In 1944 there was not a Church in New Orleans East for practicing Catholics. The closest Church that accepted people of color was St. Raymond Catholic Church located on Paris Avenue. It was a long and dusty journey to attend Mass on Sundays. For those practicing Catholics who lived near or adjacent to U.S. highway 90, Mass could be attended at the Lafon Boys Home that the Sisters of the Holy Family operated. They could worship but not call it home. Among Catholics, a need existed for a Catholic Church for the people living in this area of New Orleans. Several residents brought this to the attention of the pastor of St.
Raymond's. The pastor, Rev. Edward V. Casserly SSJ, sent his assistant, Father William Dodd SSJ, who had recently been ordained to visit this area and to minister to the faithful.
The first Mass celebrated in Gentilly, which would lead to the formation of the community of St. Paul's took place on Sunday, October 15, 1944. The Archbishop of New Orleans, the Most Rev. Joseph F. Rummel, and the Josephite Superior General, the Very Rev. Thomas V. McNamara assigned Father William Dodd to take care of the religious needs of the people surrounding the Gentilly Highway.
Father Dodd and some faithful members met with city officials of the Housing Department to request permission to say Mass in Reyes Housing Project Hall, which was located on Reyes Street at Chef Menteur Highway. Thirty-five persons attended the first Mass and Father Tony Keil preached the first homily. Within a short time that number grew to 100 and the facility was no longer able to accommodate the faithful.
The people encouraged Father Dodd to establish a chapel or church on the highway. Father Dodd contacted a government official in charge of surplus building at the Michoud Facility and bought a surplus building, which enabled the building of a church, rectory, and school. Father Dodd went to Archbishop Rummel to ask for permission to build the chapel. After the Archbishop gave him permission, Father Dodd told him the site he wanted was owned by the Sisters of the Holy Family. The Sisters agreed to let the Archdiocese purchase their land on Chef Menteur Highway. Upon arrival of the building, a contractor and the men and women of St. Paul immediately began as the "St. Paul Willing Workers" to reassemble the new building into St. Paul Catholic Church and rectory.
On June 15, 1947, the official approval was given, and Archbishop Francis Rummel dedicated the church to the service of God and the salvation of souls. A solemn high Mass with the Superior General of the Josephites as the celebrant followed the dedication. The first parish organizations established were St. Paul Willing Workers, Holy Name Society, and the Ladies Sodality. On July 17,1947, a tornado severely damaged the new church and rectory. Once more the Sisters of the Holy Family came to the aid of Fr. Dodd by providing food and lodging util the church members were able to provide for him.
Sunday Mass resumed in the new church building when repairs were completed. During that summer of 1947, Fr. Dodd with the help of the members of St. Paul built a structure that could serve as a school. Fr. Dodd asked the Superior General of the Sisters of the Holy Family, Mother Mary Philip Goodman, for three sisters to operate the school. She granted his request.
In September 1947 school opened for the first time with 153 students enrolled in grades first through fourth. Each year for the next four years another grade was added. The first principal of the school was Sr. Mary Louisette DeSalle S.S.F. Faculty members were Sr. Innocent S.S.F and Sr. Damian S.S.F. In 1949 the first class graduated from St. Paul's.
On Friday, July 17, 1953 a tornado destroyed the original church. The damage was estimated at $30,000.00. Before the storm Fr. Dodd and the parishioners had already started making plans for a new church that would seat 400 persons. Many people from all walks of life and many gifts surfaced to help St. Paul. They were builders, tradesman; Catholics and non-Catholics shared in the dream of the St. Paul community and donations came from across the nation. A total of $125,000.00 was raised for the church. The most notable fundraiser was Theresa Darby Progress who stood on the highway with a box asking the sightseers and passer-by for donations. On June 12, 1954, the cornerstone was laid for the new church, and on December 19, 1954, archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel dedicated the new St. Paul the Apostle Church.
Father Dodd was reassigned to Holy Redeemer Parish on September 23, 1955. Fr. Henry Bouchie who built the new school replaced him. On March 5, 1961, the new school and rectory were dedicated.
On September 27, 1980 Archbishop Hannan announced the appointment of Fr. Richard Richard Sadlier, S.S.J. as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Here began on of the most important eras of invigoration life at St. Paul's. Fr. Sadlier inspired heightened faith awareness, youthfulness and increased involvement of the laity. Within a short period of time a youth choir was formed.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans introduced the RENEW program to the parish. The goals of the RENEW process were: to teach and witness to the word of God, to develop vibrant faith communities and to establish formation and action in social justice. As a result of RENEW ministries and prayer groups expanded to include a cross section of the parish as never before. A parish newsletter was created, a liturgy committee was formed, a Saturday morning prayer meeting was established, building maintenance and beautification was organized. The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, a Junior council and Junior Daughter Court, The St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Boy Scouts of America (Troop 145) were all established. The first lay principal, Grace Guillory was hired in the school year of 1985. Peggy Labat became the principal the second year and served for 11 years. On May 17, 1986, Irvin Davis, a student of St. Paul's School and resident of Lafon Boys home was ordained a priest here in New Orleans. Also, during Fr. Sadlier's tenure was then candidacy of Daniel P. Vincent for the Archdiocesan Permanent Diaconate. He was ordained a permanent Deacon in December 1989 and became the Director of the Office of Black Catholic Studies that same year.
In September of 1986 the declining number of Josephite priests caused them to reduce the number of parochial commitments in the apostolate throughout the country. Archbishop Phillip M. Hannon invited The Society of the Divine Word to care for the St. Paul community. Fr. Charles Boykins became St. Paul's first S.V.D. (Societas Verbi Divini) and first Black Pastor.
Under Fr. Boykins tenure, in keeping with the S.V.D. charisma of enabling the laity, a systematic approach to Religious Education was adopted for the parish and school in accordance with Archdiocesan Catechetical Guide, "Giving Light to the Message." Claire Winder was named Director of Religious Education for the parish and school. The Rite Christian Initiation for Adults was initiated, and the first parish council was created. An election was held and Norman R. Smith was elected President, Joseph Smith Vice-president and Lordeas Nix secretary.
In February 1988 Fr. Boykins was elected the provincial of the Southern province of the S.V.D. and Fr. Michael Fritzen S.V.D. became pastor Fr. Fritzen hired St. Paul's first lay minister, Claire Winder as Director of Ministries. In July 1996 Fr. William Feldner S.V.D. became pastor.
Fr. Bill served St. Paul for nine months. He developed the Finance Committee and initiated the Capital Fund Campaign to raise funds to finance the major improvements and renovations of the church and school.
In March of 1997, Fr. Alvin Dixon S.V.D. was appointed pastor and he provided leadership and guidance for St. Paul's 50th Jubilee Celebration.
In 1999 Fr. Bernard Kwame Assenyoh S.V.D., became St. Paul's first African Priest. Under his leadership, additional ministries were developed. To help the church claim its identity, a mission statement, parish goals and objectives were adopted. Neighboring properties were purchased to aid in the expansion of the church. The church windows were replaced with stained glass windows depicting African symbols of spirituality. In July 2005 Fr. Gus Wall S.V.D. was appointed as Pastor. Fr. Bernard was then appointed pastor of Holy Ghost in Opelousas.
August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and St. Paul's parish and community. At the request of Fr. Bernard his provincial reassigned him to St. Paul to serve the community by initiating the recovery and rebuilding process. Fr. Gus was assigned to Holy Ghost. Fr. Bernard celebrated the first post-Katrina Mass on November 13, 2005, in the school's gutted and unheated cafeteria to more than 50 parishioners. Fr. Bernard solicited help from sister parishes in the United States to assist in the rebuilding of St. Paul. After several months of renovations, a Mass of Rededication was celebrated at St. Paul on July 22, 2006. During the leadership of Fr. Bernard two women said yes to religious life, Sr. Janette Truitt and Sr. Sandra Helton and two men, Deacon Graylin Miller and Deacon Royal Shelton answered the call to the Diaconate.
In August 2006, Fr. Alfred Ayem S.V.D. became pastor of St. Paul. While living in a FEMA trailer Fr. Alfred supervised the completions of the projects that were undertaken because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Fr. Alfred reinstated the weekday morning, Saturday 4:00 pm Vigil and Sunday 8:00 am Masses.
In August 2015 Fr. Arockiam Arockiam S.V.D. became pastor of St. Paul and it's first Priest from India. During his time, the abandoned school building was renovated and leased to Catholic Charities to run their Heard Start Program. One of the outreach programs Fr. Arockiam instituted is the Small Christian Communities. The families were divided into 24 groups and met in groups twice a year for prayer and sharing. This was designed to help parishioners get to know one another.
In January 2021, Fr. Charles Ndumbi S.V.D became pastor of St. Paul. He continues to guide the church through its 75th anniversary and building campaign. St. Paul, through the dedication and perseverance of the parishioners, pastors, and religious leaders continues to survive and remain a vital part of New Orleans East.