New Orleans is rich in Catholic traditions and heritage. The city is one of the oldest Catholic founded colonies in North America, so it's only natural for the people that live there to uphold a few Catholic customs. Even if you aren't Catholic, you will soon find yourself emerged in the traditions. My mother's family is Catholic, my father's is Baptist so I get to straddle between the two religions. I've been around Catholics since birth. I went to a Catholic preschool, middle school, high school, and now I'm at a Catholic college. I make the sign of the cross when I pass a cemetery, I keep a blessed St. Joseph fava bean in my wallet, and I have a habit of saying "Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us" when an ambulance passes me. I even learned all my Catholic prayers in English and French growing up. All that aside New Orleans holds many Catholic Saints dear to it. Schools, churches, streets, and even parishes (you might call them counties or provinces) are named after saints. Here's a list of some of them for you to do your own research:
St. Joan of Arc: The maid of Orleans, led the French army against the English in the Hundred Year's War.
St. Katherine Drexel (Xavier University and St. Katherine Drexel Preparatory Academy (formerly Xavier Prep).
Francis Xavier Cabrini (Cabrini High School)
Our Lady of Prompt Succor:
Henriette Delille (Sisters of the Holy Family, St. Mary's Academy):
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