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Home/New Orleans/St. Ann
White church and steeple with overhanging tree

St. Ann

the church that wouldn’t die

In an area devastated by multiple catastrophic hurricanes since the 1960’s, St. Ann Mission Church in Empire, Louisiana, is a survivor. The church’s white steeple would stand tall above the flat landscape when neighboring homes and businesses were destroyed and washed away.

small white church and steeple next to oak tree
St. Ann Mission Church in Empire reaches the age of 100

Croatian immigrants settled in this area near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish. They worked as oyster fisherman, a tradition that continues to this day. As the population grew, the community got a post office and the name Empire.

steeple of St. Ann church seen through nets of shrimp boat
St. Ann Church seen from a shrimp boat dock.

boat builder constructs st. ann church

The task of constructing St. Ann mission church in Empire went to John Edgecombe, a local boat builder. The church was built in 1922 from cypress lumber that came from nearby forests. Edgecombe’s construction technique has withstood the test of time and several major hurricanes. Church parishioner Mitch Jurisich says his grandmother’s house was next to the church. When Hurricane Betsy pounded the community in 1965, Jurisich recalls, “The church just floated off its foundation and twisted a little bit until it bumped into my grandmother’s little shop.” The same thing happened four years later when powerful Hurricane Camille swept across the community.

hurricane damage to St. Ann white church with steeple off foundation
Hurricane knocks St. Ann church off its foundation (courtesy St. Ann Church)
small white church St. Ann only building left after hurricane Katrina
St. Ann is last building standing after Katrina (courtesy St. Ann Church)

st. ann survives katrina

Katrina caused the most devastation of any hurricane to hit the Empire area. The storm’s catastrophic winds and a storm surge of more than 20 feet swept across the area in 2005. St. Ann church survived Katrina’s wrath. “That was the only building left on its original piece of property in this whole area,” says Jurisich. Church member Barbara Oustalet adds, “Some people say if you flip the church she would float because the attic of this church is like the hull of a boat.”

watch this tv feature on st. ann’s 100th anniversary

Watch this Heart of Louisiana TV feature on St. Ann’s centennial

Planning for a 100th birthday celebration

Oustalet says she learned in the spring of 2021 that St. Ann would reach the 100th anniversary of its opening in March of 2022. She and others began the process of planning a special mass, compiling the church’s history in a commemorative book, creating a poster, and contacting members who had moved away from the area. Hurricane Ida interrupted that process. “The Lady survived,” says Oustalet. The wooden chapel was repaired and given a fresh coat of paint. The building was in near mint condition for its birthday.

atchbishop and other clerics in purple robes stand in front of white church with steeple
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond leads a special Centennial Mass at St. Ann Mission Church (courtesy PJ Hahn)
large crowd and white tents in front of white church with steeple
Overflow crowd attends special mass (courtesy PJ Hahn)
bible and program on lectern inside church
100th Anniversary theme – Anchored in Faith

overflow crowd for 100th anniversary at st. ann

New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond marked St. Ann’s 100th anniversary in a special mass on March 5, 2022. The church only has enough seating for 120 people. A crowd estimated at more than 400 attended, and listened from tents on the church’s front lawn. The mass became an reunion. “There were people here that hadn’t been here in 40 years,” said Oustalet. She predicts the celebration will have a lasting impact on the church, which has experienced a decline in membership as hurricanes have forced people to move to higher ground. “I think it will bring more people back to this church,” Oustalet commented. “Whether it’s local people, or people that just came for the day, they will be back here.” St. Ann has a weekly mass at 6:30pm on Saturday.

gold cross on alter with view of wood pews inside church
View of St. Ann church from the altar

a true survivor

As she reflected on the success of St. Ann’s 100th anniversary, Oustalet had this to say. “This church is a survivor. She is miracle. How she has survived as long as she has, only God knows.” St. Ann has proven to be an anchor and a beacon of hope for the community of Empire.

white church with steeple at twilight with pink clouds
St. Ann Church at twilight (courtesy PJ Hahn)

getting there

St. Ann Church is located at 32949 Hwy 11, Buras, LA. It is a mission of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Port Sulphur, LA.

32949 Hwy 11, Buras, LA 70041

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        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        March 15, 2022
        Thoughts:
        6 Comments

        Categories: Featured, New Orleans

        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Wayne Parker

          March 19, 2022 at 10:50 pm

          Remember that church from many years ago. Dated a girl that lived behind the church my senior year at BHS. Glad they have kept the church going. It is a tribute to the founders and those that have continued to attend. Praise God!

          Reply
        2. Kathy Daigle

          March 25, 2022 at 8:11 pm

          I love the little church, I live in Lafayette La. and visit my aunt down there and we attend mass on Saturday. Happy 100th anniversary ! May God Bless Every One !

          Reply
        3. Jerri Lambert

          June 16, 2022 at 6:15 pm

          My cousin Diana Jurisich Casey lived in Empire and returned for the celebration. Her home was located on the right after crossing the bridge. Her father Malcolm Jurisich stayed in Empire during Betsy. I am doing some research to surprise her and would appreciate any material on Empire and the oyster industry her grandfather was involved in. If you could point me to material on the family of Jurisich and Vodepic, I would deeply appreciate it.

          Reply
          • Dave McNamara

            June 22, 2022 at 5:26 pm

            Hi Jerry, I would start by contacting Mitch Jurisich who was interviewed for this story. He can be reached at Jurisich Oysters in Empire, LA

            Reply
        4. Mary Shanahan

          December 4, 2024 at 8:10 pm

          Cananyone tell me how to find Mass times for St Ann church in Empire? Is there a Saturday evening Mass? My husband will be staying in Buras on Dec 7and would like to go to Mass there. Thank you!

          Reply
          • Dave McNamara

            December 4, 2024 at 10:40 pm

            Hi Mary, here is a link to the St. Ann Church website with the mass schedule. I hope this helps.
            https://stannchurchandshrine.org/mass-times

            Reply

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