St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church, Catholic church building in St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church is a white church building moved about the turn of the twentieth century from its original riverside site to its present location in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Its tower holds the parish's original bell, cast in 1768 and inscribed "Sancta Maria de la Merced, Ora Pro Nobis." The old parish church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 1972.

The church was founded in 1761 and completed in 1776, making it the oldest surviving church structure in the Louisiana Purchase territory. It was moved from its original riverside location to its current site in the early 1900s for better preservation.

The parish also includes the Sacred Heart Chapel in Carville, and its pastor is Father Albert Blount. The original bell, cast in 1768 and inscribed "Sancta Maria de la Merced, Ora Pro Nobis," still hangs in the tower and is still rung.

The building is open for visits during regular hours, and it is advisable to check ahead for specific access times. The historic site is centrally located in St. Gabriel, making it accessible on foot or by car.

The timbers were found in perfect condition when the church was moved away from the river around the turn of the twentieth century, not after Hurricane Gustav in 2008. That storm destroyed the original steeple, which was later repaired. The tower keeps the parish's original bell, cast in 1768 and still used, inscribed "Sancta Maria de la Merced, Ora Pro Nobis".