At 300, St. Charles Borromeo is marking history

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

If this were an “answer” on Catholic Jeopardy, it’s safe to assume not many in the Archdiocese of New Orleans would be able to come up with the correct “question.”

Under “Catholic Parish Trivia,” the answer would read: “This parish, the second-oldest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, will turn 300 years old in November 2023.”

The correct question: “What is St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Destrehan?”

“When we tell people we are 300 years old, we get expressions like, ‘Just wow! I didn’t know that!’” said Father Dominic “Mixie” Arcuri, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo. “There’s just not a whole lot of people who know that.”

Second oldest to cathedral

Just about everyone knows that there has been a Catholic church in New Orleans since 1718 on the site of St. Louis Cathedral, steps away from the Mississippi River.

Not many realize that in 1723, a small chapel was built by settlers on the German Coast on the west bank of the Mississippi 25 miles upriver from New Orleans. Father Philibert de Viauden, one of four French Capuchin priests, was given charge of the sprawling ecclesiastical region that stretched north to Point Coupee.

The initial German settlers were members of John Law’s colony, established under French rule, who were attracted by Law’s promises of fertile and mineral-rich lands in Louisiana. The area was known as the German Coast or Les Allemands-aux Allemands, Cote des Allemands or LaCosta de Las Alemanes.

The German Coast

Proof that a chapel existed was described in the 1724 census as St. Jean des Allemands (St. John of the Germans). That chapel lasted only a short time, and in 1730, German settlers began to move across the river and join the French settlers already living on the east bank.

In 1740, a new St. Jean des Allemands Catholic Chapel – constructed of logs – was established in Destrehan, along with a Catholic cemetery. Church records indicate it was not until 1748 that the Church of the Germans was referred to as St. Charles Borromeo. Residents from both sides of the river assembled there for services.

‘Little Red Church’

That chapel burned in 1806 and was replaced by a wood-framed church, painted red, that became a Mississippi River landmark and was known as the “Little Red Church.” Tales are told that river pilots paid their crews when their vessels passed the distinctive Little Red Church.

A new church replacing the termite-ridden red church was dedicated in 1921 by Archbishop John W. Shaw. It was expanded in 1978, with the walls of the new expansion constructed from the old church pews. A marble altar rested on a massive tree trunk, shipped from Ortesi, Italy, which was believed to be 400 years old, dating back to the time and locale of St. Charles Borromeo.

The St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery is the oldest existing cemetery of the Germans in the South. The first recorded burial was 1739. The original cemetery now lies in the river, which was a common fate for old cemeteries when new levees had to be constructed.

Nov. 4 Tricentennial Mass

Father Arcuri said the yearlong 300th anniversary celebration – which began last November with a parish Mass – will culminate with a Tricentennial Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 4:30 p.m.

Other events, such as historical lectures, an artifact exhibit during the parish fair, dedications of a new chandelier and a historical plaque at the church and cemetery tours are being planned.

The parish also has commissioned a 300th anniversary history book and will place tricentennial banners on light poles lining River Road.

Father Arcuri said planning committees have tapped into a well of excitement among the parish’s 2,000-plus registered families.

“This has given people a deeper appreciation to God that we’ve survived 300 years, and that’s a humble, proud feeling of being a part of this,” Father Arcuri said. “We are the most current version of the people who are going to keep this parish going forward. We’ve got a great faith community, and our parishioners take ownership of this parish because they are so proud of it and what we do through our work in trying to take care of each other. We have so many ministries that go out to people in need.”

St. Charles Borromeo School also recently gained national recognition as a Cognia School of Excellence.

“That is a very rare recognition, and we’re very proud of that,” Father Arcuri said.

For more information on 300th anniversary celebrations, go to www.scblittleredchurch.org.

[email protected]