St. Ann Shrine shines after recent renovation

One hundred years of moisture, exposure to the elements and termites caused extensive damage to the large wooden crucifix and the exterior paint at the original St. Ann Shrine at 2101 Ursulines Ave. in New Orleans. 

Volunteers who work tirelessly to protect and keep the shrine open have spent the last three years – off and on – doing renovations.

They have replaced the 15-foot-tall cross, repaired the 6-foot crucified body of Christ on that cross, repainted the exterior of the 35-foot-tall grotto and its interior walls a gray color to resemble stone, did yard work and restored and painted statues, including several that were in storage at the site. 

“We want people to come back,” said volunteer Jackie Gibson, who is part of a committee that maintains the oasis in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood. 


The committee prays for a good turnout at the annual St. Ann Feast Day rosary, Mass and novena July 26 beginning at 8 a.m. at the shrine. This year will be a three-day celebration with the shrine open July 26 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and July 27-28, 9 a.m. to noon.
“When you walk through those gates, you feel that peace come over you,” volunteer Debra Poland said. 

Donations of time, talent
The shrine is under the auspices of St. Peter Claver Parish nearby. Gibson and Poland are core committee members along with construction coordinator Royal Benetrix, John Bernard, Annie Chiasson, Crystal Lawrence, Karen Legoin, Jeffery and Joseph Mirabin, Cynthia Chiasson and Dennis Dillenkoffer.

“If it wasn’t for this group here, it would be hard to have this open, because it is hard to get additional volunteers to come,” Gibson said.

When the shrine repairs were in progress, Stella Chase of Dooky Chase’s restaurant noticed the condition of the cross when it was taken down and donated $4,000 to replace it with galvanized steel covered with one-inch cypress boards, Gibson said. 

More than 40 volunteers and groups such as Boy Scout Troop 185 and students from Catholic high schools have participated in clean up days to beautify the shrine. The volunteers said they kept the shrine open during the majority of the pandemic.

“People just need prayer,” said volunteer John Bernard, who attended the former St. Peter Claver School. “They come here for all kinds of reasons. The stories they tell you, you know that they receive blessings.”

“It’s special when you think about the mother of Our Lady and the grandmother of our Lord,” Benetrix said. “We are passing this on to the kids who visit here.”

Members hope to soon raise enough money to buy an awning to cover the exposed crucifix at the top of the stairs; to repaint the 14 Stations of the Cross (where people crawl on their knees up stairs to venerate the cross); and to replace windows, the wooden stairs and floors that are termite-damaged inside the grotto. 

The committee also seeks a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to put in the small room at the bottom of the stairs that contains framed holy pictures and saint statues.

“There’s still work to be done,” Benetrix said. “We are looking for a carpenter and donations to complete and maintain the shrine.”

The shrine has a gift shop selling rosary beads, candles, medals and bracelets among other small items and is illuminated at night. It is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. A St. Ann novena is held every Tuesday at 10 a.m. For details, call (504) 351-3423.

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