St. Vincent DePaul (Blessed Francis Seelos) New Orleans, LA.

The church originally had a Pilcher pipe organ. Church records indicate the organ was installed by Father Chapuis in 1879 and that substantial maintenace was performed in 1899 by Mr. Pilcher. Records further indicate that the first electric blower was installed in 1903.
(Information obtained from a 1981 pamplet published by St. Vincent de Paul Church)

An inspection of the organ was performed during the post Katrina restoration, and no evidence was found of the Pilcher instrument. A 1950's Wicks instrument was found in place. The organ had sustained damage in the 2003 fire.

Following Hurricane Katrina, volunteers from the Seattle area began an ambitious program to donate a new organ to Blessed Seelos parish as part of a hurricane relief effort. Two Seattle area Moller organs were donated to the cause and The Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, WA. oversaw the rebuilding and combining of the organs into a new single instrument. The new organ will be completed in June of 2008. A special feature page has been created to document the arrival and installation. Please click HERE.

Below, columns were added after the original construction of the building. Original historical photos indicate that the room was unubstructed prior to the 1915 hurricane. At that time, the vaulted roof required extensive repair, and the columns were added as an additional protection. The present clock tower was also added to the steeple at that time.




The church contains many beautiful stained glass windows. Each window is a memorial with ten having been added under the administration of Rev. Arthur Drossaerts, and another twelve under the later administration of Rev. A M. Barbier. Mr. Emile Frei, of the famous Frei Glass Company of St. Louis, personally directed the placement of the windows.

The church originally had a Pilcher pipe organ. Church records indicate the organ was installed by Father Chapuis in 1879 and that substantial maintenace was performed in 1899 by Mr. Pilcher. Records further indicate that the first electric blower was installed in 1903. (Information obtained from a 1981 pamplet published by St. Vincent de Paul Church) An inspection of the organ was performed during the post Katrina restoration, and no evidence was found of the Pilcher instrument. A 1950's Wicks instrument was found in place. The organ had sustained damage in the 2003 fire. Following Hurricane Katrina, volunteers from the Seattle area began an ambitious program to donate a new organ to Blessed Seelos parish as part of a hurricane relief effort. Two Seattle area Moller organs were donated to the cause and The Pipe Organ Foundation of Mercer Island, WA. oversaw the rebuilding and combining of the organs into a new single instrument. The new organ will be completed in June of 2008. A special feature page has been created to document the arrival and installation. Please click HERE. Below, columns were added after the original construction of the building. Original historical photos indicate that the room was unubstructed prior to the 1915 hurricane. At that time, the vaulted roof required extensive repair, and the columns were added as an additional protection. The present clock tower was also added to the steeple at that time.