Mount Carmel Academy students, faculty, and staff, along with Carmelite Sisters and friends of MCA, gathered for the Eucharistic Celebration and Blessing of the newly renovated Motherhouse on Thursday, October 3, 2024. The Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, D.D., Archbishop of New Orleans, presided over the celebration in the Mother Thérèse Chevrel Assembly Center, followed by a special blessing and reception in the Motherhouse.
 

The Motherhouse, which officially reopened its doors to students on August 15, 2024, marks a significant milestone in Mount Carmel Academy's history. Originally completed in 1926, this historic building has been meticulously renovated, adding 29,000 square feet of new art studios, music rooms, and religion classrooms, along with additional spaces for faculty collaboration. The restoration has also beautifully preserved the Sisters' original chapel, now the third chapel on MCA’s campus, a lasting symbol of the school’s enduring Carmelite faith tradition.

The purchase and renovation of the Motherhouse have enhanced the school’s learning spaces, reflecting Mount Carmel’s commitment to maintaining small class sizes (average of 15) and fostering an innovative, future-focused curriculum. The school’s enrollment will remain the same, with the new space dedicated to enriching the educational environment rather than expanding the student body.
 

The renovation includes six art studios, six religion classrooms, a choral room, a digital music room, a vocal room, an instrumental music room, an art display room, the original chapel, common areas, meeting rooms, and the Carmelite archives and display room. The first floor will remain home to Cub Corner Preschool, a ministry of the Sisters of Mount Carmel. Before the reopening, Mount Carmel students had not attended classes in this building for over 40 years.

Sister Camille Anne Campbell, President, and Beth Ann Simno, Principal, continue to guide the school in responding to the evolving needs of 21st-century Catholic education. Their leadership ensures that Mount Carmel Academy remains a place where academic excellence is deeply intertwined with Carmelite spirituality, values, and identity. 

Relocating music, art, and religion classes to the renovated Motherhouse has freed up space on campus, allowing for the expansion of all areas of STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). This ensures students are well-prepared for future professional challenges, with STREAM at Mount Carmel offering an integrated, interdisciplinary approach rooted in Catholic education.
 

In the years leading up to 2019, the Motherhouse primarily served as a retirement home for elderly members of the Carmelite order. When the Sisters no longer required the space, Sister Lawrence Habetz, then Congregation President, approached Mount Carmel Academy administrators to explore how the Motherhouse could meet the school’s needs. As a result, in July 2019, Mount Carmel Academy purchased the Motherhouse and the surrounding land from the Sisters, including the area bounded by Allen Toussaint Boulevard, Milne Boulevard, Walker Street, and Louisville Street.

Mount Carmel Academy’s capital campaign, Our Sisters’ Legacy, is making this important project possible. This campaign, which began in Fall 2019, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic but continues to advance this initiative to enhance the school's facilities and preserve its rich heritage.

“The purchase of the Motherhouse not only preserves the history and legacy of the Sisters but also maintains a building that carries layers of stories, memories, and the echoes of alumnae who fondly remember their days as students in this magnificent space,” said Beth Ann Simno. “Now, future generations will have the opportunity to create new stories and lasting memories, joining all those who have walked these hallowed halls. The Motherhouse remains within the Carmelite family and continues to be a beacon of faith and excellence, where Carmelite spirituality is formed, nurtured, and lived each day.”
 

Mount Carmel Academy invites the community to consider supporting the ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance this historic space. Please click here to support Our Sisters' Legacy.