Holy Angels Mission
Holy Angels is a residential and training campus for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our mission sustains our legacy of caring, teaching, learning and work. In a caring and home-like environment, individuals we serve experience the dignity of living as independently as possible. Our goal is to meld many disciplines into a complete life experience for each Holy Angel resident. And in so doing, we seek to provide peace of mind for our residents and their families. Our journey has been long and sometimes difficult, but the love and compassion that began our journey remains as the heart of Holy Angles today.
Our Journey
In 1947, Bishop Greco called for help to provide a better life for disabled children in Louisiana. By October of that year, Mother General Zita Verni and thirteen Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows arrived from Romagna, Italy, and the journey began. By 1954, Bishop Greco and the Sisters opened a school for children with disabilities in Clarks, Louisiana.
In 1963, three local, prominent families of Shreveport, Louisiana, the Pollard’s, the Gilster’s and the O’Brien’s, donated sixty-four acres to the Catholic Diocese for the purpose of establishing Holy Angels. By 1965 the first buildings were constructed, and thirty-five children arrived at Holy Angels. In 1968 the nursery was completed, and fifteen “little angels” arrived. Support from the community and the families of residents fueled the growth of Holy Angels, and in 2006, Holy Angels transitioned to an independent 501(c) (3) focused on sustaining Bishop Greco’s and Our Lady of Sorrows’ mission.
Who We Have Become
Today, Holy Angels is an independent, licensed residential training facility serving approximately 184 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose ages range from newborn to older adults.
Holy Angels’ caring, home-like environment includes a nursery, dormitories, and community homes located on and near the 64-acre campus in northern Louisiana on land donated by the Pollard, Gilster and O’Brien families. Residents, from infants to aging adults, receive around-the-clock care and comfort. Our nursery takes care of the most vulnerable—infants who have severe medical conditions. Costs to provide for these little ones are extremely high, but the value is priceless. Group homes and dormitories are available for older children and adults. From newborns to older adults, Holy Angels is a wonderful place to call home.
Personalized life-skills, vocational training, and work opportunities are provided through AngelWorks—our new day programming venture. Community businesses contract with AngelWorks for productive, income-generating services: shredding, label sorting, etc. Sales of baked goods and arts and crafts items also provide income. Future plans include the expansion of the AngelWorks horticultural enterprise as one of its rewarding and revenue-earning programs.
A variety of recreational and seasonal activities, as well as spiritual activities and training are available for Holy Angels residents. Amenities include a wellness center, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, chapel, computer lab, gymnasiums, snow cone shop, holiday dances, and arts and crafts. Through a partnership with Caddo Parish Schools, children and youth attend school either onsite at Holy Angels or at a local school.
Directions to Holy Angels – include google map
Holy Angels Residential Facility
10450 Ellerbe Road
Shreveport, LA 71106
Phone: 318-797-8500
Email – angels@laholyangels.org