Province of new orleans

Pope Pius IX created the Province of New Orleans in 1850.  The Province consists of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and six dioceses in Louisiana—Alexandria, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lake Charles, and Shreveport.  The Province had 1.2 million Catholics or 27 percent of the total population in 2015.  In 2000, there were 1.3 million Catholics or 31 percent of the total population.

I attended Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans in 2015.  About 25 years ago, I saw the cathedrals in Baton Rouge, Houma, and Thibodaux, but they were closed at the time of my visit.

Map of the Province

Catholic History of Louisiana

Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed all of the land drained by the Mississippi River for France in 1682 and named it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV of France.  Pierre le Moyne, Sieur I’berville, began the colonization of the Louisiana territory by building a fort and settlement at what is now Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1699, and another settlement near the mouth of the Mississippi River, in what is now Louisiana, in 1700.  This later settlement was soon abandoned.  The first permanent settlement in Louisiana was at Natchitoches in 1714.  New Orleans was established by I’berville’s brother, Jean Baptist, in 1718.  France ceded Louisiana to Spain in 1762 and England claimed the territory east of the Mississippi the following year.  France once again gained control of the colony in 1800 before selling it to the United States in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.  Congress established the Territory of Orleans in 1804 and Louisiana became the 18^th State in 1812.

The French brought Catholicism to their colony and the first Mass in Louisiana was celebrated by Father Anastase Douay near the mouth of the Mississippi River on Shrove Tuesday, 1699.  As settlements grew, churches were established—there were seven by 1729.  The Ursuline Nuns arrived in New Orleans in 1727 to establish the first convent in what is now the United States.  They also established a school for girls, a hospital, and an orphanage.  The Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas, now the Archdiocese of New Orleans, was established in 1793—the second Diocese in what is now the United States (although New Orleans was not then a part of the United States).  By 1800, Louisiana had about twenty parishes.  The name of the Diocese changed to the Diocese of Louisiana in 1823 and to the Diocese of New Orleans in 1829.

Louisiana grew quickly after it became a state—its population increasing from 77,000 in 1810 to 708,000 in 1860.  New Orleans grew as well from a population of 17,000 in 1810, to 116,000 in 1850, to 216,000 in 1880.  Until the 1850s, New Orleans was one of the five largest cities in the United States and it remained one of the ten largest until the 1880s.  This growth led Pope Pius IX to raise New Orleans to an archdiocese in 1850—one of the first six in the United States—and to create the Diocese of Natchitoches in 1853 to serve Catholics in northern Louisiana.  By 1910, there were more than half a million Louisiana Catholics—about a third of the total population.  In that year, the Diocese of Natchitoches became the Diocese of Alexandria, and in 1918, the Diocese of Lafayette was established by Pope Benedict XVI to serve Catholics in southwestern Louisiana.  The Diocese of Baton Rouge was created in 1961—Baton Rouge has been the State capital since 1880.  In 1977, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and renamed the Diocese of Alexandria as the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.  Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Lake Charles in 1980 and split the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport into separate dioceses in 1986.

Archdiocese of New Orleans

The Archdiocese of New Orleans consists of 7 counties (called parishes in Louisiana) and a portion of Jefferson Parish in southeastern Louisiana. The Archdiocese has 506,000 Catholics (40 percent of the total population) in 111 parishes as of 2015.  The Archdiocese traces its origins to the establishment of the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas in 1793 when New Orleans was part of Spain.  The name was changed to the Diocese of Louisiana in 1823 and to the Diocese of New Orleans in 1829.  Pope Pius IX raised New Orleans to an Archdiocese in 1850.

Bishops of Louisiana and the Two Floridas

Luis Penalver y Cardenas (1749-1810)

·         Born in Cuba and ordained a priest in Cuba in 1772.

·         First Bishop of Louisiana and the Two Floridas (1794-1801).

·         Later served as Archbishop of Guatemala (1801-1806).

Pope Pius VI created the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas in 1793, which consisted of all of the vast Spanish holdings in what is now the United States, and Luis Penalver y Cardenas, a Cuban, was appointed the first Bishop.  When he arrived in New Orleans in 1795, he found Catholics from more than a dozen countries, including some that were enslaved.  He had some success in improving morality and imposing Church discipline.  He also established new parishes and demanded detailed record-keeping by all the parishes—many of which he visited to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Penalver y Cardenas was appointed Archbishop of Guatemala in 1801.  

Francisco Bartolome Porro y Reinado, O.F.M. (1739-1814)  

·         Born in Spain and ordained a Franciscan priest in Europe.

·         Bishop of Louisiana and the Two Floridas (1801-1803). 

·         Later served as Bishop of Tarazona, Spain (1803-1914).

Francisco Bartolome Porro y Reinado was appointed to succeed Penalver y Cardenas, but never came to New Orleans because of the pending Louisiana Purchase.  He was appointed bishop of a Spanish diocese in 1803.  The Louisiana Diocese, which became part of the United States in 1803, continued without a permanent leader for several more years and was administered by Bishop (later Archbishop) John Carroll of Baltimore from 1805 to 1812.

Bishops of Louisiana

Louis W. Dubourg, S.S. (1766-1833)  

• Born in what is now the Dominican Republic and ordained a priest in France in 1790.
• Fled to Maryland during the French Revolution, served as President of what is now Georgetown University in Washington, DC, founded St. Mary's College in Maryland, and joined the Sulpicians in 1795.
• Served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas (1812-1815).
• Bishop of Louisiana and the Two Floridas (1815-1823), and Bishop of Louisiana (1823-1826). 
• Later served as Bishop of Montauban in France (1826-1833), and Archbishop of Besançon in France (1833).

Archbishop Carroll appointed Louis Dubourg as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese in 1812—the same year that Louisiana became a State.  Dubourg was a distinguished member of the clergy—he served as president of what is now Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and founded a seminary in Maryland.  However, he faced immediate problems in New Orleans.  One involved the trustees of St. Louis Cathedral.  Many early American Catholic churches were built and organized under American law that called for leadership by lay trustees.  This was a complicated issue, but simply put, the concept clashed with the Catholic belief in ecclesiastical leadership.  Dubourg clashed often with the trustees of his own Cathedral and with the Cathedral’s rector.  He was consecrated Bishop of Louisiana and the Two Floridas in 1815 in Rome and remained in Europe until 1818, recruiting French priests and nuns and raising funds for the Diocese.  After his return to the United States, he lived in St. Louis, then in the northern part of his Diocese.  While there, he established a few new parishes in Louisiana, including parishes in Lafayette and Thibodaux.  He returned to New Orleans in 1823 but continued hostility and misunderstandings by some members of the clergy and laity led to his resignation in 1826.  He was appointed Bishop of a Diocese in France the same year.

Dubourg’s coadjutor bishop, Joseph Rosati, C.M., took charge of the Diocese, but at about the same time was named Bishop of the new Diocese of St. Louis.  As Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Louisiana from 1826 to 1829, he made annual trips to New Orleans to administer the Diocese.  He was never Bishop of Louisiana or Bishop of New Orleans.  Rosati (1789-1843) was born in Italy and ordained a Vincentian priest in 1811.  He also served as coadjutor bishop of Louisiana (1823-1826), Apostolic Administrator of St. Louis (1826-1827), and first Bishop of St. Louis (1827-1843).  

Bishop of New Orleans

Leo de Neckere, C.M. (1799-1833)  

·         Born in Belgium and ordained a Vincentian priest in 1822.

·         First Bishop of New Orleans (1829-1833).  

Leo de Neckere, a 30-year old Vincentian priest, became the first to be referred to as the Bishop of New Orleans in 1829.  He was well respected by the people of his Diocese—which by that time consisted of Louisiana and Mississippi.  He built New Orleans’ second parish—St. Patrick’s—and brought in a group of French nuns to serve in the Diocese.  Never in good health, he died from yellow fever in 1833.

Archbishops of New Orleans

Antoine Blanc (1792-1860)  

·         Born in France and ordained a priest in France in 1816.

·         Bishop of New Orleans (1835-1850) and the first Archbishop of New Orleans (1850-1860).  

Antoine Blanc administered the Diocese after the death of Bishop de Neckere and in 1835 was named to succeed de Neckere.  Blanc was named the first Archbishop of New Orleans in 1850.  During his 25 year tenure as Bishop and Archbishop, Blanc established 47 parishes, ordained almost 70 priests, built a seminary and many other schools, established two hospitals and several other charitable institutions, and started a French-language diocesan newspaper.  He invited several religious orders to serve in the Archdiocese and brought an end to problems with church trustees through legal action in 1844.  He traveled throughout his Archdiocese, which by the time of his death consisted of southern Louisiana, and he also led efforts to organize the Church in Texas.  He faced many problems as Archbishop including a Louisiana population that consisted of some who were anti-religious and anti-clerical, others who were hostile to immigrant Catholics, and many who opposed any kind of education for African-Americans.  In addition, the yellow fever epidemic of 1853 killed one in twenty residents of New Orleans.  Despite these problems, Archbishop Blanc, who died in 1860, was noted for his leadership and spirituality.

John M. Odin, C.M. (1800-1870)  

·         Born in France and ordained a Vincentian priest in 1823.

·         Served as the Vice Prefect Apostolic of Texas (1840-1842), Vicar Apostolic of Texas (1842-1847), and first Bishop of Galveston, Texas (1847-1861).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1861-1870).  

John Odin had served the Church in Texas for two decades before becoming the second Archbishop of New Orleans in 1861—just as the Civil War began.  Odin was sympathetic to the Southern cause, but worked to achieve peace under the direction of Pope Pius IX.  Catholic priests, religious, and laity sought to alleviate the suffering caused by the war on the part of both soldiers and civilians.  Odin also made sure that the spiritual needs of the soldiers were met by providing chaplains.  Many of the Archdiocese’s churches and other buildings were damaged or destroyed during the War, and in 1867 the area suffered through a yellow fever epidemic.  Despite this, Odin established seven new parishes outside of New Orleans and increased the number of priests by 50 percent during the War years, mostly by recruiting priests from Europe.  Odin also started an English-language archdiocesan newspaper.  Odin died in France in 1870 on his way to the First Vatican Council.

Napoleon J. Perche (1805-1883)  

·         Born in France and ordained a priest in France in 1829.

·         Served as coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans (24 days in 1870).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1870-1883).  

Prior to becoming Archbishop, Perche had served as the editor of the archdiocesan newspaper and had been placed under house arrest during the Civil War because of his Confederate sympathies.  Upon becoming Archbishop, Perche faced an immediate task of rebuilding many of the Archdiocese’s churches and schools.  He began an extensive expansion of the number of parishes and schools in the Archdiocese and brought in members of eight religious orders to assist in this effort.  Part of the building program involved schools for newly-freed African American children.  Unfortunately, this building program caused the Archdiocese to amass a large debt.  The Vatican appointed Francis Leray as coadjutor archbishop in 1879 and gave him authority over the Archdioceses’ finances.  Archbishop Perche died in 1883.

Francis X. Leray (1825-1887)  

·         Born in France and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Natchez, Mississippi, in 1852.

·         Served as a Bishop of Natchitoches (1877-1879), Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans (1879-1883), and Apostolic Administrator of both New Orleans and Natchitoches (1879-1883).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1883-1887).  

As Archbishop, Leray worked to pay off much of the $600,000 Archdiocesan debt and was able to open several new schools, but the stress caused him to lose his health and he died in 1887 while on a visit to France.

Francis A. Janssens (1843-1897)  

·         Born in Holland and ordained a priest in 1867 in Belgium.

·         Served as Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi (1881-1888).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1888-1897).  

Archbishop Janssens established St. Joseph’s Seminary and several churches and schools and was able to reduce the Archdiocese’s debt.  He established St. Katharine’s parish in New Orleans in 1895 for African-Americans.  Some viewed this as supportive of segregation, but Janssens thought it would build African-American leadership skills, just as ethnic parishes had done for other groups.  He also advocated the ordination of African-American priests long before other U.S. bishops did so.  [Only a dozen African-American priests were ordained in the United States prior to 1930.]  Janssens invited several religious orders to work in the Archdiocese, especially to minister to African-Americans, and proclaimed Our Lady of Prompt Succor as patroness of the Archdiocese.  He died at sea in 1897.

Placid L. Chapelle (1842-1905) 

·         Born in France and ordained a priest for Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1865.

·         Served as coadjutor archbishop of Santa Fe (1891-1894) and Archbishop of Santa Fe (1894-1897).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1897-1905).  

Archbishop Chapelle established several lay organizations in the Archdiocese, including the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, and St. Margaret’s Daughters.  A noted homilist, who spoke English, French, and Spanish, Chapelle was selected by the Vatican to also serve as Apostolic Delegate for Puerto Rico and Cuba in 1898 and Apostolic Delegate for the Philippines in 1899.  He was a friend to Presidents Arthur, Harrison, and Cleveland.  He spent much time away from the Archdiocese until 1905, when he traveled throughout the Archdiocese before returning to New Orleans.  Sadly, a yellow fever epidemic had broken out in New Orleans that year that claimed the Archbishop as one of its victims.

James H. Blenk, S.M. (1856-1917)  

·         Born in Germany, converted to Catholicism in New Orleans in 1869, ordained a Marist priest in 1885.

·         Served as Bishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico (1899-1906).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1906-1917).  

Archbishop Blenk took greater control of parochial schools through the establishment of school boards and the appointment of superintendents.  He invited the Josephites to establish additional parishes for African-Americans and encouraged lay participation in the Church through the Louisiana State Federation of Catholic Societies, the Catholic Societies of Women of Louisiana, the Knights of Peter Claver, and the Catholic Women's Club.  Blenk started an Archdiocesan office for Catholic Charities and dealt with the loss of life and destruction of a 1915 hurricane.  In that same year, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament started a school for African-Americans that later became Xavier University.  Archbishop Blenk died in 1917.

John W. Shaw (1861-1934)  

·         Born in Alabama and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, in 1888.

·         Served as coadjutor bishop of San Antonio, Texas (1910-1911) and Bishop of San Antonio (1911-1918).

·         Archbishop of New Orleans (1918-1934). 

Archbishop Shaw was the first U.S.-born Archbishop of New Orleans.  People began to move out of New Orleans to suburban towns during this time and Shaw built many new churches and schools to meet this demographic shift.  The geographic area of the Archdiocese was reduced due to the creation of the Diocese of Lafayette in 1918.  Shaw built Notre Dame Seminary in 1923 and fought and defeated an effort by the Ku Klux Klan to require all Louisiana children to attend public schools.  Archbishop Shaw died in 1934.

Joseph F. Rummel (1876-1964)  

• Born in Germany and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1902.
• Served as Bishop of Omaha, Nebraska (1928-1935).
• Archbishop of New Orleans (1935-1964).  

Archbishop Rummel led the Archdiocese for almost three decades.  Archbishop Rummel served during a time of tremendous growth in the Archdiocese.  The number of Catholics increased by over 75 percent and the number of children enrolled in Catholic elementary and high schools more than doubled.  To accommodate this growth, Rummel built almost 700 new buildings, which included building 48 new parishes and over 70 new schools.  This increase in the number of Catholics led to the creation of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1961.  Rummel hosted the Eighth National Eucharistic Congress in 1938, improved social services, started lay organizations to encourage greater lay participation in the Church, and defended the rights of workers.  Rummel was especially noteworthy in his efforts in racial desegregation.  He ordered the racial integration of all parish organizations and activities in 1953, suspended all Catholic services at one mission that prevented an African-American priest from celebrating Mass, and desegregated Archdiocesan schools in 1962.  Archbishop Rummel died in 1964.

John P. Cody (1907-1982)  

• Born in St. Louis and ordained a priest in 1931 for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis (1947-1954), coadjutor bishop of St. Joseph, Missouri (1954-1956), first Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph (1956-1961), coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans (1961-1964).
• Archbishop of New Orleans (1964-1965). 
• Later served as Archbishop of Chicago (1965-1982).  Named a Cardinal in 1967.

Archbishop Cody served as Archbishop for only about seven months prior to being named Archbishop of Chicago, but he began implementation of the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and he took a public stand for racial integration by excommunicating several Catholic politicians who opposed integration.

Philip M. Hannan (1913-2011)  

• Born in Washington, D.C., and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1939.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Washington (1956-1965).
• Archbishop of New Orleans (1965-1988).  

Hannan served as a paratrooper chaplain during the Second World War.  As Archbishop, he greatly expanded the Archdiocese’s social services programs, especially needed due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Betsy.  These programs continue to provide housing and food to the poor and needy and by 1989 the Archdiocese had become the largest private provider of social services in the State.  Hannan also established WLAE-TV, a public television station, and more than thirty new parishes.  As a result of the Second Vatican Council, he established several consultative bodies and created a program for permanent deacons.  Archbishop Hannan hosted Pope John Paul II during the Pope’s 1987 visit to New Orleans.  Growth in the Archdiocese led to the creation of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1977.  Archbishop Hannan retired in 1988.

Francis B. Schulte (1926-2016)  

• Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1952.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1981-1985) and Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia (1985-1988).
• Archbishop of New Orleans (1988-2002).  

Archbishop Schulte reorganized Archdiocesan offices and established improved accounting procedures that helped eliminate the Archdiocese’s debt.  He also established a successful fundraising campaign to provide funding to the seminary, schools, and for facilities for retired priests, and he continued to provide social services to the poor and needy.  Based on the results of a study, Schulte opened five new schools, but closed others.  Archbishop Schulte retired in 2002.

Alfred C. Hughes (born 1932) 

• Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1957.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Boston (1981-1993), Bishop of Baton Rouge (1993-2001), and coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans (2001-2002).
• Archbishop of New Orleans (2002-2009).  

Archbishop Hughes tenure was defined primarily by Hurricane Katrina and the clergy sexual abuse scandal.  Katrina caused $288 million in damage to Catholic churches and other buildings—only a third of which was reimbursed by insurance.  In addition the Archdiocese spent $77 million on aid to victims.  Many people left the area after Katrina, including a quarter of all Catholics in the Archdiocese.  As a result, Hughes closed 34 parishes—a move that was met with much opposition.  The Archdiocese did open schools sooner than the public system and enrolled children of police and firemen.  Hughes removed from ministry nine priests accused of sexual abuse of children, but some thought the Archdiocese moved slowly on sexual abuse claims.  Archbishop Hughes also sought to “evangelize the culture,” and fought against racism and certain types of genetic testing.  Hughes was noted for his dedication to the people of the Archdiocese.  Archbishop Hughes retired in 2009.

Current Archbishop

Gregory M. Aymond was appointed Archbishop of New Orleans by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.  He was born in New Orleans in 1949 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1975.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans (1997-2000), coadjutor bishop of Austin, Texas (2000) and Bishop of Austin (2000-2009).  He is the first native of New Orleans to serve as its Archbishop.

The Cathedral

St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square
New Orleans, Louisiana  70116

Louis (1214-1270) was born in France and became King Louis IX of France in 1226 upon his father’s death.  Louis led a pious life due at least in part to his Mother’s admonition that she “would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin.”  Louis prayed and fasted regularly and frequently ministered personally to the poor, the sick, and the hungry.  He established hospitals and homes for the disadvantaged.  He was also a patron of the University of Paris and built Sainte-Chapelle, one of the most beautiful buildings ever constructed.  He was a leader of the Seventh Crusade which began in 1248.  He was captured in battle and was held prisoner for a time before he returned to France in 1254.  He died of typhoid fever in North Africa leading the Eighth Crusade.  His feast day is August 25.

Father, you raised Saint Louis from the cares of earthly rule to the glory of your heavenly kingdom.  By the help of his prayers may we come to your eternal kingdom by our work here on earth.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Louis Cathedral is one of the most famous Catholic cathedrals in the United States and certainly one of the most photographed.  Its history goes back to 1720 when St. Louis parish was founded, shortly after New Orleans was first settled by the French.  The parish met in temporary buildings until the completion of the first St. Louis church in 1727.  This 3,600 square foot wooden and brick church served New Orleans Catholics, who were mostly French, until it burned in 1788.  Construction began on the second church in 1789 and was completed in 1794.  St. Louis almost immediately became a Cathedral with the arrival in 1795 of Luis Penalver y Cardenas, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana and the Two Floridas.  This building featured two bell-capped hexagonal steeples on either side of the church.  A central tower, designed by noted architect Henry Latrobe, was added in 1819.  In 1844, plans were made to remodel the Cathedral and J.N.B. de Pouilly was hired as the architect.  Construction began in 1849 and it became apparent the Cathedral would have to be almost entirely rebuilt.  Two years and half a million bricks later, today’s Cathedral was completed. 

All pictures were taken by me.

Most Americans immediately recognize the Spanish Colonial Cathedral with a central bell and clock tower and two smaller spires facing Jackson Square.  The clock was made by a Louisiana clockmaker and the bell, known as Victoire, was cast in Paris in the early 1800s.  The gilded main altar is built in a Rococo style and behind the altar is a mural by Swiss-American artist, Erasmus Humbrecht, showing King/Saint Louis announcing the Seventh Crusade.  The stained glass windows, depicting the life of Saint Louis, were gifts of the Spanish government.  The interior is decoratively painted, with much of the work done by Italian painter Francisco Zapari.  Flags indicate nations that have governed New Orleans.  As in any good Catholic church, there are lots of statues.  Behind the Cathedral is St. Anthony Garden.  You may want to visit the following website:  http://www.neworleanschurches.com/stlouiscath/stlouiscath.htm.

Pope Paul VI honored the Cathedral in 1964 by naming it a minor basilica.  Basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship. 

The Cathedral’s website is stlouiscathedral.org and the Archdiocesan website is arch-no.org.  The Cathedral is located in New Orleans’ French Quarter and has three weekend masses.  The parish has been administered since 1918 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

All pictures are by me, except for the last one from Pinterest.

Diocese of Alexandria

The Diocese consists of 13 parishes (counties) in central Louisiana.  The Diocese has 37,000 Catholics (10 percent of the total population) in 50 parishes as of 2015.  The Diocese was created as the Diocese of Natchitoches in 1853 and became the Diocese of Alexandria in 1910.  In 1977, Pope Paul VI renamed it as the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.  Pope John Paul II split the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport into separate dioceses in 1986 and once again it was the Diocese of Alexandria.

Bishops of Natchitoches

Augustus M. Martin (1803-1875)  

• Born in France and ordained a priest in France in 1828.
• First Bishop of Natchitoches (1853-1875).  

Pope Pius IX named Augustus Martin to be the first Bishop of Natchitoches in 1853—he was serving as pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Natchitoches at that time.  His new Diocese, which covered northern Louisiana, consisted of 20,000 Catholics, served by four priests and seven churches.  He quickly began recruiting priests from France and he established a seminary to train native priests.  He also opened a school for the children of free African-Americans in 1857.  He invited religious orders of priests and nuns to work in the Diocese and he attended the First Vatican Council.  Sadly, five priests died during the yellow fever epidemic of 1873.  Nevertheless, at the time of Martin’s death two years later, there were 29 priests serving 26 churches (and additional missions), plus there were 19 schools.

Francis X. Leray (1825-1887)  

• Born in France and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Natchez, Mississippi, in 1852.
• Bishop of Natchitoches (1877-1879). 
• Also served as Coadjutor Archbishop and Apostolic Administrator of New Orleans and Apostolic Administrator of Natchitoches (1879-1883), and Archbishop of New Orleans (1883-1887).

Leray was named Bishop of Natchitoches in 1877 and served as Bishop only until 1879, although he administered the Diocese for four more years while serving as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans.  His major contribution was the recognition that the Catholics of his Diocese mostly spoke English, but many of the priests were French, so he demanded that all of his priests communicate publically in English.

Anthony Durier (1832-1904)  

·         Born in France and ordained a priest probably in France in 1856.

·         Bishop of Natchitoches (1885-1904).

Bishop Durier was a strong advocate for education.  He created a Diocesan school board in 1889 and encouraged all parishes to establish schools, which resulted in almost 20 new schools—four of which were for African-American children.  He also established six new parishes.  Bishop Durier died in 1904.

Bishops of Alexandria

Cornelius Van de Ven (1865-1932)  

·         Born in Holland and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1890.

·         Bishop of Natchitoches (1904-1910) and first Bishop of Alexandria (1910-1932). 

Bishop Van De Ven served six years in Natchitoches before the Diocesan See was moved to Alexandria—where he served for 22 more years.  He established the first Catholic hospital in northern Louisiana—now called Schumpert Medical Center.  He also was a noted defender of human rights and he promoted lay involvement in the Church through organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of Columbus.  He established seven parishes and built 20 mission churches and increased vocations to the priesthood.  Bishop Van de Ven died in 1932.  

Daniel F. Desmond (1884-1945)  

·         Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1911.

·         Bishop of Alexandria (1933-1945).  

Desmond was the first Bishop of the Diocese born in the United States.   He established two dozen parishes and built 10 schools.  He traveled throughout the Diocese often celebrating Mass on a portable altar where no church existed.  He established a Diocesan stewardship program and a Diocesan Catholic Charities office.  He also invited the Franciscans to serve in the Diocese.  Bishop Desmond died of a heart attack in 1945.

Charles P. Greco (1894-1987)  

·         Born in Mississippi and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1918.

·         Bishop of Alexandria (1946-1973).  

Bishop Greco served during the post-war years of 1946 to 1973, a time of growth and change in the Church.  The post-war building boom saw the establishment of 33 parishes, and the construction of over 125 churches, 50 schools (including St. Mary’s Residential Training School), 100 convents and rectories, and 7 health-care facilities.  He also established Maryhill Renewal Center and led the Diocese through the changes called for by the Second Vatican Council, which he attended.  Bishop Greco served as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus (1961-1987).  Bishop Greco retired as Bishop of Alexandria in 1973.

Bishops of Alexandria-Shreveport

Lawrence P. Graves (1916-1994)  

• Born in Arkansas and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Little Rock in 1942.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Little Rock, Arkansas (1969-1973).
• Bishop of Alexandria (1973-1977), and first Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1977-1982).  

Bishop Graves expanded the Diocese’s communications and media programs (newspaper, radio, and television), created the permanent diaconate program, and improved religious education, youth ministry, and continuing education for priests.  He also established a Diocesan fund-raising effort.  Bishop Graves retired in 1982.

William B. Friend (1931-2015)  

• Born in Florida and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, in 1959.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1979-1982).
• Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1982-1986).
• Later served as the first Bishop of Shreveport (1986-2006).

In 1986, the Diocese was split into two dioceses and Friend became the first Bishop of Shreveport.  I do not know what he accomplished in Alexandria.

Bishops of Alexandria

John C. Favalora (born 1935)  

• Born in New Orleans ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1961.
• Bishop of Alexandria (1986-1989). 
• Later served as Bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida (1989-1994), and as Archbishop of Miami (1994-2010).

Bishop Favalora served only three years before becoming Bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida and I do not know what he did in Alexandria.  

Sam G. Jacobs (born 1938)  

·         Born in Mississippi and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1964.

·         Bishop of Alexandria (1989-2003).  

·         Later served as Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (2003-2013).

Bishop Jacobs was a leader in the Catholic charismatic movement during the 1990s.  He also established the Steubenville South Youth Conference—a major conference for young Catholics.  He was named Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in 2003. 

Ronald P. Herzog (born 1942) 

·         Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Mississippi, in 1968, and became a priest for the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1977, where he also served as a military chaplain.

·         Bishop of Alexandria (2004-2017). 

Bishop Herzog arranged to have the Diocese’s seminarians trained elsewhere after the temporary closing of the seminary in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina.  He also instituted a dinner to raise money for seminary educations.  Bishop Herzog reinstituted the permanent diaconate program and the Diocese should have 30 permanent deacons by 2018.  Herzog also sent the Diocesan newspaper to all Diocesan homes at no cost as a way of keeping people informed about Catholic issues and to evangelize.  Bishop Herzog retired in 2017.

Current Bishop

David P. Talley was named coadjutor bishop of Alexandria in 2016 by Pope Francis and became Bishop upon the retirement of Bishop Herzog in 2017.  Bishop Talley was born in Georgia in 1950 and ordained a priest in for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1989.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta (2013-2016).

The Cathedral

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

626 4th Street
Alexandria, Louisiana  71301

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was one of the Church’s greatest missionaries.  Born in Spain, he studied at the University of Paris, where he met St. Ignatius Loyola and he became, in 1534, one of the original members of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits.  Ordained to the priesthood in 1537, he ministered in Venice and Rome, before sailing for the East Indies in 1541.  After a several month stopover in Mozambique, he arrived in the Portuguese colony of Goa, India, in 1542.  For the next 10 years, he preached the Gospel and tended to the poor and the sick.  He traveled around India, as well as to today’s Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Japan, and possibly the Philippines.  After a brief return to Goa in 1552, he sailed for China.  During a stop at the island of Sancian, just six miles off the coast of China, he became ill and died.  He was canonized in 1622 and is the patron saint of foreign missions and of several countries, including India and Japan.  His feast day is celebrated on December 3.

God our Father, by the preaching of Francis Xavier you brought many nations to yourself.  Give his zeal for the Faith to all who believe in you, that your Church may rejoice in continued growth throughout the world.

Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches was established in 1728 and is the oldest Catholic Church in northern Louisiana.  Northern Louisiana became the Diocese of Natchitoches in 1853 and Immaculate Conception was selected to be the Bishop Augustus Martin’s cathedral.  Bishop Martin started construction of the current church in 1857 and it was completed in 1892.  (See additional information below.)  Bishop Cornelius Van de Ven moved the Diocesan See to Alexandria in 1910 because of its central location in the Diocese.

The first church of any kind in Alexandria was a Catholic chapel built in 1817.  The first St. Francis Xavier Church was built in 1834 on Front Street (between Bellier and Xavier Streets).  This church was the only building in Alexandria that survived the Civil War.  The parish pastor impersonated the Union Army’s commanding general and ordered the Union troops to spare the church and they did.

The 1834 church burned on December 30, 1895, and was replaced by the current red-brick Gothic Revival building in 1899.  The church was designed by Nicholas Clayton and it became the Cathedral for the Diocese of Alexandria in 1910.  The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the second from Wikipedia.

The Cathedral has a single tower that serves as a belfry and a clock tower.  Among its features are floors of native pine; beautiful stained glass windows, including rose windows thought to be the largest in Louisiana; a hand-carved walnut main altar; and an opus 2218, 3 manual, 48 rank Reuter Organ, dedicated in 2004.

The Diocesan website is diocesealex.org.  The Cathedral does not have its own website, but does have a page on the diocesan website:  diocesealex.org/churches/st-francis-xavier-cathedral-alexandria. 

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The Cathedral is located in downtown Alexandria and has four weekend masses.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website and the others are from Wikipedia.

Also located in the Diocese

The Diocese’s first Cathedral in Natchitoches was raised to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 and is now known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.  Immaculate Conception parish served as the Cathedral parish for the former Diocese of Natchitoches from 1853 to 1910.  Construction of the current church was completed in 1892.  European artists crafted the hand-painted Stations of the Cross and the stained glass windows.  The statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph come from the original Cathedral that was built in 1826.  Additional information can be found on the Basilica’s website at minorbasilica.org.  There are also several pictures on the following website: http://www.neworleanschurches.com/nacht_cath/index.htm.

The top picture is from the Diocesan website, the middle picture is from the Cathedral's Facebook page, and the bottom picture is from Pinterest.

Diocese of Lafayette

The Diocese consists of 7 parishes (counties) plus a portion of St. Mary’s Parish in southwestern Louisiana.  The Diocese has 273,000 Catholics (45 percent of the total population) in 121 parishes as of 2015.

Bishops of Lafayette

Jules B. Jeanmard (1879-1957) 

·         Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1903.

·         First Bishop of Lafayette (1918-1956).  

Bishop Jeanmard would lead the Diocese for almost four decades.  Jeanmard established a diocesan newspaper and used radio and television to communicate with the people of the Diocese.  He also established several organizations to encourage lay participation in the Church and emphasized religious education and spiritual renewal through retreats and conferences.  Jeanmard increased vocations and established many new parishes, schools, and institutions, as well as Immaculata Seminary.  He also encouraged the Faith of African-American Catholics by bringing four African-American priests of the Divine Word Missionaries to the Diocese in 1934 to serve the Diocese’s African-Americans.  Three African-American priests who served in the Diocese during the time of Bishop Jeanmard eventually became bishops themselves.  Jeanmard also opened schools for African-American children and he defended the rights of workers to unionize.  He integrated Diocesan facilities and events in 1954.  Jeanmard retired in 1956.

Maurice Schexnayder (1895-1981)  

·         Born in Wallace, Louisiana and ordained a priest in 1925 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

·         Served as auxiliary bishop of Lafayette (1951-1956).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1956-1972).  

Bishop Schexnayder attended the Second Vatican Council and implemented the changes resulting from the Council, including the establishment of parish councils, school boards, and other lay advisory groups.  He also established Diocesan offices to improve social services and family life.  Schexnayder advocated for better religious instruction.  He established over 30 new parishes, ordained over 80 new priests, and built a home for the aged.  Bishop Schexnayder retired in 1972.

Gerald L. Frey (1914-2007)  

·         Born in New Orleans and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1938.

·         Served as Bishop of Savannah, Georgia (1967-1972).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1972-1989).  

Bishop Frey increased participation in administration of the Diocese by clergy, religious, and laity.  He also convened a synod to consult with all people in the Diocese to set priorities and guidance for the future.  Frey appointed a woman to be Diocesan chancellor—the first in the United States.  Bishop Frey retired in 1989.

Harry J. Flynn (born 1933)  

·         Born in New York and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albany in 1960.

·         Served as coadjutor bishop of Lafayette (1986-1989).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1989-1994). 

·         Later served as coadjutor archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis (1994-1995), and Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis (1995-2008).

Bishop Flynn conducted parish and school visitations, encouraged vocations to the priesthood and religious life, promoted Catholic education and expanded religious education.  Flynn joined other Louisiana bishops in pastoral letters condemning capital punishment, warning of the evils of gambling, opposing abortion, supporting Catholic schools, and promoting financial support of the church.  Bishop Flynn was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1994.

Edward J. O’Donnell (1931-2009) 

·         Born in Missouri and ordained a priest in 1957 for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

·         Served as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis (1984-1994).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1994-2002).

Bishop O'Donnell initiated Diocesan programs in anticipation of the third millennium of Christianity. In a diocese which has one of the highest percentages of Black Catholics in the United States, he encouraged an increased presence by Blacks in diocesan and parish affairs.  Bishop O’Donnell retired in 2002.

C. Michael Jarrell (born 1940)  

·         Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, and ordained a priest in 1967 for the Diocese of Lafayette.

·         Served as Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (1993-2002).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (2002-2016).

I was not able to find much about Bishop Jarrell, except that in 2004, the Diocese and its insurers paid $26 million to 123 victims of sexual abuse committed by Diocesan priests over a 50-year period.  Bishop Jarrell retired in 2016.

Current Bishop

John Douglas Deshotel was appointed Bishop of Lafayette by Pope Francis in 2016.  He was born in Kinder, Louisiana, in 1952, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Dallas in 1978.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Dallas (2010-2016).

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

914 St. John Street

Lafayette, Louisiana 70502

St. John was one of the twelve Apostles, one of the four Evangelists, and the brother of the Apostle James the Great.  He is the author of one of the Gospels, three Epistles, and the Book of Revelation.  He took care of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the time of Jesus’ death to the time of her death.  According to tradition, he died of old age around 100 A.D. in Ephesus in modern day Turkey.  His feast day is December 27.

O Glorious St. John, you were so loved by Jesus that you merited to rest your head upon his breast, and to be left in his place as son to Mary. Obtain for us an ardent love for Jesus and Mary. Let me be united with them now on earth and forever after in heaven.

St. John’s was established in 1821 as the first parish in Lafayette, which at the time was known as Vermilionville.  A second church was built in the 1850s.  The current Dutch Romanesque church was built in 1916 and became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Lafayette two years later.  The Cathedral is constructed with red and white bricks and has a 216-foot tall central bell tower with smaller turrets on either side.  St. John’s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website and the bottom picture is from snipview.

The main altar is made of Italian marble with mosaic representations of Eucharistic symbols.  There are also stone medallions depicting the symbols of the Evangelists.  The Bishop’s cathedra is also made of marble and has a mosaic of Bishop Jeanmard’s coat of arms.  The Blessed Sacrament altar to the left of the main altar has the tabernacle, which is flanked by two gilt-wood angels.  The first two bishops of Lafayette are buried below this altar.  The altar to the right of the main altar holds the Holy Oils.  Above this altar is a metal sculpture of a dove—the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The nave’s ceiling is decorated with oil paintings of Christ the King and His Apostles.  The flambeau stained glass windows were made in Munich, Germany, and portray the life of St. John the Evangelist.  The walls contain mosaic Stations of the Cross and statues of many saints.  The Cathedral’s pipe organ, installed in 1985, is a Limitee organ made by Casavant Frères.  The following is from The Liguori Guide to Catholic USA.  “The twenty-two interior Gothic arches are made of Bedford Stone.  The Celtic ceiling designs, taken from the Books of Kells, consist of various crosses done in gold leaf. Above the high altar is a bronze canopy created by Carl Wyland, a German craftsman.  Our Lady’s Chapel, 42 feet by 48 feet, has three first-rate stained-glass windows that depict Marian apparitions.”

Outside the Cathedral is the parish cemetery—the city’s oldest—and the St. John oak tree.  This tree is thought to be over 400 years old and measures 9 feet in diameter and almost 29 feet in circumference.  The tree is 126 high with a spread of 210 feet across.  There is also a museum and gift shop.

The Cathedral’s website is saintjohncathedral.org, which has both a short video tour and a longer audio tour of the Cathedral.  The Diocesan website is diolaf.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Lafayette and has five weekend masses to serve over 1,500 parish families.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of 775.  Also see http://www.neworleanschurches.com/lafcath/stjohnlaf.htm.

All pictures are from the Cathedral website.

Diocese of Baton Rouge

The Diocese consists of 12 parishes (counties) in southeastern Louisiana.  The Diocese has 198,000 Catholics (20 percent of the total population) in 67 parishes as of 2015.

Bishops of Baton Rouge

Robert E. Tracy (1909-1980) 

·         Born in New Orleans and ordained a priest in 1932 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

·         Served as auxiliary bishop of Lafayette (1959-1961).

·         First Bishop of Baton Rouge (1961-1974).  

Robert Tracy became the first Bishop of Baton Rouge in 1961 and shortly thereafter attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome.  Bishop Tracy embraced the work of the Council and encouraged greater involvement by the religious and laity in the administration of the Diocese.  He also emphasized liturgical renewal and modern catechetical efforts and he directed the renovation of St. Joseph Cathedral in keeping with the Council’s liturgical changes.  He preached racial equality and built a center for educational and social services.  He was the first U.S. bishop to publish a Diocesan financial statement.  He retired in 1974.

Joseph V. Sullivan (1919-1982)  

·         Born in Missouri and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1946.

·         Served as auxiliary bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri (1964-1974).

·         Bishop of Baton Rouge (1974-1982).  

Bishop Sullivan spoke out frequently against the evils of abortion, euthanasia and other “life” issues and he strongly supported the Diocese’s parochial schools.  He emphasized Church teaching that Catholics in an invalid marriage may not receive the sacraments.  He died in 1982.  Well after his death, the Diocese settled three lawsuits concerning alleged sexual abuse by Bishop Sullivan.

Stanley J. Ott (1927-1992)  

·         Born in Gretna, Louisiana, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1951.

·         Served as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans (1976-1983).

·         Bishop of Baton Rouge (1983-1992).  

Bishop Ott sought greater lay participation in the Church and encouraged the laity at the parish level to renew their spiritual lives so that they could better proclaim the Gospel to others.  He also promoted better ecumenical relationships with other faith traditions.  He was an outspoken pro-life advocate and celebrated a Mass for the repose of the soul of the killer in the book and movie “Dead Man Walking.”  Ott also developed a program to promote financial, ministerial, and spiritual stewardship.  Bishop Ott was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 1991 and he won the admiration of Catholics and non-Catholics alike with his Faith and courage before his death the following year.  

Alfred C. Hughes (born 1932)  

• Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1957.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of Boston (1981-1993).
• Bishop of Baton Rouge (1993-2001). 
• Later served as coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans (2001-2002) and Archbishop of New Orleans (2002-2009).

Hughes sought to strengthen the Faith of the people of the Diocese through promotion of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church and through a series of adult education programs—including some on local television.  He fought for social justice for African-Americans and for the poor and he sought to increase vocations to the priesthood.  He also began a successful stewardship program.  He was named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans in 2001.

Current Bishop

Robert W. Muench was appointed Bishop of Baton Rouge by Pope John Paul II in 2001.   He was born in Kentucky in 1942 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1968.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans (1990-1996) and Bishop of Covington, Kentucky (1996-2001).

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Joseph

401 Main Street

Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70802

St. Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus.  He was a carpenter and taught this trade to Jesus.  Devotion to St. Joseph dates to the early days of Christianity in the Eastern churches, but only in the last 500 or so years has Joseph gained his deserved respect in Western Christendom.  He is the patron saint of many countries, as well as being the patron saint of workers and fathers.  He is also known as the patron of a happy death, since he presumably died in the presence of Jesus, the Son of God, and Mary, the Mother of God.  His feast day is March 19.

God, who was pleased to elect blessed Joseph as spouse of your Mother; grant we beseech you, that as we venerate him as our protector on earth we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven, who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

St. Joseph’s was founded in 1792 and is the oldest parish in Baton Rouge.  The first church was a small wooden church (located on the same site as today’s Cathedral) that served a Spanish, French, and American congregation.  A second larger church was completed in 1930 on the same site.  The current church was completed in 1853 and was administered by Jesuits.  St. Joseph’s became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1970.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Cathedral was designed by Father John Cambiaso, S.J., in a Gothic Revival style.  It is made of brick with a white stucco facing and has a single central tower with a steeple.  Notable features of the Cathedral are the stained glass windows from Germany, the mosaic Stations of the Cross from Italy, and the mahogany crucifix sculpted by Ivan Meštrović.  The sanctuary and main altar are made of marble.  The pipe organ was installed in 1992 by the Reuter Organ Company of Kansas.  The organ has 50 ranks and three manuals and pedals.

The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and received an award from the U.S. Liturgical Conference as an outstanding example of a church renovation related to the Second Vatican Council.  Additional information can be found on the Cathedral website at cathedralbr.org and on the Diocesan website at diobr.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Baton Rouge and has four weekend masses to serve a small downtown parish.  Also see http://www.neworleanschurches.com/br_stjos/brstjos.htm.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website, the middle is from tripadvisor, and the bottom from Wikipedia.

Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux

The Diocese consists of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes and portions of Jefferson and St. Mary Parishes in southeastern Louisiana.  The Diocese has 94,000 Catholics (46 percent of the total population) in 39 parishes as of 2015.  Thibodaux is among a dozen U.S. diocesan sees that have a population of fewer than 20,000.

Bishops of Houma-Thibodaux

Warren L. Boudreaux (1918-1997)  

• Born in Berwick, Louisiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1942.
• Served as auxiliary Bishop of Lafayette (1962-1971) and Bishop of Beaumont, Texas (1971-1977).
• First Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (1977-1992).  

Bishop Boudreaux organized the new Diocese by establishing a school board, a council of priests, a stewardship appeal, and a newspaper.  He started several new parishes and schools and dealt with damage caused by two hurricanes.  One of the new parishes was established for Vietnamese Catholics in Amelia.  Boudreaux welcomed a community of cloistered Dominican nuns to the Diocese and built a youth retreat center.  Bishop Boudreaux began production of local programs on a Catholic television network and banned church fairs and all parish activities that involved gambling.  Bishop Boudreaux retired in 1992.

C. Michael Jarrell (born 1940)  

• Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1967.
• Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (1993-2002). 
• Later served as Bishop of Lafayette (2002-2016).

Bishop Jarrell consolidated some parishes and instituted the Renew program for faith renewal among the laity.  He also established a Diocesan website and revamped the Diocesan newspaper.  Bishop Jarrell approved a long-term plan for Diocesan schools and a program to protect children from abuse.  Jarrell, along with 4,000 others, participated in a major celebration of Pentecost in June 2000.  Bishop Jarrell also clarified the ban on church fairs ordered by Bishop Boudreaux.  Jarrell was named Bishop of Lafayette in 2002.

Sam G. Jacobs (born 1938) 

• Born in Mississippi and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1964.
• Served as Bishop of Alexandria (1989-2003).
• Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (2003-2013).

Bishop Jacobs was Bishop during the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina as well as two other hurricanes.  The Diocese attended to those in need in the Diocese and in neighboring areas.  Jacobs also implemented a child protection program in the Diocese and enacted a census.  Bishop Jacobs opened a Hispanic ministry, an adult faith formation program, and a ministry to bring Catholic teaching, celebrate liturgies, and provide fellowship to specific age groups.  He also directed the renovation of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux and greatly increased the number of priestly vocations.  Bishop Jacobs retired in 2013.

Current Bishop

Shelton Fabre was appointed Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux by Pope Francis in 2013.  He was born in New Roads, Louisiana, in 1963, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 1989.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans (2006-2013).

The Cathedrals

Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales
500 Goode Street
Houma, Louisiana  70361

Francis (1567-1622) was born in what is now France.  Francis studied law, but was ordained a priest in 1593.  He went to Geneva, Switzerland, and successfully reconverted many who had left the Church to become Calvinists.  He became Bishop of Geneva in 1602 and visited all 450 of his Diocese’s parishes.  In 1608, he wrote “Introduction to the Devout Life” to help lay Christians lead a holy life.  He also founded several religious orders.  He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1877 and is the patron saint of writers, the Catholic press, and the hearing impaired.  His feast day is January 24.

Be at Peace.  Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they rise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination. (St. Francis de Sales)

St. Francis de Sales parish was founded in 1847 and the first church was completed the following year.  This first Romanesque brick church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926.  The current church was dedicated in 1938 and became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1977.  Much of the cost of the new church was provided by Father August Vandebilt.  The brick church is built in the French-Gothic style with a single bell tower. 

From the Cathedral website.

Some additional information can be found at stfrancisdesaleshouma.org and on the Diocesan website at htdiocese.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Houma and serves a parish of 2,100 families with five weekend masses.  The parish elementary school has 800 students.  There are many pictures of the Cathedral on the following website: http://www.neworleanschurches.com/desales_houma/index.htm.

Top picture is from the Cathedral website and the bottom from snipview.

St. Joseph Co-Cathedral

721 Canal Boulevard

Thibodaux, Louisiana 70302 

St. Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus.  He was a carpenter and taught this trade to Jesus.  Devotion to St. Joseph dates to the early days of Christianity in the Eastern churches, but only in the last 500 or so years has Joseph gained his deserved respect in Western Christendom.  He is the patron saint of many countries, as well as being the patron saint of workers and fathers.  He is also known as the patron of a happy death, since he presumably died in the presence of Jesus, the Son of God, and Mary, the Mother of God.  His feast day is March 19.

Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, you felt sorrow when you learned that your betrothed was pregnant and in danger of being stoned to death. However you felt joy when the angel of the Lord told you to have no fear, to take Mary as your wife because the child was the Word Incarnate, conceived in her by the Holy Spirit.  Glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

St. Joseph was established as a mission church in 1817 and as such is the oldest church in the Diocese.  A small wooden church—located near St. Joseph’s Cemetery—was built in 1819 to serve the congregation and a pastor was appointed the same year.  A more substantial brick church was completed in 1849 which served the parish until it was destroyed by fire in 1916.  Construction of the current Renaissance Romanesque church, designed by Joseph Robichaux, began in 1920 and the first Mass was celebrated in 1923, although work on the interior would continue for many more years.  St. Joseph became Co-Cathedral for the newly established Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1977.  The Co-Cathedral is made of pressed red brick with stone trim.  Two towers stand on either side of the main entrance.  The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From Wikipedia.

The main altar, as well as the side altars dedicated to Our Blessed Mother and to St. Joseph, are made of French and Italian marble.  The main altar base and steps are gold-veined Egyptian marble.  Above the main altar is a 34-foot baldachin with symbols of the Evangelists.  The gold dome has images of the Tree of Knowledge, the Tree of Life, a snake, an apple, and peacocks symbolizing the triumph and glory of the risen Christ.  The Co-Cathedral’s stained glass windows depict the life of Christ and the Seven Sacraments, one of which depicts the Baptism of Clovis, the first Christian King of France.  The rose window at the rear of the church is modeled after one in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.  The Co-Cathedral also has a bier containing the relics of St. Valerie of France.

Additional detail can be found on the Co-Cathedral’s website at stjoseph-cc.org.  The Co-Cathedral is located in downtown Thibodaux and serves a parish of 2,300 families with five weekend masses.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of over 700.  Also see http://www.neworleanschurches.com/stjoseph_cocath/index.htm.

The first five pictures are from the Cathedral website, the next two are from pinterest, and the last is from Wikipedia.

Diocese of Lake Charles

The Diocese consists of 5 Parishes (counties) in southwestern Louisiana.  The Diocese has 70,000 Catholics (24 percent of the total population) in 39 parishes as of 2015. 

Bishops of Lake Charles

Jude Speyrer (1929-2013) 

• Born in Leonville, Louisiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1953.
• First Bishop of Lake Charles (1980-2000).

Jude Speyrer served as the first Bishop of Lake Charles from 1980 until his retirement in 2000.  Bishop Speyrer established a Diocesan newspaper and a Sunday morning television program.  He established churches and schools, including a chapel for merchant seaman at the Port of Lake Charles.  He also built the Saint Charles Retreat Center in Moss Bluff in 1995.  

Edward K. Braxton (born 1944).  

• Born in Chicago and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1970.
• Served as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis (1995-2000).
• Bishop of Lake Charles (2000-2005). 
• Serves as Bishop of Belleville, Illinois (since 2005).

Bishop Braxton established two parishes and revised the Diocese’s Confirmation preparation and the Rite of Christian Initiation programs.  He began fund-raising drives, especially for the expansion of St. Louis Catholic High School.  He ordained three priests in 2002—the most in any one year in the history of the Diocese.  Braxton was appointed Bishop of Belleville, Illinois, in 2005. 

Monsignor Harry Greig served as Diocesan Administrator for two years (2005-2007), during which time most of the Diocese’s buildings were damaged, and some destroyed, by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Current Bishop

Glen J. Provost was appointed Bishop of Lake Charles by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.  He was born in Lafayette in 1949 and ordained a priest in for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1975.  He previously served as a pastor and Diocesan official for the Diocese of Lafayette.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

935 Bilbo Street

Lake Charles, Louisiana  70602

Many Christians believe that humans are born into sin—known as original sin.  This sin is erased through baptism and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Catholics believe that Mary, through the grace of God, was conceived without the stain of original sin—the Immaculate Conception.  She was given the honor because of her role as the Mother of God.  The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8.

O Mother of the King of the Universe, most perfect member of the human race, "our tainted nature’s solitary boast," we turn to you as mother, advocate, and mediator. O Holy Mary, assist us in our present necessity. By your Immaculate Conception, O Mary conceived without sin, we humbly beseech you from the bottom of our heart to intercede for us with your Divine Son and ask that we be granted the favor for which we now plead... (State your intention here...) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

The parish was founded in 1869 and is the oldest in Lake Charles.  The original church burned in 1910.  The current church was completed in 1913 and was designed by the architectural firm of Favrot & Livaudais in an Italianate style.  The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it became the Cathedral for the new Diocese in 1980.

From pinterest.

The Cathedral has a Carrara marble altar purchased from the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1922 for $5,000.  The Gothic-style altar has statues of the Evangelists and was originally built for the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.  The Cathedral also has a 100-year old Carrara marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Cathedral’s website is immaculateconceptioncathedral.com and the Diocesan website is lcdiocese.org.  

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The Cathedral is located in downtown Lake Charles and has five weekend masses.  The parish elementary school enrolls 440 students.

The first two pictures are from the Cathedral website and the last is from pinterest.

Diocese of Shreveport

The Diocese consists of 16 Parishes (counties) in northern Louisiana.  The Diocese has 42,000 Catholics (5 percent of the total population) in 27 parishes as of 2015.

Bishops of Shreveport

William B. Friend (1931-2015) 

• Born in Florida and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, in 1959.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1979-1982) and Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport (1982-1986).
• First Bishop of Shreveport (1986-2006).

Bishop Friend was a strong supporter of better relations with Protestants and Jews and he fought against racism.  The Greater Shreveport Human Relations Commission honored him with the 1999 Universal Human Rights Service Award.  He served as State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and served one term as Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Friend created one of the first Diocesan programs to protect children from abuse.  He served on several Catholic science boards and his research on the Human Genome Project helped Vatican officials better understand it.  Bishop Friend retired in 2006.

Current Bishop

Michael G. Duca was appointed the second Bishop of Shreveport by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.  He was born in Texas in 1952 and ordained a priest in for the Diocese of Dallas in 1978.  He previously served as rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Texas (1996-2008).

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans
939 Jordan Street
Shreveport, Louisiana  71101

St. John Berchmans (1599-1621) was born in what is now Belgium.  He was well-liked by his childhood peers, was a good student, and developed a deep piety at a young age.  He attended a Jesuit College beginning in 1615 and became a novice with the Society of Jesus the following year.  He was devoted to our Blessed Mother and performed the normal activities of the day with zeal and perfection.  The Jesuits sent him to Rome in 1618 for additional schooling and he died there.  He is the patron saint of altar boys and his feast day is celebrated on November 26.

To be Christ’s page at the altar, to serve Him freely there. Where even the angels falter, bowed low in reverent prayer. To touch the throne most holy, to hand the gifts for the feast, to see Him meekly, lowly, descend at the word of the priest. To hear man’s poor petition, to sound the silver bell, when He in sweet submission, comes down with us to dwell. No grander mission surely could saints or men enjoy; no heart should love more purely, than yours my altar server. God bless you forever, and keep you in His care, and guard you that you never belie the robes you wear. For white bespeaks untainted a heart both tried and true; And red tolls love the sainted the holy martyrs knew. Throughout life, then, endeavor God’s graces to employ; and be in heart forever A holy altar server. (Prayer by St. John Berchmans)

St. John Berchmans parish was established in 1902 by the Jesuits as Shreveport’s second parish.  The need for a larger church resulted in the building of the current Tudor and modified Gothic church.  Construction was commenced in 1927 and completed the next year.  It became the co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1977 and Cathedral for the Diocese of Shreveport in 1986.  The Cathedral is now administered by Diocesan priests.

From the Cathedral website.

The red brick Cathedral has a single tower.  Above the main entrance to the Cathedral is a statue of its patron, St. John Berchmans.  The vestibule has statues of Jesuit saints, St. Francis Xavier and St. Alphonsus Rodriguez.  The ceiling of the nave is supported by Tudor style exposed beams.  The sides of the nave have an upper layer of stained glass windows depicting the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.  Below are the Stations of the Cross, which are oil paintings.  Below the Stations are small stained glass windows depicting Jesus, Mary, St. Michael the Archangel, and various saints.  The Cathedral has three large windows made by Emil Frei of Canada, one at the end of each transept and one above the choir loft.  These windows depict Jesus and His Blessed Mother and tell the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the founding of the Jesuits.

The main altar is made of Italian marble in a Baroque (or Rococo) style, popular with Jesuits.  The reredos behind the altar is also made of white Italian marble.  The reredos has six panels showing the instruments of Christ’s passion and death.  Atop the reredos are statues of St. Joseph, St. John Berchmans, and St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order.  Life-size paintings of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier flank the main altar and are at least a century old.

The Sacred Heart altar to the left of the main altar has a statue of Jesus with his Sacred Heart, a recent oil painting of St. Vincent de Paul, and a statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague.  Stained glass windows behind the altar depict Our Blessed Mother and Jesuit themes.  This altar also contains the Tabernacle.  The altar to the right of the main altar is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her statue is above the altar.  This altar holds the Holy Oils and has an oil painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe done by Spanish artists in 2012.

Behind the Cathedral is the St. Michael the Archangel Chapel completed in 1995 and used for daily Mass.  The chapel has a stained glass window depicting St. Michael and a wood carving of the Holy Family.  The most interesting feature is a 13^th Century painting by Guinta of Pisa.  The painting was taken to Turkey as a result of war.  It was rediscovered in Istanbul in the early 20^th Century and eventually brought to New York.  It was auctioned there to a Shreveport couple who donated it the Cathedral.

The Cathedral website, sjbcathedral.org, has more information, including a tour brochure and a video.  The Diocesan website is dioshpt.org.  

Previous Page

The Cathedral is located less than a mile southwest of downtown Shreveport and celebrates four weekend masses.  The parish elementary school enrolls over 200 students.

The website, http://www.neworleanschurches.com/shreveport/shreveportchurches.htm, has pictures of several Shreveport churches, including the Cathedral. 

The top two pictures are from the Cathedral website, the third is from snipview, and the bottom from Wikipedia.

Update

In December 2016, Pope Francis appointed Barry C. Knestout to be Bishop of Richmond, Virginia.  Bishop Knestout, from Cheverly, Maryland, has served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington since 2008.  Knestout was installed as Bishop of Richmond on January 12, 2018.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington on June 24, 1989. Assignments after ordination included: associate pastor, St. Bartholomew's Parish, Bethesda, MD (1989-1993); associate pastor, St. Peter's Parish, Waldorf (1993-1994); priest secretary to Cardinal James Hickey (1994-2004); executive director, Archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, (2001-2003); priest secretary to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (2003-2004); pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Silver Spring (2004-2006); and the Archdiocesan Secretary for Pastoral Life and Social Concerns (2006-2008).  Named Monsignor by Pope John Paul II in 1999, he was then named moderator of the curia in April 2007 and assisted Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl in overseeing administrative affairs.

I haven’t talked much about auxiliary bishops in my blog.  Auxiliary bishops assist the Bishop or Archbishop in the management of a diocese, especially a large one.  It is not unusual in the case of a large diocese to have auxiliary bishops representing many of the ethnic groups making up the Catholic population of the Diocese.  The Archdiocese of Washington, for example, usually has three auxiliary bishops—one white, one black, and one Hispanic.  Auxiliary bishops, as bishops, are assigned a diocese, so to speak.  Their diocese, however, is always a former diocese.  So they do not actually govern this diocese, since it no longer exists, but they have the title.  Hence auxiliary bishops are also referred to as titular bishops.  This can also be the case of bishops who are made honorary archbishops—they are the Bishop of their Diocese, but have the title of some defunct archdiocese somewhere in the world.

For the Archdiocese of Washington, Bishop Knestout was the titular bishop of Leavenworth—a former diocese in Kansas.  Bishop Roy Campbell is the Titular Bishop of Ucres, a former diocese in Tunisia.  Bishop Mario Dorsonville-Rodríguez is the Titular Bishop of Kearney, a former Nebraska diocese.

Update

The Vatican announced on January 14, 2018 that St. Mary Catholic Church in Alexandria will have the title of minor basilica.  The 223-year-old Roman Catholic Church will officially be named “The Basilica of Saint Mary.”  It is the oldest Catholic parish in Virginia.