family.

The Black community in Amesville felt that they needed a place to gather and celebrate

as Catholics as was the case with some of their Baptist neighbors and in many

communities in New Orleans. They also had the dream that one day they would build

their own church. In 1948 they began collecting nickels, dimes and quarters through

door-to door donations, and through suppers and dances to raise funds to make their

dreams come true.

In June of 1951 the Pastor, Monsignor Koenig purchased a lot at Ames Boulevard

and Field Street for eleven-thousand-dollars. This is where McDonald�s stands today.

The down payment of five-thousand-dollars came from money raised by black

Catholics since 1948. The first note of three-thousand-dollars was paid in 1952.