Saint Augustine Catholic Church

Oldest Black Catholic Church in America. Home parish of Louis Armstrong. Home parish of Blessed Henriette Delille, a free woman of color who devoted her life to aiding slaves, orphans, and the sick and elderly in New Orleans, and is currently on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. We were blessed to attend St Augustine for mass on Sunday of the Satchmo Festival (Louis Armstrong festival). It was packed!!! What a great celebration of God's grace, and Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. It was the Jazz mass and the energy was off the charts. Everyone was so welcoming! You could feel the love of the Treme community. The church has been out of commission since Hurricane Ida. But with a little more money and time, they should be back in the church soon! 💙 You can donate on their website!

What an impressive church! I am not religious myself, but have a high regard for those who are. This is listed on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail because of it's historical beginnings. It is the oldest church in Louisiana, during a period when Catholicism was the only allowed religion in Louisiana. From the beginning, people of color had to fight for space in religion and a Battle of the Pew was started. In the end, people of color owned three pews per one white pew and there were pews designated for the enslaved in the back. The day I went, a person of color was leading the service. There was a nice mix of white and people of color in the audience. The auditorium is closed for repairs right now. Everyone seemed accepting. The Tomb of the Unknown Slave is along the side of this church. It isn't as fancy as St Louis Cathedral. It is in the Treme and set away from the Quarter. They do have a parking lot in back.

We visited this historic church while we were at the Treme Festival. Be sure to make a donation when you go in which goes to help keep the church expenses down so they can keep it open. Lots of History here.

A very historic Catholic Church, Saint Augustine was founded by free blacks in 1841. The church is not outstanding in appearance and shows need of repair. Hurricane Ida damaged the cross on top and the roof. Services are currently being held in the hall due to the damage and the chapel not able to be entered. Hopefully this great historic church will be repaired soon.

A very humbling and important part of history

Came for the jazz mass experience and left with the spirit of community. What a wonderful community, welcoming all with warmth and hospitality. The catholic mass was beautifully celebrated.

Beautiful building with a lot of history. We went here on a bus tour of the city. The business was closed the day we were here, but the tour guide had only good things to say about the Sunday service.

Can't wait until it officially reopens. Still has hurricane damage but services are in the old school assembly room.