Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel (New Orleans)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel is a Roman Catholic church located on Rampart Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The back of the church is bordered by Basin Street.
Description
The church was built in 1826 as the "Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua" (a.k.a. the Mortuary Chapel) to serve as a burial church for victims of yellow fever. It was erected close to St. Louis Cemeteries #1 and #2, the primary Catholic cemeteries at the time (St. Louis Cemetery #1 is located directly behind the church, right across Basin Street).
The church building is the oldest surviving church building in New Orleans (all the older churches have since been rebuilt).
Since 1918, the church has been named Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel and has been staffed by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
In the 1930s, parishioners praying to Saint Jude had their prayers answered, which resulted in a tradition of regular novenas to Saint Jude (that continues today) and the erection of a shrine to Saint Jude (which is still maintained today).
The St. Jude Shrine is located in the area to the left of the altar, and it includes a relic of St. Jude.
The church has hosted a series of "jazz" Masses.
The statue of Saint Expedite is also visited by Catholics, as well as some local followers of Voodoo.
The church grounds also feature a Marian grotto, located between the church and the adjacent rectory.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Our Lady of Guadalupe, New Orleans. |
- The history section of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel's website
- http://www.neworleanschurches.com/olguadalupe/olguaralupe.htm
