Before us stands the Transfiguration of The Lord Catholic Church. Its story is one of resilience and transformation. Originally it wasn’t always called that.
This building began its life as St Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church. It grew from humble beginnings. A small missionary chapel sat on land reclaimed from Lake Pontchartrain. This was during the 1930s WPA projects near the World War II airfield at Milneburg. As post-war development boomed in Gentilly and the Lakefront areas the congregation expanded. A larger church was built at Elysian Fields and Prentiss Avenues. Msgr Vernon Peter Aleman served as pastor during a period of significant growth. A school and convent for the Sisters of Christian Charity were constructed.
In the late 1950s a new church was built. That building is what we see today. St Raphael’s was a cornerstone of the Gentilly neighborhood. Then came Hurricane Katrina. The storm caused extensive damage. The parish merged with St Francis Xavier Cabrini and St Thomas the Apostle parishes. The combined parishes found a new home within the repaired and renovated St Raphael building. It was rededicated. This time however it was given a new name. A fitting name. The Transfiguration of The Lord Catholic Church.
Inside the church has undergone significant changes. The original interior is drastically different. The original St Raphael Church website remains online. It is a historical record. Photographs offer a glimpse into the past. They show the beauty and character lost to the hurricane and the renovations that followed. The Hammond RT-3 organ found its way from the first church to the second then to this one. Later an Allen digital organ replaced it. The current state of the church’s musical instruments is unknown.
This church stands as a symbol of faith and community. It endured a catastrophic hurricane. It adapted and thrived through merging with other parishes. The name Transfiguration is especially significant. It suggests rebirth and renewal. It symbolizes the church’s own transformation after the devastating storm. It is a testament to the unwavering spirit of its congregation. A church that has truly been transfigured.