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the parish of	St. Rose of	Lima was separated	from	the Parish
of Our Lady of	the Gulf on	August 28, 1926.
The debt of $13,000 for the parish was paid off in a few years because of the fervor and faith of the Catholics in the parish. The present stations of the Cross were erected at a cost of $1,400. The beautiful stained-glass windows costing $14,000 were finally installed as the Church interior was finished. A new school building was erected for $7,500.
After this the parish continued to grow	under	the
leadership of	many good	priests, religious,	and	laity.	In
1960 Bay Catholic School was founded under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the work Msgr. Martin Maloney. It was known as Our Lady of the Gulf School, until 1976, when it became an interparochial school merging with St. Rose School. It was renamed Bay Catholic School. The Sisters of St. Joseph were replaced by the Sister of the Holy Spirit. When the St. Rose Campus closed down in 1982 (grades 1-3) the school became Bay Catholic Elementary and from that time has been lay-staffed. The average enrollment continues to be between 200 and 250 students.
Many have served in Our Lady of the Gulf Parish as pastor since Msgr. Gmelch died at the Hotel Dieu in New Orleans on May 15,	1955	at 77 years of age. Those who have served as
pastor up to the present day were and are:	Fr. McCarthy
(June, 1955 to 1958), Fr. Maloney (Sept. 5,, 1958 - 1962), Msgr. James Hanon (June 8,	1962	-	1969),	Msgr. Gregory
Johnson (July 1, 1969 - 1978 ), Fr. Kavanaugh (July 1, 1978
-	1980),	Fr.	Francis	Farrell (April 11, 1980 - 1985), Msgr.
James McGough (April 8,	1985	-	1988), and our present
pastor, Fr . Peter Mockler (February 1, 1988 - present).
Our Lady of the Gulf Parish has a rich heritage and history. The Church stands as a beautiful testament to the faith of the people in this area. It also stands as a beacon inviting us to ever deeper faith and it all began almost 300 years ago when simple faith caused one Catholic to plant the cross of Christ in this little colony where it has grown ever since.
--Written by Rev. Kenneth G. Ramon-Landry Assistant Pastor Christmas, 1988
--Our Lady of the Gulf History page 4 -