HISTORY 

In the early days, Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel and landowner Ernest B. Norman Sr. played key roles in founding St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Lower Algiers. Around 1951, Norman kickstarted the parish's creation by donating land for a church and school amidst the post-World War II growth. On June 5, 1952, Archbishop Rummel established the parish, appointing Rev. Morris N. Dummet as its first pastor. Initially, Masses were held in private homes. The Normans designed the first church and facilities not only as religious spaces but also as potential residential units, reflecting their commitment to community service. Sainte-Chapelle Studios was engaged to further beautify the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s church, using deep symbolism to enrich the space.

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OUR WORK​

“Invenimus Messiam”, or “We have found the Messiah” are the first words spoken by St. Andrew in the Gospels. He, before any of the 12 apostles, identifies Jesus as the promised messiah- the one for whom the world had longed. In this stenciling, the shield of St. Andrew is directly to the left of his own words, under which the martyr’s palms are laid in the form of an “X”, indicating the manner of his crucifixion. It was Andrew who first called his brother, St. Peter, to come and see the Messiah. For this reason, the crossed keys of Peter are immediately opposite of St. Andrew’s Shield, emphasizing that it was St. Andrew who first brought his brother St. Peter to Christ. The crossed palms are under St. Peter’s keys, indicating that it was St. Andrew’s confession of faith that allowed for the glorious martyrdom of St. Peter. Below, the phrase “Venite Adoremus”, or “Come let us adore Him” is the response to St. Andrew’s identification of Jesus. In this image, we see St. Peter’s Keys shown first, indicating that St. Andrew followed St. Peter after Christ called Peter as the first Pope. The Vines surrounding the text are indicative of the fruitful vine, Christ Jesus, from which Peter and Andrew grew.​​​​