It was a belated Labor Day celebration for the residents at St. Martin’s Manor in the Seventh Ward. Dozens came out to enjoy the beautiful weather, good food, music and the company. 

The sun beamed down onto the courtyard, where people had gathered for their feast. 

The day was complete with all the fixings. There was a full spread of jerk chicken, red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, salad and bread pudding. People lined up for the delicacies. 

"I like to cook for a big crowd," said Larry Bishop, the man behind all of the food. He’s a resident at St. Martin’s Manor.

At a young 76 years old, Mr. Bishop says it was all his years in the Navy and preparing food on oil rigs that prepared him to get behind the stove for this event. 

He started his career as a cook at "Meal-A-Minute", then onto the cafeteria at Maison Blanche, two New Orleans traditions that "ain’t dere no more". 

Mr. Bishop says he likes to prepare food for his church community and learned a lot from the days after Hurricane Katrina. 

Director Malicia Burns says this gathering was delayed because of the bad weather over Labor Day weekend, but that the weather for this event couldn’t have been more perfect. 

Between the "hellos" and "how ya’ll doing", it was the sense of community at St. Martin’s Manor that could be felt throughout the gathering. A gathering that Mr. Bishop says is all because of God.
 

St. Martin’s Manor is located at 1501 North Johnson Street, New Orleans, La 70116. 
Contact: 504-227-3390. The facility welcomes seniors 62 and over and persons with physical disabilities in need of an accessible apartment.

Christopher Homes, Inc. is the housing agency of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Founded in 1966, under the auspices of the Archdiocese’s Commission on Housing and Community Life, with a mandate to provide decent, affordable housing in our community, the agency has grown to become the premier manager of affordable senior housing in the Gulf Coast area. 

Currently, Christopher Homes, Inc. manages 16 apartment complexes that house the elderly and those with physical disabilities in nearly 2,440 apartment units.