St. Theresa of Avila Church, New Orleans

Established in 1848 by the Sisters of Charity, this church stood among the first ten Catholic parishes in New Orleans. Originally, it served the Irish and German community throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century. In response to shifting demographics, the parish extended its outreach to the Hispanic community, conducting Mass in Spanish since 1969.

Over its long history, parishioners faced various challenges, including yellow fever outbreaks and the upheaval of the Civil War in its initial five decades. In more recent times, the parish confronted the impacts of a global pandemic, financial debt, evolving neighborhood dynamics, and the growing threat of severe hurricanes. As of October 2023, the church was announced to be closing, with its parish set to merge with two nearby parishes.