The History of St. Benilde
Saint Benilde (Pierre Romancon, 1805-1862) first saw the Brothers of the Christian Schools on a trip with his father to Clermont in his native France. The sight of the two Christian Brothers in their white rabat, flowing mantle and three-cornered hat saying their rosary as they walked through the streets greatly impressed young Pierre, "Father, I want to be a Brother! At the age of fifteen Pierre was admitted to the Brothers' Novitiate. After taking final vows and after several years of teaching, Brother Benilde was entrusted with the opening of a school at Saugues, where he was to remain for 21 years service until his death. His Holiness Pope Pius XII at the Beatification of Brother Benilde said of him: "He himself indicated the true mark of his holiness when he said, never suspecting he was uttering his own eulogy: 'There is not much for us to do to be saints; we only have only to observe the Rule.'"
St. Benilde parish was established in 1964 to satisfy the spiritual needs of a growing Metairie community. From the most austere beginnings, our parish has evolved into a modern, comprehensive facility. The Church, convent and main school building were erected by October, 1968. More classroom space was needed; therefore a second building was added in 1970, The rectory and the parish office became part of the facility in 1978 and the construction of a multi-purpose building, housing a library, a Teen Center and a Cafeteria was completed in 1984
George Rojas, president of our parish council in 1967, represented our parish at the canonization of St. Benilde in Rome on October 29th of that year.
Father Peter Brewerton, the founding pastor, was succeeded in 1969 by Monsignor Carter Richaud. Monsignor Richaud passed away in 1989 and was succeeded by Monsignor Alvin J. O'Reily, then by Father Carrol Heffner and presently our parish is guided by Father Patrick B. Wattigny. The associate pastors have included Fathers Rudi Schmidt ,Mike Farino ,Larry Mueller ,Peter Peacock ,Milton Reisch ,Danilo Digal ,Luis Yngenti ,Ken Ritter ,H.L. Brignac ,Joseph Dau Van Nguyen, John C. Arnone and Fr. J.P.
The Sisters of Loreto of Cork came to St. Benilde in August , 1967, and served our school until 1995. The sisters who have been here include Sisters Celine ,Augustine ,Goretti, Immaculata ,Colobiere ,Agnes ,Helen ,Ita ,Nan ,Anne ,Teresita and most recently Sister Loreto.
