Built 1860 NRHP Reference # 71000361 Opened 1860 Added to NRHP 12 August 1971 | Architect Unknown Designated NHL May 30, 1974 Phone +1 504-522-6748 | |
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Location Corner of Constance and Josephine
New Orleans, LA 70130 Architectural style Baroque Revival, Late Victorian Address 923 Josephine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA Similar St Alphonsus Church, St Patrick's Church, Immaculate Conception Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, St Augustine Church | ||
St. Mary's Assumption Church is a National Historic Landmark church at Constance and Josephine Streets in New Orleans, Louisiana. The church was completed in 1860, built for the swelling German Catholic immigrant population in the Lower Garden District section of the city (the church across the street, Saint Alphonsus Church, was built at the same time for the swelling Irish Catholic immigrant population in the same area). Both churches are extremely beautiful and ornate.
Description
St. Mary's Assumption is home to a shrine and museum for Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, a German priest who came to the United States to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Fr. Seelos died while serving as the pastor at St. Mary's Assumption: after visiting and caring for the victims of yellow fever, he succumbed to the disease himself in 1867. In recognition of his virtuous life, Fr. Seelos was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 2000.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974, significant as a rare and elaborate example German Baroque Revival architecture.
In 1965, the church was heavily damaged by Hurricane Betsy, which resulted in the church being temporarily closed, and almost resulted in the church being demolished. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused heavy rain and wind damage, and water infiltration damaged interior plaster and ceiling, according to the National Park Service.
Best-selling novelist Anne Rice renewed her marriage vows at St. Mary's Assumption with her husband Stan. In addition, Anne Rice included the church in her fictional work. For example, in The Witching Hour, two of the main characters, Rowan and Michael, were married at St. Mary's Assumption. Also, in Blackwood Farm, the church is the setting of Aunt Queen's funeral. In 2005, Rice added text and pictures on her website that encouraged donations to St. Mary's Assumption to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.