St. Mary of the Angels’ center opening in July

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A part of town that was severely flooded by waters from Hurricane Katrina – the 9th Ward – is witnessing signs of renewal. Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation has committed to building 150 affordable, energy-efficient houses; an elementary school is under construction; and FEMA is funding a community center now being carved from the former St. Mary of the Angels Catholic School on North Miro Street.

Franciscan Father Dennis Bosse, pastor of St. Mary of the Angels, said community meetings were held at the nearby Bunny Friend Playground and the idea of a community center arose as a way to make the area better.

Fr. Bart got ball rolling

“It started with Father Bart (Pax) initially trying to reopen the school, but the demographics (of the neighborhood) had changed (after Hurricane Katrina), and he pushed for a community center,” Father Bosse said. “Father Bart was laying the groundwork for many things.”

The community center will be completed in phases, Father Bosse said. FEMA has approved the first phase – the renovation of the first floor of the school building, the gym, kitchen and cafeteria at a construction cost of $2.75 million.

Construction began in September for Phase I, which includes removing asbestos, and adding all new plumbing, electrical systems, air conditioning and heating units that were destroyed by the 3 1/2 feet of water that flowed into the raised school building, said architect Alan Antoine of Antoine Architects in Covington. Icon Construction Group is the general contractor.

Keeping the weather out

Antoine said the exterior will retain its look, but the goal was to make it water-tight. This entailed replacing broken windows, refinishing metal window frames and cleaning, repairing and sealing all brick masonry. The existing wood floor of the gym was destroyed by water and is being replaced with a new concrete topping and vinyl flooring with basketball markings inlaid in the floor, Antoine said. New kitchen equipment also is being installed.

Because the school building is raised four feet off the ground, a ramp and two chairlifts will be added to made it ADA accessible. Bathrooms also were enlarged and refitted to meet ADA requirements. Antoine was delighted that he was able to reuse existing marble partitions in the bathrooms.

Another interesting part of the project for Antoine was restoring the terrazzo flooring in the main lobby to its original condition “to retain the historic fabric of the building.”

 Once Phase I is completed in July, Catholic Charities will open a Head Start program on the first floor, Father Bosse said.

Phase II, now in the design phase, is projected to cost $1.6 million, Antoine said. It will entail renovating the second floor of the school building for community meeting space, and site improvements including resurfacing of the parking lot and driveways in front of the building, new perimeter fencing, new exterior lighting and an elevator. New electrical systems, sprinkler system, new finishes and other modifications and renovated toilet facilities are also included.

“If you make it a community center, you have to make it accessible to everyone,” Father Bosse said.

He’s hoping community organizations such as the YMCA will rent space to offer computer classes and other adult enrichment and outreach programs.

The school building renovation is considered an alternate project by FEMA, said Jeff Entwisle, chief operating officer for archdiocese’s Department of Financial and Administrative Services. All funding is coming from St. Mary of the Angels’ project worksheets.“We are working to keep the budget under $5 million for the entire project,” Entwisle said.

Time for revival

Father Bosse has been pastor for only a year, but he said he’s been working to rebuild the parish with a multitude of activities for all ages and interests.

The parish, founded in 1925, has become multi-cultural over the years, he said. With a majority African-American congregation, St. Mary of the Angels proudly celebrates black history month and honors its elders. Currently, 260 families are registered, and St. Mary of the Angels has a 20-strong Gospel choir on Sundays.

“We have wonderful people at St. Mary of the Angels,” Father Bosse said. “They are hospitable, faith-oriented, community-minded, prayerful and fun. They love their parish and are very committed to it.”

Even those who were forced to move to other areas of the city or another state after their homes near St. Mary’s flooded return for Mass and bury their loved ones using the church to celebrate the funeral.

He sees the community center as a positive catalyst for the parish – offering much-needed space to hold fundraisers, meetings, wedding receptions, youth and teen education programs – and recreational opportunities for people in the surrounding neighborhood. Possible uses for the center are continually developing, he said.

“Since the storm, there has been a gradual increase in former parishioners and new parishioners,” he said. “Our goal is to offer more opportunities for educational and social gatherings.”

Father Bosse said before Hurricane Katrina, Catholic Charities had a bustling site offering adult social services at the former convent on parish property. It hasn’t reopened. His expectation is that the center will fill the void.

“Once it’s finished, it will be a natural magnet for people to come and see what’s offered,” Father Bosse said. “Our parish is excited about it. More healing is taking place with the school building reopening.”

            Christine Bordelon can be reached at [email protected].