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Sts. Peter And Paul Church pumpkin patch

66192 St. Mary Drive
985-863-7935

The birth of the Catholic Church in Pearl River was a Mass celebrated, Sunday July 5, 1903, by a priest on the mission circuit, at the Crawford home, referred to by the Saint Tammany Farmer as "a prominent local family." This coming together to pray graced the residents of the area and inspired them to formulate fundraising plans for the purpose of building a church in the Pearl River and Florenville area. The property was donated by James H. Guthrie to the Archdiocese of New Orleans in March, 1904, for the purpose of constructing a church and/or school (St Tammany Land Records). These plans were subsequently approved by Archbishop Louis Placide Chapella, D.D. Construction of a wooden church was started in June, 1904, in the woods in the village of Guthrie Crossing, a small settlement in unincorporated St. Tammany Parish, southwest from Pearl River along Highway LA 1090 and continued into the fall of 1904 (Saint Tammany Farmer, July 5, 1904). Originally, the building did not have a bell tower but one was added in 1906.

The building of the new church left the mission community with a debt of about $19,000.00. "The Old Green Church" was converted into the Catholic Community Center of Pearl River and was modified by adding bathroom facilities and a kitchen so that fundraising could be held by the Catholic Social Club to benefit the new church.

The beautiful outdoor Stations of the Cross was relocated closer to the church. To enhance the beauty and accessibility of the stations, a sidewalk has been poured and engraved memorial bricks added at the foot of each station. Flower beds have also been planned. In the center of the walk way a cross was constructed listing the priests and deacons who are and have served our Church.

The "Pumpkin Patch", a new addition to the parish helped to raise funds for the parish and community service projects. Construction of the restroom in the church building was a dream come true.