Rev. Gary P. Copping was born in New Orleans on May 28, 1967, the fourth son and last born of 4 boys to Leon Copping and Frances Copping.  He attended Brother Martin High School graduating with honors.  He went to UNO to study Bio-Physics and is a member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity.  Before receiving his degree, Gary left UNO to enter the seminary at St Joseph Seminary College in St Benedict LA.  He received his BA in Liberal Arts in 1991 and went on to study at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.  Gary left Notre Dame Seminary in the beginning of his third year of theology in 1993.  Three years later, he got married to Judy Bennett from Marked Tree, AR on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, September 14, 1996 at St Anthony of Padua Church on Canal St.  The Nuptials were officiated by Rev. Fr. Thomas Clifford, O.P.  Gary worked at Kirschman's for 11 years before being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  He and his wife, Judy, spent the next 4/5 years in both Arkansas and Missouri.  Gary worked for 5 years at Hank's Fine Furniture.  Judy died in Little Rock, AR on November 22, 2009.  After Judy's death, Gary re-entered the seminary, returning to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in the Fall of 2010.  He spent the next three years there and received a Masters In Divinity degree, graduating magna cum laude.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who was Gary's rector when he was at Notre Dame Seminary the first time and who was the Archbishop of New Orleans when Gary re-entered the  seminary, ordained Gary to the Presbyterate on June 01, 2013.  Gary's first assignment as a parochial vicar was at St. Anselm Parish in Madisonville, LA.  He was there from July 2013 to the end of June 2016.  In 2016, Gary was named as parochial vicar at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Slidell, LA.  He stayed there a year until he was appointed by Archbishop Aymond as the new pastor of both St. Joseph Church and Shrine on the Westbank and St Anthony Parish in Gretna.  He is the 15th Pastor at St Joseph.  He is looking forward to many wonderful years at his new parishes.

Gary enjoys eating good food, cooking, and rosary making.  He is a regular guy and is easily approachable.  He looks forward to meeting you and working along side of you, so come on in to meet our new priest and pastor.