According to the site, free people of color initially received permission to build a church; the property was donated by the Ursulines and became St. Augustine (church).

St. Augustine Church was dedicated in 1842.
The custom was to purchase pews for worship in honor of family (or others). There was a 'war of the pews' between people of color and whites ¹

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¹ "St. Augustine Catholic Church History." St. Augustine Catholic Church of New Orleans. 02 Apr. 2006 [staugustinecatholicchurch-neworleans.org]