MONSIGNOR VERNON PIERRE ALEMAN
aka Vernon Peter Aleman
Age 92 years


His middle name is given alternately as Peter and Pierre. Pierre is the French name for Peter. It is highly likely that Pierre was used at his christening.


A retired Archdiocesan priest of New Orleans.

Born on Christmas Eve in Welcome, St. James Parish, Louisiana, and attended St. Louis Grammar school and St. Joseph Commercial Institute in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and two years at Loyola University, New Orleans.

Son of Anna Schreiber and Henry Robertson "Hal" Aleman.

Brother of Mrs. Essie Aleman Kethley.

Grandson of Charles Schreiber and MAthilde Hernandez; Pierre Estevan (Peter Stephen) Aleman and Mariane Robertson.

Uncle of Richard Dale Kethley.


His family had been sugar planters in St. James Parish since the 1700s, and the Monsignor grew up on the family plantation. He was the first priest in his family, having known since early childhood he wanted to be ordained.

He was ordained in 1935 by Archbishop Joseph Frances Rummel after graduating from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. It was the Archbishop's first ordination after arriving in the city.

Msgr. Aleman served as an associate pastor at St. James Major Parish on Gentilly Blvd. (1935 - 1947), and later served as the first pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Elysian Fields Avenue at Prentiss Avenue (1947 - 30 June 1990). After his retirement, he became St. Raphael's pastor emeritus.

During the 1937 - 1938 school year, Fr. Aleman managed and coached the St. James Major softball team which won the citywide CSAL (Catholic School Athletic League) Unlimited Softball Championship.

On May 22, 1960, Mgsr. Aleman celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Ordination into the Priesthood during a High Mass at noon at St. Raphael the Archangel Church. The schoolchildren of St. Raphael School, guided by their teachers, the Sisters of Christian Charity and the lay teachers, as well and parents and other parishioners, honored the Monsignor with songs at a reception in the schoolyard at 4:30 PM that afternoon.

He served as director of the New Orleans Archdiocesan Legion of Decency, favoring classification of movies suitable and unsuitable for children.

Msgr. Aleman was a diocesan consultant for several years and diocesan director of parish sodalities for 30 years. Plus he served and headed many Archdiocesan and community committees.

Under his pastorate, St. Raphael the Archangel Parish saw the building of a main school building (1950) on Elysian Fields Avenue, a convent (1953) for the Sisters of Christian Charity at the corner of Mendez and Marigny streets, a large church (1958) with attached rectory and church office on the corner of Elysian Fields and Prentiss avenues, plus a new school cafeteria addition (1962) along Mendez Street and a gymnasium (1962) at the corner of Mendez and Mandeville Streets.


Msgr. Aleman died Saturday, 8 July 2000, at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.


A Mass was said Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Raphael the Archangel, 2212 Prentiss Ave. Visitation was held Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the church. Burial in St. Louis Cemetery # 3. Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.



Obituary published:
The Times-Picayune
New Orleans, Louisiana
Sunday, 9 July 2000
Metro Section Page B4, Deaths


Funeral Notice:
The Times-Picayune
New Orleans, Louisiana
Wednesday, 12 July 2000
Thursday, July 13, 2000
Metro Section, Page B4, Deaths