Virtual events will help restore landmark St. Roch Chapel

Story by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald; photos courtesy of New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries
 

From Aug. 16-30, those who love New Orleans’ historic cemeteries will have an opportunity to support a local landmark by taking part in virtual events that will directly benefit the ongoing restoration of the 1876-built St. Roch Chapel, located in St. Roch Cemetery No. 1.

New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries is offering adults the option of doing a virtual 5K or 10K run/walk, while children ages 6-13 can sign up to complete a 1-mile-long virtual run/walk.

Joining in on the fun is easy: Participants and teams register online now through Aug. 15 at no charge and make a donation to New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries. Entrants then run/walk on their own, on the path of their choice, within the two-week timeframe, while practicing social distancing recommendations.

After completing their virtual race, participants will upload their results to the virtual leaderboard and be invited to post a photo from their walk or run on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #strochrun.
 
Funds to assist final phase of chapel restoration
 
The creative fundraiser comes at a critical juncture in the history of the nearly 145-year-old, Gothic-style chapel, once a magnet for Mass-goers and pilgrims from throughout the city and beyond.

The chapel has already undergone a meticulous overhaul of its interior by New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries, the most time-consuming facet of which was restoration of the interior walls and vaulted ceiling, that latter now painted a dazzling ink-blue with gold detailing.

Over the years, the walls had been covered over with galvanized aluminum sheathing and were bulging in places. Upon removal of this metal “wallpaper,” New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries staff discovered the culprit: a thick layer of Portland cement, sandwiched between thinner layers of plaster, that had been applied over the walls’ fired-clay brick foundation. Over the years, this impermeable cement had trapped moisture. If left unattended for much longer, the ceiling eventually would have caved in, said Sherri Peppo, director of New Orleans Catholic Cemeteries.

“The Portland cement that was causing structural damage to the interior was removed and replaced with historically appropriate lime-based plaster and limewash,” Peppo said. “Doing so allows the masonry to ‘breathe’ and water no longer becomes trapped in the walls, which permanently damages the historic brick.”

After the main interior space was restored, structural issues in the attic were identified. Addressing those issues, as well as roof problems, constitute the ongoing Phase II of the project.

“We are now working on those critical repairs, which are necessary to ensure the structural stability of the chapel, and it is for those that we greatly need donor support,” Peppo said.

Pandemics enmeshed in chapel's history

The chapel was erected by Father Peter Leonard Thevis, pastor of German-speaking Holy Trinity Catholic Church from 1868-93, in gratitude for St. Roch’s intercession during the city’s 1867 yellow fever epidemic. Its saintly namesake, born in France in 1295, ministered to victims of yet another pandemic: the bubonic plague. The chapel quickly became a pilgrimage site for faithful seeking St. Roch’s intercession in the healing of themselves and their loved ones.

In 2009, the magnificent chapel was designated a “Local Historic Landmark” by the City of New Orleans Historic Landmark Commission.

“It is unique not only for its architectural features but also for the many ex-votos left by the faithful over the years,” Peppo said, noting that the virtual fundraiser’s start-up date of Aug. 16 was chosen because it is St. Roch’s feast day.

“We are dedicated to returning it to how Rev. Thevis first designed it,” Peppo said. “Now, perhaps more than ever, the story of its construction resonates with our community.”

To register, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/AnyCity/StRochRun.

Beth Donze can be reached at [email protected].