In 1944 there was no church in New Orleans East for practicing Catholics. The closest church that accepted people of color was St. Raymond Catholic Church 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 was operated by the Sisters of the Holy Family. They could worship, but it was not home. Several residents brought this to the attention of the pastor of St. Raymond; Rev. Edward V. Casserly, SSJ and he sent his assistant, Fr. Williams Dodd, SSJ, who had recently been ordained to visit this area and to minister to the faithful.
 

The first Mass celebrated in Gentilly;
which lead to the formation of the community of St. Paul,
took place on Sunday, October 15, 1944. 

Fr. Dodd and some faithful members met with city officials of the Housing Department to request permission to say Mass in Reynes Housing Project Hall, located on Reynes Street at Chef Menteur Highway. Thirty-five people attended the first Mass and Fr. Tony Keil preached the first homily. Within a short time, that number grew to 100 and the facility was no longer able to accomodate the faithful.

With encouragement from the people, Fr. Dodd contacted a government official in charge of surplus buildings at the Michoud Facility and bought one, which enabled them to build a church, rectory and school. After receiving permission from Archbishop Rummel, Fr. Dodd expressed his desire to aquire land owned by the Sisters of the Holy Family. The Sisters agreed to the sale, and thus a contractor and men and women of St. Paul immediately began reassembling the new building and were called "The St. Paul Willing Workers". 

On June 15, 1947, the official approval was given and Archbishop 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 organzations 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 until the church members were able to do so.

Sunday Mass resumed in the new church when repairs were completed. During the 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 and in September of 1947 the school opened for the first time with 153 students enrolled in grades 1-4. Each year for the next four years, another grade was added. Sr. Mary Louisette DeSalle, SSF was the schools first principal, with faculty members Sr. Innocente SSF and Sr. Damian SSF. In 1949 the first class graduated from St. Paul the Apostle School.

On Friday, July 17, 1953 a tornado destroyed the original church and the damage was estimated at $30,000. Before the storm, Fr. Dodd and the parishioners had already started making plans for a new church that would seat 400 people. Many people from all walks of life and many gifts surfaced to help St. Paul. They were builders, tradesmen; 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 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 passersby for donations. On June 12, 1954  the cornerstone was laid for the new church, and on December 19, 1954, it was dedicated by Archbishop Rummel.

Fr. Dodd was reassigned to Holy Redeemer Parish and on September 23, 1955 Fr. Henry Bouchie, who built the new school replaced him. The new school and rectory were dedicated on March 5, 1961.

On September 27, 1980, Archbishop Hannan announced the appointment of Fr. Richard Sadlier, SSJ as pastor and here began one of the most important eras of invigorating life at St. Paul. Fr. Sadlier inspired heightened faith awareness, youthfulness and increased involvment of the laity. Within a short period of time a youth choir was formed.

During Fr. Sadliers' tenure, 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. Ministries and prayer groups expanded to include a cross section of the parish, and others were created: a newsletter, the Liturgy Committee, a Saturday Morning Prayer Meeting, a building maintenance and beautification organization. The Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary and Junior Courts, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Boys Scouts of America were also introduced.  In 1985 St. Paul's school also saw its first lay Principal in Ms. Grace Guillory, followed by Mrs. Peggy Labat in 1986. On May 17, 1986 Irvin Davis, a student of St. Paul and resident of Lafon Boys Home, was ordained a priest here in New Orleans. Also during Fr. Sadlier's, Daniel P. Vicent became a candidate for the Archdiocese Permanent Diaconate. He was ordained in December 1989 and became the Director of the Office of Black Catholic Studies that same year. 

In September of 1986