Our History

St. Catherine of Siena Parish holds the distinction of being the first parish church established in the Metairie area. In 1921, Archbishop John Shaw established St. Catherine of Siena as an independent parish with a chapel on Labarre Road and the Rev. James Furlong as Pastor. 

St. Catherine of Siena School is the parochial school of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. The school opened in 1926 and was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word from San Antonio, Texas. The Sisters were not new to the area as they were already teaching at St. Francis deSales School on Second Street in New Orleans , with a Provincial House on Prytania Street. 

The school opened for grades one through six with four teaching Sisters and an enrollment of approximately 120 students. Each year a grade was added, and the first class graduated on June 5, 1929, with fourteen students. The school population grew over the years until it reached its peak in 1960 with 1660 students and a staff that included 13 nuns and 19 lay teachers. 

The school consists of five separate buildings joined by covered walkways. The Msgr. Barrett Complex, which was dedicated in 1991, is home to our school's auditorium, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten classrooms. The Junior building, established in 1965, houses the Lower School, some middle school classrooms, and the school offices. The Senior building, built in 1957, has classroom facilities for grades 6 and 7, a large library, and one Pre-Kindergarten classroom. Between the Junior and Senior buildings is the building which is home to the cafeteria, gym (2nd floor), and two three year old classrooms. The Incarnate Word Building, completed in 1966 and recently renovated, houses a computer lab, a Pre-Kindergarten classroom, board room, first-aid room, and offices for the counselors. Major renovations were made in 2002-2003 to the school plant. There was an expansion of the cafeteria and a second floor addition, which provides a teachers’ lounge, an elevator, and direct access to the gym and Senior Building . In 2005, an art room and new computer room were added to the school building, and the office area was extended.

School Symbol

A modern fleur-de-lis depicts the French heritage of our city and the French origin of the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The three-pronged stem, which cradles the flame, the cross, and the circle, symbolizes our commitment to God, to our country, to our home, and to our school community. The darting tongue of fire issuing upward bears testimony to the spiritual and intellectual illumination imparted through education as well as the warmth and care extended in service. The flame also symbolizes the vitality and inspiration, which have guided St. Catherine of Siena school and parish for eighty consecutive years and which will continue to distinguish its service to God and people.