St. Aloysius history

The Brothers of the Sacred Heart officially mark their involvement in New Orleans as beginning in 1869, but their influence in the city actually extends to before the Civil War.

The church, begun in 1909, took almost exactly two years to build at a cost of $176,125.

His dream became reality on September 2, 1913 when Saint Aloysius School opened its doors to 178 pupils from first to eighth grades.

The school survived the hurricane of 1915 with minimal damage, but St Aloysius’ enrollment continued to grow, crowding the new facility.

In 1919, a two-year Commercial School was begun on the second floor.

1950 also brought the opening of the first cafeteria located in the basement of the old building.

1953 marked the opening of our local Catholic high school, which was founded on the second floor of Saint Aloysius.

With enrollment increasing, the parish broke ground for the new school building in 1961, and a year later opened its doors to a total student body of 693 students and a faculty of 12 sisters and 3 lay teachers.

1963 saw the largest number of students.

By 1967, it was necessary to add a second floor expansion to the new building.

In 1968 the Jesuit superior general, Father Pedro Arrupe, refocused the order with “a preferential option for the poor,” and the Jesuit ranks experienced a rise in the popularity of liberation theology, which holds that ministry should include involvement in the political struggle of the poor.

A combined school, named Brother Martin High School, opened that fall, graduating its first class in 1970.

Begley Hall was purchased in 1973 to serve as a cafeteria and gymnasium.