Tourist Attractions : Best Religious Places In New Orleans
New Orleans is home to many places of worship. Each has a different history that tells the story of New Orleans.
New Orleans offers a variety of spiritual experiences. There are many places of worship, both old and new.
It is particularly true for the many beautiful churches in the city, which are rooted deep into a culture and beauty of old. All of them are symbols of a once great city.
A pilgrimage can be a great way to strengthen and increase faith and hope.
Louisiana at the mouth the Mississippi River is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in the United States.
New Orleans is much more than Bourbon Street at Mardi Gras or Saints Football. New Orleans has a rich Catholic heritage, and there are many wonderful pilgrimage sites.
New Orleans is home to beautiful churches. This city has a unique atmosphere and is one of America’s most popular tourist destinations.
Here’s a list of 6 beautiful churches which you must visit in New Orleans.
St. Augustine Church # 1
St. Augustine Church in New Orleans is a Catholic Parish. It is the oldest Black Catholic church in the United States. It is one of 26 sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.
This Gothic Revival Church, located in the Treme area, was founded in 1841 by people of color who were free from slavery.
It is known as the first black Catholic Parish to welcome Creoles, emigrants of St Domingue and free people of colour, who at that time were not allowed in other churches in New Orleans.
Civil Rights activists Homer Plessy, A.P. Tureaud was a parishioner of St. Augustine as were jazz musician Sidney Bechet, and Mardi Gras Indian chief Tootie Montano.
The church was an integrated congregation at the time of its founding, but racial tensions began to emerge during the 1920s segregation period.
Kodi says that this led to some issues in the church as black parishioners weren’t always welcome. The congregation was split into two groups when this happened. A white church and a a black one.
St. Louis Cathedral # 2
Since nearly 300 years, the three-spired, impressive cathedral is one of New Orleans’ most prominent symbols. It is the oldest Catholic Cathedral in continuous operation in the United States.
The church was dedicated to King Louis IX in 1718, who is the only French monarch to have been declared a saint. The original building stood over 70 years until it was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1788.
It is now the mother church of New Orleans’ Archdiocese. The cathedral is one of the world’s most beautiful Roman Catholic churches, with its magnificent stained-glass windows and murals.
Visitors of all religions can enjoy a visit to a church as a spiritual experience. The spires look especially impressive at night, when they are lit by floodlights.
Old Ursuline Convent Museum # 3
The Old Ursuline Convent Museum forms part of the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center. Ursuline Convent was a group of historic Ursuline Convents located in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Old Ursuline Convent, built in 1752, is the oldest structure along the Mississippi River Valley. It was completed in 1752 and is the oldest example of French colonial architecture in the United States.
Ignace Franois Broutin designed the first building in New Orleans for the Ursuline Nuns when they arrived at the city in 1727, on the request of Governor Etienne Périer.
Michael Zeringue, the King’s Carpenter from Franconia in Bavaria (and the progenitor for all “Zeringue families” in Louisiana) was the builder. Construction, planning, and collecting materials took many years. The building was completed in 1733.
The Archbishop Antoine Blanc memorial complex, also known as the Old Ursuline Convent, houses the Archdiocesan Archives. The building is referred to as “treasure” of the archdiocese.
The tour begins at the Chartres Street Gatehouse, and continues through the manicured formal gardens. The original handcrafted cypress stairway is the first thing that catches the eye of visitors once they enter the main building. The main lodge contains dozens of oil painting of former archbishops and bishops as well as religious statues and busts.
The smaller rooms remind visitors that the building has served many purposes over the years, including as a convent and orphanage. It was also used as a temporary hospital, and then a residence for local bishops. The 1970s saw a restoration of $3 million that restored the majority of the buildings.
A tranquil courtyard is located behind the main building. The visitor will find statues honoring the Ursuline Sisters founders, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, and Father Francis Xavier Seelos. This is a great place for reflection and prayer.
The herb garden behind the convent is also worth a visit.
Christ Church # 4
Christ Church, the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, was built in 1886. This is one of New Orleans’ most beautiful and historical churches. It is a must see when you visit.
Christ Church has a congregation that is made up of diverse people from all over the world. They are dedicated to community, global perspective and service their neighbors.
The church is welcoming with a vibrant Sunday School and a variety of music styles. Their testimonies are also strong. The church also has a beautiful book store, a reading room, and message-stone gardens at the back.
It is a very popular tourist attraction. This is a wonderful place to take your family. You can take a church tour.
Saint Roch, the Campo Santo # 5
St. Roch Chapel, a prominent place of worship in New Orleans that is designated as a historical landmark for its architecture and history, has been named a local historic landmark. It is a popular New Orleans pilgrimage site and is considered a healing place for the sick.
This chapel, along with its two cemeteries, was founded in 1875 by a priest as a gesture of gratitude towards St. Roch who had protected the people from the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1867.
Over the years the chapel has undergone many changes. The strange items offered here are crutches and prosthetics. There are also plaster casts of words of gratitude, tokens carved with words, and more.
The people who offer these items believe they were healed by the Saint.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church # 6
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and International Shrine of St. Jude, a Roman Catholic Church located in New Orleans (Louisiana), is situated on Rampart Street. The parish has a majority of African-Americans.
It is the oldest surviving Church which was never rebuilt. It has remained almost the same ever since its construction in 1827.
Originally, the church was intended to be a second Chapel for Yellow Fever victims. The church was built right next to the Saint Louis Cemetery, allowing easy access to mass graves and burials.
During the worst years of this epidemic, hundreds of thousands of corpses were transported through the church. The bodies were piled several feet high at one time just outside the church. Under the scorching sun, the heat caused the bodies to burst and fill the air with rotting corpse odors.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is holding the statue of Saint of Expedite. This controversial saint, not fully recognized by the Catholic church.
Catholics and Voodoo practitioners often visit the statue to pray urgent matters. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church now hosts a Gospel Jazz Mass every Sunday.
FAQs About New Orleans
What is unique about New Orleans?
New Orleans is known for its distinct music, Creole food, unique dialects, annual celebrations and festival, including Mardi Gras. The French Quarter is known for its French and Spanish creole architecture, as well as the vibrant nightlife on Bourbon Street.
What is New Orleans also known as?
The city is known by many nicknames. Some are more common, such as The Big Easy or Crescent City, while others you might have heard only once, such as The Paris of the South or Crawfish Town.