A Parish on Short Street Since 1869
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church sits in Rivertown, the historic district along the Mississippi River in Kenner, Louisiana, where it has served Catholic families since 1869. Now well into its second century, the parish is known for its deep Eucharistic devotion, its everyday rhythm of Mass and confession, and a procession through Kenner's streets each fall that dates back more than a century. A parish school shares the campus under the same name, and a robust slate of ministries, prayer groups, and service organizations makes room for nearly every age and interest.
The parish is pastored by Rev. Fr. Charles Dussouy, with Deacon Greg Gross assisting at Mass. The staff also includes Pastoral Assistant Gina Radecker, Office Manager Kasey Williams, Faith Formation director Jared Croal (who also serves as Music Director), and School Leader Jacob Owens. The parish office is at 1912 Short Street, and the parish office phone is 504-464-0361.
Sunday Masses, Daily Masses, and the Latin Mass
The Mass schedule is built around the working week and the weekend. Saturday Vigil Mass is offered at 4:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., with the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass offered in the Traditional Latin form. Weekday Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 6:00 p.m. First Friday Mass is offered at 6:00 p.m., and First Saturday Mass is offered at 9:00 a.m.
Confession is heard Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., on Sundays for thirty minutes before each Mass and from 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., and on weekdays from 5:00 p.m. to 5:50 p.m., with appointments available on request. Mass intentions may be requested for the living or the deceased, in thanksgiving, or for an intention fitting to the Eucharistic celebration, with a $5.00 donation per intention.
Permanent Adoration and a Calendar of Devotions
A Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel anchors the parish's life of prayer. The chapel has officially reopened, and parishioners are invited to sign up as committed adorers or substitutes through the parish office. A quiet lineup of devotional practices flows through the week. The Rosary is prayed before every Mass. The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena follows every Tuesday evening Mass, the Holy Face Oil Blessing follows the First Tuesday Mass, and the St. Philomena Devotion, including veneration of the saint's relic and anointing with St. Philomena oil, follows the First Thursday Mass.
The parish also keeps the older Catholic observances of the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Five First Saturdays Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with Confessions heard before the First Saturday 9:00 a.m. Mass and the Rosary recited immediately afterward. The Holy Face Devotion is prayed on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:15 p.m. and before the Sunday 7:30 a.m. Mass, and parishioners can enroll in the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face through the parish. On Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, the parish gathers for confessions throughout the day, adoration starting at 2:30 p.m., the Chaplet of Divine Mercy recited at 2:30 p.m., and a 3:00 p.m. Mass.
The St. Rosalie Procession: A Kenner Tradition Since 1900
Each year the parish keeps the memory of St. Rosalie, patroness of Palermo and patron saint of Kenner. The St. Rosalie Society organizes a Solemn Mass, Procession, and Festival in her honor. The roots go back to 1899, when an anthrax plague threatened the cattle and mules on which many Kenner families depended. With many older residents of Sicilian and Italian descent, the community turned to St. Rosalie and pledged to honor her if the plague stopped. The first procession took place on September 9, 1900, led by Rev. Laval, vicar general.
Each year since, members of the St. Rosalie Society, parishioners, and friends have marched through Kenner's streets carrying banners and a statue of their patroness, many walking in stocking feet with a lighted candle in one hand and rosary beads in the other. The annual Mass is celebrated at 3:00 p.m., with the procession immediately following, and the festival runs into the evening at the Ground Pati Barn on Williams Boulevard. The parish also celebrates a yearly St. Joseph Altar in the Sicilian tradition, recalling the feast that arose from a Sicilian drought and the rain that followed.
Faith Formation for Every Age
The parish's faith formation program begins in childhood and continues through the adult years. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) offers religious education for children, with online registration and fees scaled by family. Children's Church is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month at the 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Yenni Room, where younger children follow a liturgy suited to them while their parents attend Mass; registration is preferred and walk-ins are welcome.
For adults considering entering the Church or completing their initiation, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) meets in small groups beginning each October, with sessions focused on the teachings of the Church and preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter. Bible Study is offered in two tracks, Tuesday evenings with Gina Radecker and Thursday mornings with Jackie DiStefano. A free Latin class taught by parishioner Jolene Tyrolf meets on Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the LaRose Center at 2008 Short Street, working through the prayers of the Church, the Vulgate Bible, and the Mass; no prior Latin experience is needed.
Prayer Groups and Lay Societies
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is home to a remarkable number of prayer groups and lay societies. The Catholic Men of Christ prayer group meets every Thursday after the 6:00 p.m. Mass to support one another on the spiritual journey. The Daughters of the King is a charismatic prayer group that meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for praise and worship.
The Pro Pace Prayer Group, whose name means "peace" in Latin, prays for the souls of priests in Purgatory, with members attending holy Mass on a unique day each week and offering their Communion and personal intention for that intention. The Holy Face Prayer Group gathers around the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. The Seven Sisters Apostolate ensures that a Holy Hour is prayed each day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop, supported by the Fasting Brothers, a group of men offering various forms of fasting to augment those prayer efforts. The Missionaries of St. Therese, Prayer Circle #68, meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Among the parish's service societies, the Knights of Columbus Council is chartered at the parish. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, one of the oldest Catholic women's organizations in the Americas, pursues its motto of "Unity and Charity." The Holy Name Society brings together men who have taken a solemn vow to promote reverence for the name of Jesus and to avoid blasphemy. The Garden Club cares for the church grounds, and the Altar Society keeps the church beautiful and clean. The Sacred Heart Enthronement ministry offers home enthronements throughout the year, with families preparing through a novena and readings and inviting a priest to preside.
Sacraments and Sacramental Life
The parish prepares members for each of the seven sacraments. Parents preparing for a child's baptism attend a baptismal seminar and submit a Baptism Registration Form, Parent Testimonial, and a Godparent Testimonial for each godparent, along with the child's birth certificate. Reconciliation is offered at the regular confession times. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's CCD program, with Confirmation paperwork and registration available online.
Couples preparing for marriage are asked to make arrangements at least eight months in advance and to complete the parish's Marriage Preparation Program; prenuptial inquiry and wedding music forms are available on the parish site. The parish supports those discerning a call to the priesthood or permanent diaconate and points to the Archdiocesan Vocations Office for further discernment. The Anointing of the Sick is available to Catholics who are seriously ill, preparing for major surgery, suffering from the frailty of old age, or facing a serious decline in health; the parish asks that families not wait until the last moments of life to request the sacrament. Funeral Masses are coordinated through the parish office, with families selecting readings from those approved for either ordinary time or Easter time, and music chosen with the parish Music Director.
Reaching Out: Food Pantry, Ministry of Hope, and Evangelization
The Food Pantry opens every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., when volunteers prepare groceries for neighbors in the surrounding community. Current requests include healthy cereals, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, canned tuna, ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, rice, and pasta. Monetary donations may be made through the Poor Box in church or through online giving to the Ministry of the Poor fund. The Ministry of Hope provides help with emergency utility assistance to those in need.
The Evangelization Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. to distribute books, CDs, pamphlets, and social media content that explains the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Disabilities Advocate works with the pastor to identify obstacles and promote the full participation of people with disabilities in parish life, and a cry room is available during Mass for families with young children.
Christ on the River: Adoration for Young Adults
The OLPH Young Adult Ministry hosts "Christ on the River: Adoration for Young Adults" each month, with a talk from a clergy member, Eucharistic Adoration, and time for dinner together afterward. The group keeps a GroupMe chat for monthly updates and points members to the wider archdiocesan young adult mailing list. The parish also supports occasional community events such as free swing dancing lessons on Friday evenings and seasonal Advent and Lenten mission talks, which are recorded and posted on the parish site for those who cannot attend.
Visiting Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The parish office at 1912 Short Street, Kenner, Louisiana 70062, is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and closed on weekends. Visitors attending Mass for the first time are asked to dress modestly and respectfully out of reverence for the sacred Liturgy. The parish parking lot sits between 2008 Short Street and 1912 Short Street. The school shares the parish name and is led by Jacob Owens. Giving to the parish is accepted in the collection basket at Mass or through the parish's online giving platform, and contributions can be recorded for tax purposes through contribution envelopes available from the parish office. Eucharistic Adoration is open in the reopened chapel, and the parish welcomes new adorers to sign up.