Our Lady of Grace opens her arms to young minds

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, November 29, 2000

DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / November 29, 2000

Our Lady of Grace School, a part of the living history of the River Parishes, sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. Since 1932 the school has beenknown as one of the finest African-American private schools in the area, and with a recent grant from the Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation and building renovations, that tradition continues.

The school was originally opened through the efforts of Monsignor Jean Eyraud, a priest at St. Peter, and Saint Katherine Drexel, founder of XavierUniversity.

Ayroud “wanted to see a school for the black community,” said the Rev.

Joseph Rodney, priest at Our Lady of Grace. It was through Saint KatherineDrexel that the money for the building and starting of the school came, he added.

“Historically the school has been the best school the African-Americans had in the area,” said Rodney. St. Katherine’s doors opened to 176 children in itsfirst year, and it continued to operate at St. Peter parish until the buildingburned down.

In 1937 the school moved to Our Lady of Grace parish, the first parish established by Archbishop Rummel, and the school took that parish’s name.

The school was run by the Josephite Fathers and Brothers until 1940, when the Sisters of the Holy Family came in. The school served all ages ofstudents from kindergarten to graduation until the 1970’s, when it shut down the high school classes, said principal Sterling Simon.

The Sisters of the Holy Family ended their administration at the school in 1996. The school was turned over to the parish, which assumed leadership.Now Simon and Rodney work together to minister to the spiritual and educational of the students and those involved in the school.

Our Lady of Grace has always been a good school, with close ties to many of the families in the community, said Sterling. Sterling’s wife, as well as hermother, attended Our Lady of Grace. The family history in the school runsdeep.

Simon feels the atmosphere and climate of the school is why parents continue to send their children to Our Lady of Grace.

“People feel safe when they send their kids here,” said Simon. Theestablished success in education also works for the school.

“This school has turned out a lot of good students,” added Simon.

Our Lady of Grace has the distinct honor of being the first school in St. Johnthe Baptist Parish to be funded by the Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation’s Service Learning Program. Through the program students at the school willcontinue to carry on the tradition of service in the community. With theBrown Foundation, students will be given the opportunity to work with such programs as the Global Maritime Center, the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and others. They will also continue to visit children in hospitals andact as prayer partners to the children in the school’s pre-K programs.

The school building has also seen some changes in the past year. Newrenovations, including a new roof and office, have been made to Our Lady of Grace. Though the school is financially secure on its own, the parish paid forthe renovations, said Rodney.

“The renovations give the school a whole new look,” said Simon.

Our Lady of Grace has been not just an anchor for the African-American community, but a guiding light as well. Long before integration, Our Lady ofGrace School and parish ensured the quality education that every child deserves. Sixty-eight years later, the school continues to open the doors ofthe world to its students through education and to its community through service.

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