CATHOLIC CONNECTION
CATHOLIC CONNECTION
PUBLISHER
Bishop Francis I. Malone
EDITOR
Sophia Romanski
CONTRIBUTORS
Mary Arcement Alexander
Lexi Corum
Karen Dill
Jordan Harris
Jamie Humphrey
Diane Libro
Lucy Medvec
Rev. Joe Martina
Brett Reggio
Isabella Romanski
Noemi Saybe
Mike Van Vranken
Dr. Cheryl White
OCTOBER 2025
Volume 35, Number 3
THE SHREVEPORT MARTYRS
Pope Leo XIV's Prayer Intention For The Month Of October
FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice, and human fraternity.
Cover photo: Bishop Francis I. Malone uses his ring to seal the pages documenting the lives of the Shreveport Martyrs, closing the Diocesan Inquiry and preparing to deliver over 5,000 pages to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Vatican City.
by Sophia Romanski.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES
Blanca Vice bvice@dioshpt.org
318-868-4441
SUBMISSIONS
Sophia Romanski sromanski@dioshpt.org
The Catholic Connection is a member of the Catholic Media Association.
The Diocese of Shreveport complies with Virtus’ Protecting God’s Children program (www.virtus.org). Online sessions are available. To report child sexual abuse by a cleric or church worker in the Diocese of Shreveport, call your local law enforcement agency and Mary Arcement Alexander, Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 318-588-2120. Thank you for helping to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe.
The Catholic Connection is funded in part by a grant from the Catholic Home Missions Appeal and donations to the Catholic Service Appeal.
MISSION
STATEMENT
The Catholic Connection is a monthly publication funded by your Catholic Service Appeal, mailed to every known Catholic household in the Diocese of Shreveport. Our mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of our Catholic faith among the faithful. We seek to foster the application of Christ’s teachings and our Church’s mission in our daily lives and to encourage our sense of Catholic identity within our family, parish, and faith community.
OCTOBER SECOND COLLECTIONS
OCTOBER 18 & 19 - WORLD MISSION SUNDAY is the day when Catholics around the world unite to support the missionary work of the Church. It is the only annual global collection that directly supports the 1,124 mission territories where the Church is young, struggling, or persecuted.
Very Rev. Msgr. Matthew T. Long
Dcn. Charles Thomas, OFS
Karla Alvarez
Rev. Kevin Mues
Rosalba Quiroz
Photo
October 6th - 13th
OCIA Class; Parish Office Library, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 9:00 AM; White Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 11:00 AM
Rome Trip to include Meeting with Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – Re: Five Servants of God
Fr. Joseph Martina, Msgr. Earl Provenza
Grant
of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Peter Romanus Mallya
Michael Thang’wa
Francis I. Malone Fr. Kelby Tingle
Jean Bosco Uwamungu, Fr. Joseph C. Howard, Jr.
Patrick Madden
Kevin Mues
Duane Trombetta
Calistus Barasa Makokha
Amen.
Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, religious
Fr. Timothy Hurd, Fr. James Moran
Fr. Joseph Ampatt
Fr. LaVerne “Pike” Thomas
Fr. Keith Garvin
Fr. Peter Mangum
Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
Memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Diocesan Finance Council Meeting; Catholic Center, Shreveport; 12:00 PM
Feast of St. Luke, evangelist
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
Mass of Thanksgiving for the Harvest; Louisiana State Cotton Museum, Lake Providence; 6:00 PM
Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
St. Mary of the Pines Fall Festival; 9am - 12 pm
Loyola College Prep Mass; Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport; 9:30 AM
Outdoor Mass & Celebration of Fr. LeVezouet, Cypress Bend Marina Pavillion; 10:30 am
Diosece of Shreveport Youth Summit, ALIVE, Catholic Center, Shreveport; 10am - 6pm
Our Lady Queen of Palestine Mass; Holy Trinity Church; 5:30 PM
Mass; Mary, Queen of Peace Church, Bossier City; 11:00 AM
Memorial of St. John Paul II
Mary, Queen of Peace Halloween Carnival; 12pm - 3 pm
It Is Our Duty - We Must Go A Journey Toward Sainthood for the Five
by
12
Five Holy Men, Five Stories, One Cause Dr. Cheryl White on the Five Priests, their personalities, and their legacy.
FROM THE EDITOR
One of my favorite hymns is "Ubi caritas." Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Paulinus of Aquileia in AD 796. Over the centuries, it has been adapted to various popular tunes in a vast range of styles, from Taizé to Gregorian chant to the modern melodies most of us probably recognize when we hear it at Mass. In many popular versions, the full refrain is: "Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est." The most common English translation is: "Where true charity is, God is there."
16
Fr. Louis Gerguad: "Tell [The Bishop] I Go to My Death." Rev. Joe Martina shares the inspiring story of St. Matthew Parish's founding pastor.
True charity is the mark of sainthood. To love radically, to serve without restraint, to set aside all worldly possessions and inclinations to keep our eyes fixed on God, that is what will make us saints. That is what the Shreveport Martyrs did, right here, in our cities, our towns, our own backyards. It was not easy for them, and it will not be easy for us, but we are not called to a life of leisure and pleasantries. We are called to serve, as our Five Priests served. Each of them gave everything he had and expected nothing in return, and they did it out of love.
"So faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
Shreveport Martyrs
guest writer Lexi Corum.
FROM THE BISHOP
The first thing I mention when asked about the Five Shreveport Martyrs is that I knew nothing about them when I became bishop of this wonderful diocese. The more I was exposed to their stories, their lives of service – even to their untimely death from the Yellow Fever Epidemic – and their impact on our part of the vineyard, the more amazed I became – how challenging was their work that impacted our diocese’s larger community, from Texas to Monroe and south!
I frequently ask myself, “Could I have done what they did?” I don’t particularly like suffering and cannot say that I am a good patient. It is fairly accurate to state that what these five priests from France accomplished in their relatively brief time here was nothing short of miraculous. They brought from their homeland a love of the priesthood and a desire to minister to those entrusted to their
care – without concern for themselves. During the epidemic, they provided the pastoral care the sick needed and even administered Last Rites to one another, for they each succumbed to the disease. The more I learned about these priests, the more convinced of their sainthood I became – so much so that I think it is accurate to say you and I stand on the shoulders of these saints.
A lesson we could learn from their lives, from their suffering, and from their willingness to give their all to benefit the faithful in our vineyard is this: You do not need to be a priest to accomplish what they did – you only need to focus on the love you have for the Lord in your heart and realize that God has placed you where you are right now so that the sick, the poor, and the dying would benefit from the gifts God gave to you for them.
These are our brothers and sisters, these are members of our family, and
our love for the Lord should flow from us to those who need us the most. Take a quick look around – look at those we encounter each day – to make visible those who are in need in their varying degrees, circumstances, and stages of life and health.
These priestly men were saints among those they served, and their memory gives us the impetus to do the same, even if we do not possess the priestly character. We’ll tell such holy people, “You were Jesus to me,” because they were in fact like the Lord and the embodiment of Christ to others. In the same way, we too are on our way to sainthood. May the journey they took toward the altar be one we are engaging in our lives and toward that same end.
Lo primero que menciono cuando me preguntan sobre los Cinco Mártires de Shreveport es que no sabía nada de ellos cuando llegué a ser obispo de esta maravillosa diócesis. Mientras más me fui familiarizando con sus historias, sus vidas de servicio – incluso hasta su muerte prematura a causa de la epidemia de fiebre amarilla – y su impacto en nuestra parte de la viña del Señor, más me sorprendía: ¡qué desafiante fue su labor, que impactó a la comunidad más amplia de nuestra diócesis, desde Texas hasta Monroe y hacia el sur!
Con frecuencia me pregunto: “¿Habría podido yo hacer lo que ellos hicieron?” No me gusta particularmente el sufrimiento y no puedo decir que soy un buen paciente. Es bastante acertado afirmar que lo que estos cinco sacerdotes de Francia lograron en su relativamente breve tiempo aquí no fue menos que milagroso. Trajeron de su tierra natal un amor profundo por el sacerdocio y un deseo sincero de servir a aquellos que se les habían confiado, sin preocuparse por sí mismos. Durante la epidemia, brindaron el cuidado pastoral que los enfermos necesitaban e incluso se administraron los Últimos Ritos entre
por el obispo
ellos mismos, pues todos sucumbieron a la enfermedad. Cuanto más aprendía de estos sacerdotes, más convencido quedaba de su santidad, tanto que creo que es justo decir que tú y yo estamos de pie sobre los hombros de estos santos.
Una lección que podríamos aprender de sus vidas, de su sufrimiento y de su disposición a entregarse por completo en beneficio de los fieles de nuestra viña, es esta: No necesitas ser sacerdote para lograr lo que ellos lograron; solo necesitas centrarte en el amor que tienes por el Señor en tu corazón y darte cuenta de que Dios te ha puesto donde estás ahora para que los enfermos, los pobres y los moribundos se beneficien de los dones que Dios te dio para ellos.
Estos son nuestros hermanos y hermanas, son miembros de nuestra familia, y nuestro amor por el Señor debe fluir de nosotros hacia quienes más nos necesitan. Basta con echar un vistazo a nuestro alrededor – observar a quienes encontramos cada día – para hacer visibles a aquellos que tienen necesidades, en sus diversos grados, circunstancias y etapas de vida y salud.
Estos hombres sacerdotes fueron santos entre aquellos a quienes sirvieron, y su memoria nos da el impulso de hacer lo mismo, aunque no poseamos el carácter sacerdotal. A personas tan santas les diremos: “Tú fuiste Jesús para mí”, porque en verdad fueron semejantes al Señor y la encarnación de Cristo para los demás. De la misma manera, nosotros también vamos camino a la santidad. Que el camino que ellos recorrieron hacia el altar sea el mismo que nosotros estemos recorriendo en nuestras vidas y hacia esa misma meta.
Para obtener más información sobre las oportunidades del Ministerio Multicultural en la Diócesis de Shreveport y para encontrar nuestros horarios y lugares de misa en español, por favor escanee el código aquí.
It is Our Duty – We Must Go
A Journey Toward Sainthood for the Five Shreveport Martyrs
In 2017, Pope Francis opened another path to recognize sainthood through the apostolic letter Maiorem hac Dilectionem, which translates to “Greater Love than This” - a path corresponding with the witness of five priests who freely and willingly offered their lives in a final and complete act of Christian virtue, seeking only to ease human suffering, and thus witnessed to God’s love on earth. Now, these five men are well on their way down that path, as the diocesan phase officially closed August 28, 2025, with a ceremony held at Holy Trinity Church in Shreveport. The Roman phase of canonization will begin with the transfer of over 5,000 pages of documentation to Rome.
The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1873
Amid the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic that killed nearly a quarter of the Shreveport, Louisiana, population, five Catholic priests - Frs. Jean Pierre, Jean-Marie Biler, Isidore Quémerais, Louis Gergaud, and François LeVézouët - selflessly ministered to the sick and dying. Despite knowing the grave risk, each one remained in or came to the city specifically to provide spiritual and physical care.
One by one, they passed the torch - each priest arriving to anoint his dying predecessor, then taking up the work of nursing and comforting the suffering, most of whom were not
Catholic, until he, too, fell ill and the next priest was called upon. Each ultimately died, between September 15 and October 8, 1873.
The Path to Sainthood
On December 8, 2020, Bishop Francis Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport formally recognized the five priests as Servants of God, initiating the diocesan phase of their Cause for Beatification and Canonization. Between December 2020 and August 28, 2025 - the official closing of the cause - 5,080 pages of documentation were gathered about the lives and work of these Servants as evidence for their cause.
During the first week of October, the Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, and his Episcopal Delegate, the Very Reverend Father Peter B. Mangum, will deliver the documents to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. A dicastery representative will review the procedural acts and issue a letter approving the petition for the cause of canonization. This letter will serve as the official confirmation that the Roman phase has begun.
Every page of documentation will be examined by the dicastery to determine their authenticity and validity. If the material meets the necessary criteria, it will be presented to the Holy Father in the hope that he will declare each of the five men Venerable.
Once the priests are declared Venerable, the faithful may begin praying for God’s help through their intercession. It is our hope that, through these prayers, God will respond with miraculous acts that can only come from Him. Because the Vatican’s Dicastery has combined the five priests into a single cause, only two miracles attributed to their collective intercession are required for all of them to be declared Blessed and, eventually, canonized as saints.
It Is Our Duty - We Must Go: How the Devotion of the Few Calls for the Action of the Many
In a time of crisis, when others fled from death, five Catholic priests ran toward it - armed not with fear, but with faith.
Among them was Fr. Louis Gergaud, who left the relative safety of Monroe and boarded a stagecoach for Shreveport in September 1873, fully aware he was heading into the heart of a deadly epidemic. “It is my duty, and I must go,” he said - a quiet but resolute declaration of the priestly heart: one that seeks not comfort, but sacrifice.
Years earlier, this same heart led him to Monroe, Louisiana, where he established St. Matthew’s Catholic Church despite fierce resistance from a largely Protestant population. Although often met with suspicion, insult, and rejection, he endured it all with joy, saying he was “happy in his
heart to be a little despised for the love of Jesus Christ.”
Fr. Gergaud’s willingness to go where he was unwanted or unwelcome reflects the missionary spirit that animated all five of the Shreveport Martyrs. Their self-giving culminated in a powerful relay of sacrifice - each priest anointing the one before him, then rising to minister to the sick and dying until he too succumbed to illness.
One of the most moving moments in this chain of love came with Fr. François LeVézouët. Knowing death was near and fearing he would die without the Blessed Sacrament, he removed the Eucharist from the tabernacle of Holy Trinity Church and placed it in a pyx he wore around his neck. He then waited in illness and prayer, clutching the Real Presence of Christ against his heart. When Fr. Jean Duffo finally arrived from New Orleans, LeVézouët looked at him and said, “I have been waiting for you for three days.” He received the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, then died just fifteen minutes later.
These stories are not just history - they are a call, for the devotion of the few demands a response from the many.
We are not all called to martyrdom, but we are all called to mission. Jesus’ final command in Matthew 28:18–20 was clear:
“All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations... And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The courage of Fr. Gergaud, the Eucharistic devotion of Fr. LeVézouët, and the sacrificial love of all five Shreveport Martyrs remind us that this command was not just for them - it is for us.
Today, we are called to go - not always far in distance, but deep in love. We are called to carry Christ into our homes, our workplaces, our communities and to those who may never step foot in a church.
It is our duty, and we must goarmed with the same missionary spirit, grounded in love of God, and dedicated to service of others. Let us answer that call with courage, knowing that Christ, who sends us, also goes with us - always, to the very end of the age.
Lexi Corum is a senior at the University of Louisiana Monroe, and works as a digital reporter for KTVE News in West Monroe. She and her husband Travis attend Jesus the Good Shepherd Church.
Serviteurs de Dieu
In 1873, Shreveport lost one-quarter of its population to the third-worst yellow fever epidemic in United States history. Amid this tragedy emerged heroic virtue, exemplified in the lives of five priests who voluntarily and freely offered their lives for others and persevered in this determination unto death. (shreveportmartyrs.org)
As of 2024, Shreveport’s population stands at 176,578. If we lost one quarter of our current population, 44,144 people would be gone. Allow those numbers to sink in. While many people in our area unfortunately did lose their lives to COVID, the numbers are nowhere near onequarter of the population. When I think of these five priests – all born and raised thousands of miles away from Shreveport, Louisiana, a then solely rural area with only a handful of Catholics – who chose to both come here and then remain here after the Yellow Fever epidemic began, I’m left at a loss for words. This reality of their choices raises a question: would I have done the same? My initial COVID exposure was minimal, but I like to think that if another virus broke out and God called me to help, my answer would be yes.
Most people (including myself) have a natural instinct to move away from danger, especially illnesses that are highly deadly. To move toward one is counterintuitive – it appears insane. We know, of course, that the five priests
were anything but insane: they were all men of God, called to be His serviteurs (servants). As I read about them on the Shreveport Martyrs website, two lines caught my attention. The first shared the final words Fr. Gerguard spoke to his assistant as the priest left Monroe for Shreveport: “Write to the bishop and tell him I go to my death. It is my duty and I must go.” The second line was spoken by Fr. LeVézouët as he left Natchitoches for Shreveport. A bystander warned him that he was going to his death, and he responded: “I believe it. But it is the shortest and surest path to heaven.”
“Greater love than this no one has that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).
Brothers and sisters, I do not know about you, but if I knew that my impending death was the shortest and surest path to heaven, I would not hesitate one moment before saying yes. Although I love my life and would be sad to leave behind all that I love most in this world, ultimately, heaven is my goal, my forever home. To be with
Jesus for all eternity far, far exceeds any earthly desire to remain here. I believe these five incredible priests felt the same. I believe that, while they more than likely had natural human sadness for their decision’s reality, their love for Jesus propelled them into the face of death. I pray we all, as Christians, embrace the same love of neighbor and say yes when called to be Serviteurs de Dieu (Servants of God).
“Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me’” (Mt. 25:44-45).
Mary Arcement Alexander is a Licensed Professional Counselor & the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator.
A Note from the Copyist
Part of my childhood was spent within the walls of Holy Trinity Church in downtown Shreveport. My grandfather (Papaw Maurice) faithfully attended daily Mass for most of my life. During some of my middle school summers, I rode with him to altar serve the early weekday Masses. Somehow, I never noticed the five stained glass panels depicting the Shreveport Martyrs until after I read “Shreveport Martyrs of 1873: The Surest Path to Heaven” (by Fr. Peter Mangum, W. Ryan Smith, and Dr. Cheryl White), which printed the glass panels on the cover. I even questioned whether these panels were newly installed once I saw them in person!
Having picked up the book from the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans’
office at the same time that I began a dialogue with Fr. Raney Johnson about becoming a seminarian for the Diocese of Shreveport, I found the story gripped my attention through to the end. It was hard to believe that there were five men of such saintly character as to give their lives helping people here in north Louisiana; some priests were younger than I am when they died! Learning of these holy men’s actions stoked the fire in my heart to strive for holiness and serve the Lord radically.
When Fr. Peter Mangum called this past summer, I accepted his invitation to take the role of copyist for the Shreveport Martyrs’ cause for canonization then immensely enjoyed the tedious work, because I knew of its importance. We had a wonderful time
preparing the documents to send to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican. I thank Fr. Peter for the invitation, along with Dr. White, Fr. David Carter, Ms. Marie Martin, Fr. Taylor Reynolds, W. Ryan Smith, and everyone else who contributed – this is a monumental cause for our diocese!
Brett Reggio is a seminarian for the Diocese of Shreveport and the copyist for the Cause for Canonization of the Shreveport Martyrs.
Five Holy Men. Five Stories. One Cause.
Across the many years of research that provided the historical narrative for the five Servants of God of Shreveport (the Shreveport Martyrs), there have been many opportunities to share their story Immediately after they sacrificed their own lives in the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic of Shreveport, knowledge about them spread as a collective identity, assigned early in the community memory – they became known as “the heroic brotherhood.” In fact, it is rare to find in the surviving public record a reference to one without mention of the other four, so intertwined their individual stories became.
By now, most of our readers know their names and many even know the order in which they died: Father Isidore Quémerais, Father Jean Pierre, Father Jean-Marie Biler, Father Louis Gergaud, and Father Francois LeVézouët. Such is the order in which they made the supreme offering of love on behalf of the Gospel. In the 1870s or 1880s, a Shreveport photography studio assembled individual photographs or renderings into a single composite photograph, and this “group portrait” became the standard for all future public remembrances and publications.
Archival research into their personal letters and documents, has provided significant insights about each man that are often lost when telling the larger narrative, a story so sweeping that individual personalities can be obscured. Fortunately, the rich historical record reveals five distinct personalities who each exemplify holiness and virtue, yet are also tinged by the human condition.
While Father Isidore Quémerais left behind no personal writings, other peoples’ observations reveal a quiet and gentle young man who exuded joy despite his own suffering from bouts of tuberculosis. Of him, Bishop Auguste Martin observed, “Here was a flower; the angels gathered him for heaven.” Despite initial misgivings
at assigning Father Quémerais to Holy Trinity because of his physical frailty, Bishop Martin recommended him to Father Jean Pierre by saying, “He is the kindest and most eager to learn and serve of all my young priests.” Father Quémerais’ photograph suggests these characteristics as well – presenting the very image of youth at 26 years old, with a gentle smile and humble demeanor.
Father Jean Pierre, however, strikes a dominant place in the overall narrative: the founding pastor of Holy Trinity Church in 1856 and, before that, the builder of the Church of the Holy Apostles of St. Peter and St. Paul in Bayou Pierre (today Carmel, Louisiana). His personality first emerges through seminary records,
"My
fearful steps are strengthened by hope!"
- Fr. Jean Pierre in a letter to Bishop Martin, May 1858
“My fearful steps are strengthened by hope!”
which noted his exceptional character and strong intellect. His letters reveal this intellect and illuminate a man driven by both a love of the Gospel and love of knowledge and learning. His eagerness to share the light of literacy brought about the first library in Shreveport, through his own funds. While Father Pierre’s public obituary extolled his heroic virtue, it also gave more than a passing note about his role as a leader, administrator, and teacher for all.
Yet, his letters also reveal a reluctancy, which was rooted in an occasional lack of confidence regarding his own competence and abilities. The record shows he frequently shared these insecurities with Bishop Martin, expressing concern for finances, parish growth, and his own strengths. In a May 1858 letter to Bishop Martin, Fr. Pierre wrote that he was self-aware to point out his doubts, but, in a quick reversal, concluded with the assurance,
Father Jean-Marie Biler also left no written correspondence to speak of, save a few brief notations. His personality is gleaned from observations by others who knew him, including Mother Mary Hyacinth of the Daughters of the Cross. His seminary instructors noted a shyness bordering on timidity, and he received average marks in all subjects, leaving nothing that distinguished him scholastically. Yet, when faced with the ultimate choice, to lay down his life, Father Biler did not hesitate and thus re-defined the entire arc of how he is remembered.
Father Louis Gergaud, of St. Matthew in Monroe, appears to have had the most assertive personality, according to accounts of his life and ministry in northeast Louisiana. He emerges as a fearless character, not afraid to stand for truth against what frequently presented as open hostility. A physically imposing figure, he was serious and stern. Yet, armed with seemingly limitless energy, Father Gergaud established missions across the region (some of which are parish churches today) with a documented robust ministry among the enslaved. He was a scholar, missionary, and courageous messenger of the Gospel.
The final priest to offer his life in Shreveport in 1873, Father François LeVézouët, arrived from Natchitoches to assist in late September. In his correspondence with Bishop Martin, the reader finds a sharp wit with
shades of friendly sarcasm and an overall refreshing lightness of heart, determined to find humor in every circumstance. He wrote in an 1869 letter to Bishop Martin of gifts for the bishop when he next visited “Bayou Cye” (today Zwolle): “specially tamed a raccoon and a squirrel for your Excellency.” He often made humorous social commentary on life in the rural missions, such as caustically funny assessments of weather conditions, but his remarks were always framed in a love of the people who were entrusted to his care and of the Gospel he clearly loved to the end.
Together, the Shreveport Martyrs embody a singular witness of charity that transcends time, but their legacy is enriched when we also recall the distinct human qualities each man brought to his priestly ministry. Gentleness, learning, humor, and courage lived out in diverse ways converged in a single offering of life for others in 1873. Remembering them should prompt us to not only honor “the heroic brotherhood,” but also glimpse how God works uniquely through their individuality to weave a common story of sacrificial love.
Dr. Cheryl White is a professor at LSUS, an author, and Chair of the Historical Commision of the Cause for Canonization of the Shreveport Martyrs.
Reflections from Rome
The Mass for the Canonization of St. Pier
Giorgio
Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis
Iwake in the dark of an early morning and fumble around for my Sunday best in the dim gleam of a single light, still half asleep. Soon, the other students and I are herded to buses and we begin our drive, bumping and bouncing along the narrow streets. Our destination: the Eternal City, the Vatican in Rome, Italy. A country built upon the ruins of the ancient Romans’ fallen empire is now the capital of yet another magnificent empire: the Catholic Church.
Off the buses, we walk through the bus depot toward the tunnel that leads to the city above. Joining the line of pilgrims that stretches back for quite a distance, we slowly inch our way closer and closer to the magnificent entrance of St. Peter’s Piazza. Our excitement grows as the square’s east gates come into view, and we see the backs of the mighty statues perched atop the wall of columns surrounding the square: stone figures of the saints that color our Church history with vibrant hues of inspiring devotion. Today at Mass, two more people will be recognized as members of that communion of saints: Pier Giorgio Frassatti and Carlo Acutis. We finally enter the piazza and see hanging from the windows of St. Peter’s breathtaking Basilica two giant banners depicting the new saints.
Frassati glorified God by celebrating His creations, comparing the majesty of mountains, which he frequently scaled, to the glory of their Creator. Carlo Acutis sought to evangelize the world, sharing his love and devotion to the Eucharist. Both young men conquered life’s mountains, and through their example showed the world that the life of a Catholic should be joyful because it is lived in union with God’s will. Such are the inspiring thoughts that occupy my young mind as Mass begins.
Isabella Romanski is a sophomore History Major at the University ot Dallas in Irving, Texas, currently studying in Rome.
Photo credit: The crowds in St. Peter's Square awaiting the start of Mass, September 7, 2025. By Isabella Romanski
Saint Carlo Acutis
May 3, 1991 - October 11, 2006
Canonized September 7, 2025 by Pope Leo XIV
Everything fades, anyway. … What will make us truly beautiful in the eyes of God is only the way in which we loved him and how we loved our neighbors.
“
Each of you knows that the foundation of our faith is charity. Without it, our religion would crumble. We will never be truly Catholic unless we conform our entire lives to the two commandments that are the essence of the Catholic faith: to love the Lord, our God, with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
- St. Pier Giorgio Frassati
Saint Pier Griogio Frassati
April 6, 1901 - July 4, 1925
Canonized September 7, 2025 by Pope Leo XIV
- St. Carlo Acutis
Fr. Louis Marie Gergaud:
“Tell [the Bishop] that I go to my death.”
Fr. Louis Gergaud was the first priest ordained in the Diocese of Natchitoches. Arriving in Monroe, Louisiana in April 1856, at the age of 24, he found the initial church building unfinished. Even so, he lived in the back of the church and spent his time seeking out and encouraging the area’s Catholics. Bishop Martin dedicated the still unfinished St. Matthew Church on June 9, 1856.
Serving the regions of northeast Louisiana and southeast Arkansas, Fr. Gergaud founded missions during 1859 in Louisiana’s Bastrop, Columbia, Winnsboro, Harrisonburg, and Woodville areas, among others, and ministered in the Arkansas cities of Camden, Lake Village, and Eudora. He also assisted the dear-to-his-heart remnant colony of French descendants settled east of Columbia, along the Boeuf River.
“
Write to the Bishop. Tell him that I go to my death. It is my duty, and I must go.
Nine days after he witnessed the railroad’s completion between Mississippi and Monroe (on January 27, 1861, a seven year project), Louisiana joined the Confederacy. Fr. Gergaud tirelessly ministered to his congregation, his community, and wounded soldiers in Monroe until the Civil War’s end on April 6, 1865, although the Sisters of Charity arrived from Natchez, Mississippi, in September, 1862, and assumed care of the Monroe hospital.
By 1863, Fr. Gergaud and the Monroe Catholic community had raised the funds to purchase a Grammont Street lot for the church’s rectory, about one block from the current St. Matthew Church.
And in 1865, he organized the Young Catholic Friends’ Society, which encouraged St. Matthew members in Catholic devotion and Catholic identity amid their overwhelmingly Protestant community. For many Catholics, the local church became their lives’ center and focus. On June 9, 1869, Fr. Gergaud opened a young boys school with an initial enrollment of thirty students.
In the spring of 1871, St. Matthew’s congregation raised $1,000 for Fr. Gergaud to visit his family in France;
however, although he had not visited his family since arriving in Louisiana, he used the $1,000 for St. Matthew to purchase a city block for its cemetery, where he is now buried.
Then, the yellow fever epidemic reduced Shreveport’s population from about 12,000 to 8,000 in the fall of 1873. When Holy Trinity Church’s Fr. Jean Marie Biler became the third of the five priests to contract yellow fever that September, he telegrammed Fr. Gergaud: “Louis Gergaud, I am alone here. Other priests of the city have died. Please come to my aid.”
Fr. Gergaud responded immediately, “Am leaving by stagecoach this evening,” but the people of Monroe gathered at the stagecoach to beg him to remain. Determined, he told his associate pastor, the newly ordained Fr. Joseph Quelard, “Write to the Bishop. Tell him that I go to my death. It is my duty, and I must go.”
I believe that in this simple statement we see Fr. Gergaud’s heart and what being a Catholic priest meant to him. I believe he meant “It is my duty” not as an obligation, church rule, or church requirement but rather as a call he must follow, as every Catholic priest is called to imitate Christ in every possible way. For him, it
meant answering Shreveport’s dire needs, even at great personal cost. Fr. Gergaud ministered tirelessly to those in Shreveport, Catholics and Protestants alike, until he collapsed on September 24, 1873, dying one week later on October 1.
We are all called to grow in God’s grace, God’s love, and God’s mercy and to become more like Christ. We are called to love as He loves, to give as He gives, to forgive as He forgives, and to serve as He serves. I count it a grace and an honor to serve as the current pastor of St. Matthew, whose founder so heroically and sacrificially lived his priesthood and imitated the love and life of Christ.
Rev. Joseph Martina is pastor of St. Matthew Parish, Monroe, LA.
Living the Catholic Legacy of the Shreveport Martyrs
As we continue our focus on the Shreveport Martyrs, we now ask how we are challenged by their faith and deaths. Surely, it is holy to be in awe of their great commitment to Christ and His Church, but without an active response on our part, are we simply relegating their martyrdom to just another group of saintly people? Or, are we allowing their lives and deaths to change us to be more like them and like Christ?
In pondering the faithful devotion to the Church by those Shreveport priests over a century ago, we become aware that we experience Catholicism in 2025 because of the legacy they left us. So, let’s ask ourselves: by living in the graces that unfolded because of their work in North Louisiana, are we holistically living Catholic teachings today as they lived them then? Let’s consider a particular and repeated Church teaching.
There have been eight popes in my lifetime, and in my opinion, each followed our Shreveport Martyrs’ example, less by dying for their faith than by living their faith with courage and commitment. Each pontificate was unique and varied, but a remarkable strand of consistency winds through their individual teachings about our Church and her members’ stewardship of creation. Consider these papal teachings and a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“The earth is a huge wounded creature; she is ill. Bending over her, not as a slave over the clod, but as the physician over a prostrate sufferer, the tiller lovingly showers on her his care.” (On Rural Life, Pope Pius XII, November 15, 1946, 8).
Speaking on the dignity of humans and the common interest of all, protecting God’s creation is an implied focus of Pope John XXIII’s Pacem in Terris (1963), which states that “principles must govern the relations between States; and finally, what should be the relations between individuals or States on the one hand, and the world-wide community of nations on the other” (7). It suggests that the common good of all peoples is dependent on healthy environments, including ecological.
“Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation” (Octogesima Adveniens, Pope Paul VI, 1971, 10).
“The danger of modern man is that he would reduce the earth to a desert, the person to an automation, brotherly love to a planned collectivization, often introducing death where God wishes life” (Urbi et Orbi, Radio Message of his Holiness John Paul I, 27 August 1978, 5).
“Indeed, the increasing devastation of the world of nature is apparent to all. It results from the behaviour of people who show a callous disregard for the
hidden, yet perceivable requirements of the order and harmony which govern nature itself” (Peace with God the Creator, Peace with all of Creation, Pope John Paul II, 1990, 5).
Pope Benedict XVI, early on, pulled Vatican City off the Roman power grid and installed solar panels. He later gave an address titled, “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation” (2010 World Day of Peace).
“I am interested in how [Christian] spirituality can motivate us to a more passionate concern for the protection of the world. A commitment this lofty cannot be sustained by doctrine alone, without a spirituality capable of inspiring us, without an ‘interior impulse which encourages, motivates, nourishes and gives meaning to our individual and communal activity’” (Laudato Si’, Pope Francis, 2015, 216).
In July 2025, Pope Leo XIV led a Mass for the Care of Creation, saying, “We should pray for the conversion of the many people, inside and out of the church, who do not yet recognize the urgent need to care for our common home.”
We must “respect the particular goodness of every creature, to avoid any disordered use of things which would be in contempt of the Creator and would bring disastrous consequences for human beings and their environment” (CCC 339).
To ensure that the graces from the
Shreveport Martyrs continue to unfold in our lives and the life of this diocese, it is natural that we who are alive today honor the sacrifices of saintly heroes from long ago. By our commitment to all of the Church’s teachings, we need to ask ourselves how we can respond to Catholic doctrine’s length and breadth regarding our care for God’s Creation and our common home. How will the lives and deaths of the martyrs awaken us to the doctrinal demands, so that we take bold action to heal, protect, and have a healthy relationship with all of God’s creation?
Are you willing to live the legacy of the Shreveport Martyrs?
Mike Van Vranken is a spiritual director for the Diocese of Shreveport and a teacher of new spiritual directors for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The Creation of the Sun and Planets, Michelangelo (1508 - 1512), Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
The Shreveport Martyrs Began as Servant Leaders
Before becoming the Shreveport Martyrs, the five French priests led by sharing the Catholic faith in unlikely places.
Shreveport was a growing river town of about 5,000 souls, while Monroe was centered among various farming communities. The fledgling diocese had few priests, few parishioners, and many people needing Christ’s love.
In 1853, Bishop Auguste Martin found himself in the newly erected Diocese of Natchitoches, armed with just four priests to serve 25,000 Catholics over 22,000 square miles. He needed help and sought it with the often-quoted ad: “We offer you... much hard work, a poor dwelling, few consolations, many disappointments.”
The mission: bring Jesus to those who need His comfort.
The five men now known as the Shreveport Martyrs answered his call and exemplified servant leadership, even before yellow fever called for their ultimate sacrifice.
Ordained in 1854, Fr. Louis Gergaud almost immediately set out for the new Diocese of Natchitoches. As the founding pastor of our diocese’s oldest church, St. Matthew in Monroe, he faced significant anti-Catholic sentiment. Regardless, he committed to show Christ’s love to all he met, including a robust mission to the
enslaved peoples in the community.
He established Catholic schools and baptized hundreds of soldiers in field hospitals during the Civil War.
Bishop Martin wrote of him: “In a place where never before had a priest resided, where I had nothing to offer him but the unfinished skeleton of a chapel and a few diffident Christians and where I doubted that he could live, Mr. Gergaud founded and leaves behind him a flourishing mission.”
Fr. Gergaud’s Shreveport counterpart was Fr. Jean Pierre, who founded Holy Trinity parish. He raised money and encountered much of the community by serving as a tutor for Catholics and non-Catholic children. He helped found the town’s first public library and was also known for serving the poor and orphans. His work brought so many new faithful to the Church that he required assistance from Fr. Isidore Quémerais, a man extolled for his piety, gentleness, and selflessness.
Just south of town, Fr. Jean Marie Biler ministered to the Daughters of the Cross as a chaplain, supporting their service to generations of girls through their schools.
The last of the priests to succumb to yellow fever was Fr. François LeVézouët, who founded what is now St. John the Baptist in Many. A diocesan Director of the Propagation of the Faith, he also cared for many of
the poor in the settlements scattered throughout Central Louisiana. Bishop Martin wrote that Fr. LeVézouët spent nine years “instructing the people, validating marriages, building and furnishing churches; and by the Divine Word and grace of the Sacraments, he elevated these unrefined people to the dignity of Christians.”
Had these men died of old age, they still would have made a memorable mark on North Louisiana’s communities. They demonstrated that the Church has a role to play in developing communities beyond spreading the faith. They ensured that children were educated, the poor could meet basic needs, and the sick were treated with dignity.
May the Church continue to see itself as a leader both within and outside of church walls.
Sources: Shreveportmartyrs.org; Shreveport Martyrs of 1873 and Shreveport Martyr Father Louis Gergaud by Very Rev. Peter Mangum, William Ryan Smith and Cheryl White, PhD.
Diane Libro is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of North Louisiana.
Grace Under Pressure
On the Thursday evening of August 28, I watched the nationally-televised Mass celebrated at Holy Trinity Church in downtown Shreveport. What a ceremony it was! Four bishops and numerous priests, nuns, and deacons joined the lay people filling the church – to celebrate the completion of the canonization process’ third stage for the five priests who died in the fall of 1873 while ministering to Yellow Fever epidemic victims. Thanks to the efforts of Bishop Malone, Bishop Duca, Father Peter Mangum, Dr. Cheryl White, and many others, the documents recording their heroism were sent to Rome for further examination by Church authorities in consideration of bestowing upon these five brave men the title of sainthood.
I have grown intrigued with their stories. Over the centuries, several thousand men and women have been declared saints; only 11 are from the United States. All of them started out as ordinary citizens like you and me, who then performed extraordinary deeds through the grace of God. As I read more about these five martyred priests, I can’t help thinking of how each was given the grace to overcome what must have been their very human reactions.
Imagine being called as a young man to leave your home in France and travel by ship across the Atlantic Ocean to spend the rest of your life
serving God wherever He may call you! Imagine then spending years carrying out your daily pastoral duties to serve others. And imagine a further call to step even further: to walk into a plague’s epicenter, certain that you will not survive the task before you.
Human nature might prompt you to ignore the first call and pursue your own interests – until the call becomes so strong that you have to follow it. Now, imagine the all-too-human urge to quit when the going gets rough. Consider how hard it would be to leave even an uncomfortable comfort zone when duty beckons. Ponder the feelings of fear you’d encounter amid horrific suffering. Finally, feel the dread that most certainly would come with those first symptoms as the fever settles into your own body. I would be so tempted to doubt along the way, to cry out, “Lord, You can’t use me if I’m dead! Why are You putting me through this?”
Ernest Hemingway penned the memorable line that “courage is grace under pressure.” Grace is that supernatural, God-given ability to rise above our own human weaknesses and surrender our free wills in order to carry out even small heroic deeds for one day, one hour, and sometimes one minute at a time. As St. Paul wrote to his friend Timothy: "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come." Certainly, those five priests poured themselves out in like manner
as they ministered to hundreds of Shreveporters during those bleak three months when one-fourth of the local population succumbed to the fever. As Bishop Malone stated in his homily on Aug 28, their service was exceptional.
May we all be open to the grace God willingly gives us as we set out to follow their example.
May we live the words of the prayer St. Ignatius offered to his fellow Jesuits centuries ago:
Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve, To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to heed the wounds, To toil and not to seek for rest, To labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do Your will. Amen.
is
for
Photo credit: The Saints Above St. Peter's Square, on the Occasion of the Mass for the Canonicaztion of Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. By Caroline Duggan, Septemeber 7, 2025
Karen Dill
a spiritual director
the Diocese of Shreveport and a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Standing Out in Faith: Small Diocese, Bold Witness
At the recent “Missionaries of Hope” national conference for pro-life leaders, I experienced the incredible honor of meeting Catholics from the farthest corners of the country –including Deacon Gerald (Gary) and Valerie Y. Streff from the Diocese of Honolulu, among the most distant from Louisiana, and Michael Kube from the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska, among the smallest in the U.S.
As we shared stories, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own Diocese of Shreveport — also among the smallest by population. Yet, what sets us apart isn’t our size, but our faith. I shared with them the powerful witness of the Shreveport Martyrs—five courageous priests who gave their lives during the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic to ensure
the sick and dying could receive the sacraments in order to have eternal life. Instead of running from danger, they ran toward it, armed with faith and love.
Their heroic legacy is alive today as our diocese prepares to submit their cause for canonization to the Holy See. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to be big to stand out in faith and love.
In a world that often devalues life, we are called – especially in our small dioceses – to stand out by standing firm in our defense of life, from conception to natural death. Whether in Hawaii, Nebraska, or Louisiana, we shine brightest when we live boldly for the Gospel.
Let’s go forth with joy and courage, knowing that God uses the small and
faithful to do mighty things. We are proof that holiness is not measured in numbers – but in love.
"The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." — 1 John 3:16
Noemi Saybe is the Director of Family Life at the Diocese of Shreveport.
Destacando en la Fe:
Una Diócesis Pequeña con un Gran Testimonio
En una reciente conferencia nacional para líderes provida bajo el lema “Misioneros de la Esperanza”, tuve el increíble honor de conocer a católicos de los rincones más lejanos del país— como el Diácono Gerald (Gary) y Valerie Y. Streff de la Diócesis de Honolulu, una de las más distantes de Luisiana, y Michael Kube de la Diócesis de Grand Island, Nebraska, una de las más pequeñas de EE. UU.
Mientras compartíamos nuestras historias, no pude evitar reflexionar sobre nuestra Diócesis de Shreveport— también una de las más pequeñas en población. Pero lo que nos distingue no es nuestro tamaño, sino nuestra fe. Les hablé del poderoso testimonio de los Mártires de Shreveport—cinco valientes sacerdotes que entregaron su vida durante la epidemia de
fiebre amarilla en 1873 para que los enfermos y moribundos pudieran recibir los sacramentos. Es decir, para que tuvieran vida eterna. En lugar de huir del peligro, corrieron hacia él, armados con fe y amor.
Su legado heroico sigue vivo hoy, mientras la diocesis se prepara para enviar su causa de canonización a la Santa Sede. Es un recordatorio de que no hay que ser grande para destacar en la fe y el amor.
En un mundo que con frecuencia le resta valor a la vida, estamos llamados— especialmente en nuestras diócesis pequeñas—a destacar permaneciendo firmes en la defensa de la vida, desde la concepción hasta la muerte natural. Ya sea en Hawái, Nebraska o Luisiana, brillamos más cuando vivimos con valentía el Evangelio.
Así que vayamos con alegría y valor, sabiendo que Dios utiliza a los pequeños y fieles para hacer cosas grandiosas. Somos prueba de que la santidad no se mide en números, sino en el amor.
1 Juan 3:16 "En esto hemos conocido el amor: en que él dio su vida por nosotros. También nosotros debemos dar la vida por los hermanos."
Noemi Saybe es la directora de Matrimonio y Vida Familiar de la Diócesis de Shreveport.
Blessing of the Graves 2025
The Church seeks to help the faithful departed, especially those souls in purgatory by earnest prayer to God, and in particular, by remembrance of them on All Souls Day and throughout the month of November. Our priests and deacons will offer prayers at our local cemeteries on the weekends closest to All Souls Day on the following dates:
Western Deanery
Saturday, November 1
11 AM
Centuries Memorial Park Cemetery 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport
Hill Crest Memorial Park Cemetery
601 Highway 80 East, Haughton
Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery
6915 West 70th Street, Shreveport
Sunday, November 2
1 PM
Forest Park Cemetery
3700 St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport
2 PM
Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery
7970 Mike Clark Road, Keithville
Rose-Neath Cemetery
5185 Swan Lake Spur, Bossier City
St. Joseph Cemetery
2100 Texas Avenue, Shreveport
Statue at St. Joseph Cemetery, Shreveport
2:20 PM
Round Grove Memorial Gardens Cemetery 2869 Round Grove Lane, Shreveport
2:30 PM
Forest Park Cemetery – West 4000 Meriwether Road, Shreveport
Eastern Deanery
Saturday, November 1st
9:00 AM
Kilbourne Cemetery Maple Street, Kilbourne
Lake Providence City Memorial 1450 Lake Street, Lake Providence
10:00 AM
Providence Memorial Park 7278 Highway 134, Lake Providence
Oak Grove Cemetery
144 North Old Kilbourne Road, Oak Grove
11:30 AM
Forest Line Cemetery 7445 Highway 17, Pioneer
1:00 PM
Riverview Cemetery 3901 South Grand Street, Monroe
Sunday November 2nd
11:00 AM
St. Lucy Cemetery 1100 South Second Street, Hodge
1:30 PM
St. Matthew Cemetery 314 North 11th Street, Monroe
2:00 PM
St. Paschal Cemetery 1500 Arkansas Road, West Monroe
3:00 PM
Mulhearn Cemetery 623 Highway 80 East, Monroe
3:00 PM
St. Joseph Cemetery 760 North Washington Street, Bastrop
Southern Deanery
Saturday, November 1
Sunset
St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery 1130 San Antonio Avenue, Many
Sunday, November 2
7:30 AM
St. Ann Cemetery #2 Jeanne Lane, Stonewall
8:30 AM
St. Francis Xavier Cemetery 611 Friendship Road, Frierson
9 AM
Mansfield Cemetery 303 Van Buren Street, Mansfield
9:30 AM
Highland Cemetery 1500 Old Jefferson Highway, Mansfield
10 AM
St. Ann Cemetery #1 2264 Highway 171, Stonewall
10:15 AM
Immaculate Conception & Rock Chapel Cemeteries 1822 Smithport Lake Road, Carmel
11:30 AM
St. John the Baptist Cemetery 21527 Highway 175, Pelican
11:45 AM
St. Mary’s Cemetery Blessing & Social 1009 Highway 346, Pelican
Monday, November 3rd
8:00 AM
St. Ann Cemetery 5272 Highway 482, Noble
12:00 PM
St. Joseph Cemetery 305 Hammond Street, Zwolle
3:00 PM
St. Catherine Cemetery 878 Highway 1218, Noble
4:00 PM
Old St. Joseph Cemetery Bucky Murdock Road, Zwolle
Seminarian Burses
Thanks to our Recent Donors:
(004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Burse
Mrs. Mary Roppolo
(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse #2
The Congregation of St. Johns Roman Catholic Church
(008) St. Jude Parish Burse
Anonymous (011) Rev. David Richter Burse #2
Anonymous
(018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse
Anna G. Livengood
(022) Rev. Blane O'Neil, OFM Burse
Drs. Edward & Karen Jacobs
Mr. & Mrs. Ray T. Garza
(023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Burse #2
Patricia L McGraw
(024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Burse
Mr. & Mrs. James E. McKeithen
(036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza
Burse #5
Ann & Gregory Weeks
Mary Ann Bargmann
Mrs. Diana P. Landry
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Looney
Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Madden
Ashley Madden
Bernadine P Kalinsky
Reid & Jo Ann Williams
Mrs. Angelina Rice
Ms. Anne P. Sandefur
(036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza
Burse #6
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Looney
Mrs. Diana P. Landry
(045) Sister Martinette Rivers Burse
Anna G. Livengood
(049) Rev. Philip Michiels Burse
Mr. and Mrs. Robert McGowen
(052) Dr. Matthew Ragan Green, Jr. Burse
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Mathews
Mrs. Mary Roppolo
Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Hubley
(053) Leo N. Plette Burse
Mrs. Pauline S. Plette
Incomplete Burses:
Highlighted Burses Have Reached $7,000 or more in donations.
(001) Fr. Mike Bakowski Burse #2 ($1450)
(002) Joseph & Antoinette Bakowski Burse ($3250)
(003) Sam R. Maranto Burse ($1750)
(004) Kathryn Atherton Cook Burse ($450)
(005) Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Burse #2 ($626)
(007) Dr. Carol Christopher Burse ($1200)
(008) St. Jude Parish Burse ($9200)
(009) St. John Berchmans Knights of Columbus Council 10728 Burse ($1550)
(011) Rev. David Richter Burse #2 ($6900)
(015) Bishop’s Seminarian Burse ($5735)
(016) Elaine Malloy Frantz Burse ($1000)
(017) Msgr. George Martinez Knights of Columbus Council 1337 Burse #2 ($2004)
(018) Knights of St. Peter Claver Council 144 Burse ($1500)
(021) Rev. Edmund "Larry" Niehoff Burse ($2350)
(022) Rev. Blane O'Neil, OFM Burse ($4000)
(023) Msgr. Edmund J. Moore Burse #2 ($1450)
(024) Rev. Joseph Puthupally Burse ($7500)
(025) Kathleen Hightower Burse ($800)
(027) Rev. Richard Lombard Burse #4 ($5000)
(028) Friends-n-Faith Burse ($750)
(029) Rev. Kenneth Williams Burse ($400)
(030) Ottis and Anne Krupa Littlejohn Burse ($7666.67)
(032) Madeline and Joe Tiller Burse ($8450)
(035) Dr. James V. & Rosemary C. Ward Burse #4 ($1970) New Burse (036) Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza Burse #6 ($3001)
(037) Manuel & Catherine Licciardi, and John & Beverly Miller Burse ($7000)
(038) The Malone Family Burse ($500)
(039) St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Knights of Columbus Council 9260 Burse ($750)
(045) Sister Martinette Rivers Burse ($555)
(046) Domestic Church Burse ($5000)
(047) Troops of St. George Burse ($6000)
(048) Rev. Joseph Kallookalam Burse ($5000)
(049) Rev. Philip Michiels Burse ($3000)
(050) St. Joseph Shreveport Mary's Workers Burse #2 ($310)
(052) Dr. Matthew Ragan Green, Jr. Burse ($2050)
(054) Fr. Franz Graef Burse ($2500)
(056) Hazel Iles and John Paul Woodley, Sr. Burse ($500)
(057) Father Robert Inzina Burse ($2500)
(058) Monsignor Warren T. Larroque Burse ($2500)
(059) ACTS of Northwest Louisiana Burse ($800)
(060) Father David Buss Burse ($2500)
(061) Sister Maria Smith, DC Burse ($2500)
(062) Joan E. Anderson Sneed Burse ($2000)
To donate to an established seminarian burse, please scan here!
Seminarian Burse Program Celebrates Milestones
In 2017, the Diocese of Shreveport instituted the Seminarian Burse Program on the advice of a local donor who had seen a similar program’s great success in the Diocese of Lafayette. Throughout the years, donations to our diocese’s program formed 79 burses, including 37 completed burses of $10,000 each, and as you are reading this, the program has surpassed $500,000 in donations.
A seminary burse is an endowment used to pay tuition, room and board, books, health insurance, and other essentials for our seminarians during their six to eight years of priestly formation. The principal amount donated is not touched, but invested, and the support for our seminarians comes from the earned interest.
This month, we celebrate the completion of two burses: The Leo N. Plette Memorial Burse and the fifth burse in honor of Msgr. Earl Vincent Provenza. With the completion of Msgr. Provenza’s fifth burse, the
Diocese of Shreveport has designated a new category of burses called the Legacy Burse, which can be completed with a one-time donation of $50,000 or combined donation of five $10,000 burses.
Each month, we print the incomplete seminarian burses and the amount needed to complete each, and you can see this list and all completed burses at www.dioshpt.org/seminarian-burses or by clicking the QR code on this page. Your gift of any amount helps us complete these burses and fund the formation of our future priests.
You can establish a burse with a donation of $250 or more or contribute or contribute to any incomplete burse by designating its name when the contribution is made.
For more information about the Seminarian Burse Program, contact the Diocese of Shreveport Development Office at (318) 219-2760 or email Lucy Medvec at lmedvec@dioshpt.org.
Lucy Medvec is the Director of Development and Stewardship for the Diocese of Shreveport.
(Left to right) Diocesan Vocations Director Fr. Raney Johnson, Seminarians Brett Reggio and Angel Gomez, Bishop Francis I. Malone, and Seminarians Jordan Fegert and Tristan Frisk (not pictured: Seminarians Nathan Lirette and Sam Vandiver).
Msgr. Earl Provenza posing with his book, Busy, Busy for the Lord.
JGS Students Learn from the Legacy of the Shreveport Martyrs
At Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School, faith formation is rooted in both scripture and the living witness of the saints and those on the path to sainthood. This year, our students have been especially inspired by the powerful story of the Shreveport Martyrs, five French-born priests who gave their lives during the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1873.
Our pastor, Very Rev. Peter B. Mangum, JCL, VF, has worked diligently for nearly a decade on the Diocesan Phase for the Cause of Canonization of these heroic priests: Fathers Isidore Quémerais, Jean Pierre, Jean-Marie Biler, Louis Gergaud, and François Le Vézouët. Known collectively as the Shreveport Martyrs, they chose to remain in or return to Shreveport to minister to the sick and dying, even knowing it would almost certainly cost them their lives.
Recently, their story reached even wider audiences through the award-winning documentary The Five Priests, based on the book “Shreveport Martyrs of 1873: The Surest Path to Heaven,” co-authored by Father Mangum, W. Ryan Smith and Cheryl White, PhD. The film shares both the priests’ sacrifice and historical context of Shreveport during the epidemic. Letters, newspapers, and first-hand accounts reveal how these Servants of God embraced their ministry with joy, hope, and total trust in Christ.
At JGS School, the cause has taken on special meaning in religion classes under Mrs. Laura Skeen’s direction, where students learn about the canonization process and what it
means to be declared a Servant of God, Blessed, and eventually a Saint. They also follow the progress for the Shreveport Martyrs’ cause while learning about modern witnesses of faith, including the recently canonized saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. Such examples provide more tangible models of holiness for today’s children.
Father Mangum reflected that the Shreveport Martyrs’ sacrifice “provides a sacrifice … the charity of Jesus Christ, who offered himself for others. And they do it with joy. They do it with hope. They do it with a great sense of – this is how it is I’m going to glorify God and attain eternal life with Him forever in heaven.”
For our JGS students, this story is more than history, it is a call to live with courage, generosity, and faith. As they begin a new school year, they are reminded that holiness is possible for everyone and that responding to God’s call like the Shreveport Martyrs did can transform not only our own lives but the lives of everyone we serve.
Amy Fakhre is the Director of Development at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.
our lady of fatima CatholiC sC hool
Carlo
Acutis:
A Saint For Our Time
By the time this article is printed, Blessed Carlo Acutis will be St. Carlo Acutis, patron saint of the internet. At Our Lady of Fatima School, we will celebrate this young saint with a day of interactive learning about his life, his passion for the Eucharist and the miracles attributed to him. Carlo Acutis was just an ordinary boy who loved the internet and computers, yet his extraordinary love for Jesus and unwavering courage through his leukemia illness inspired millions of Christian Catholics around the world. On September 8, 2025, Our Lady of Fatima School will honor this young saint and remember his motto for living: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.”
Jamie Humphrey is the Elementary Religion and Music teacher at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, Monroe, LA.
loyola ColleGe prep
Flyer Alumnus Enters Jesuit Novitiate
Loyola is proud to share that John Henry Hobgood ’16, salutatorian of his graduating class, entered the Society of Jesus on August 16, at the Novitiate of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Denver. He joined nine other men in beginning a two-year period of prayer, study, service, and community life as they discern their call to the Jesuit priesthood.
During this novitiate, John Henry and his companions will step away from distractions to deepen their relationship with Christ, learn about the history and mission of the Jesuits, and experience apostolic service. The novitiate begins with “first probation,” a time of simplicity and reflection that culminates in a silent retreat to prepare them for the formation ahead.
After his time at Loyola, John Henry earned a degree from the University of Notre Dame, worked in Boston and Washington, D.C., and recently completed a master’s degree in political science at Boston College. Throughout his journey, he remained guided by the Jesuit values of service and discernment that were nurtured here at Loyola.
We invite the Flyer community to keep John Henry in prayer as he begins this important step in following God’s call. His story is a beautiful reminder of Loyola’s mission to create men and women of conscience, character, and compassion.
Loyola College Prep Open House
September 29 – October 3
Loyola College Prep invites middle school students and their families to explore campus during Open House Week, September 29–October 3. Private tours are offered in small groups and showcase a typical school day at Loyola. Registration is required and can be completed at www.loyolaprep.org/openhouse-2025.
“Future Flyers and their parents get a true look at life at Loyola during Open House week and any admissions tour,” said Dr. Laurie Salvail, Principal. “They will walk our halls
during a regular school day, meet our incredible students, alumni, faculty, and staff, and see firsthand how Loyola blends academic excellence, faith in action, and student involvement into a high school experience unlike any other.”
In addition to guided tours, families will have the chance to learn about college placement, financial assistance, student accommodations, admissions, and more. Tours are also available year-round by emailing Andy Cline at acline@loyolaprep.org.
Jordan Harris is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Loyola College Prep in Shreveport, LA.
Around the diocese...
(Above) The descendants of Fr. François LeVézouët from Brittany, France visited Saint John the Baptist, the parish their ancestor was responsible for establishing. Shown are Fr. LeVézouët's relatives with the McCormic family, whose ancestors worked to help build the church.
(Right) Fr. LeVézouët's descendants with the photo of Fr. LeVézouët prominently hung at St. John the Baptist.
Bishop Francis I. Malone celebrated mass with the Very Rev. Fr. Mark Watson, V.F. Pastor and the parishioners of St. Mary of the Pines on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
We were excited and honored to have him join us. Bishop Malone gave a great homily! He offered a compelling connection between faith and daily life.
He truly understands the joys, struggles and real-life situations we all face. Bishop Malone encouraged everyone to continue to live out their faith and give God all the glory.
You are cordially
AAre you being called to become a Spiritual Director? Do others seek you out for spiritual conversations?
You are cordially invited to attend a free virtual informational session on Zoom to learn more about becoming a trained Spiritual Director
FOOD, DRINKS, BINGO, VOLLEY BALL TOURNAMENT, DUNKING BOOTH, RAFFLES, FACE PAINTING JOUSTING ARENA INFLATABLE AND MORE
COMIDA, BEBIDAS, JUEGOS
ST MARY OF THE PINES SANTA MARIA DE LOS PINOS 1050 W BERT KOUNS INDUSTRIAL LOOP, SHREVEPORT, LA 71118
25 OCTOBER, 2025 | FROM 9:00-3:00
Fun for the whole family Diversion para toda la familia
ACOMPÁÑENOS EN UNA
Mariana Y Eucarística
500
Sábado, 13 de diciembre
Horario: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Lugar de inicio: El Centro Católico Lugar de llegada: Catedral de San Juan Berchmans
Te invitamos a caminar unidos como familia, junto a nuestra Madre, hacia su Hijo en la Eucaristía.
¡Trae tu rosario y a tu familia!
Habrá desayuno después y tamales a la venta. Lo recaudado apoyará la colegiatura de los seminaristas.
Celebrando casi
años de la Aparición de la Virgen de Guadalupe
Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Sir Knights with Bishop Malone after making the ERE (Excellence in Religious Education) donation to the Diocese of Shreveport.
Celebrating Fr. François LeVézouët at St. John the Baptist Parish, Many
(Top left) Due to the work of Fr. François LeVézouët, the first Catholic church in Many, LA was constructed in 1871, Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church. The frame building was 30’ X 60"
(Top right) The children of St John the Baptist gather around the picture of Father François LeVézouët.
(Bottom right) Father Peter Mangum and Father Francis Kamau, FMH celebrate Mass in the Vandegaer home, the same home where Fr. François LeVézouët celebrated Mass from 1865-1871 before the St. John the Baptist Church building was constructed. Fr. LeVézouët traveled to Sabine Parish 3-4 times a year to celebrate Mass in the home which is still standing today. The special Mass was celebrated during the 150th Anniversary of St John the Baptist Parish.
CATHOLIC CONNECTION
DIOCESE OF SHREVEPORT
3500 Fairfield Ave. • Shreveport, LA 71104
Catholic Connection USPS 024-824 is published monthly except for July by the Diocese of Shreveport, 3500 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104. Periodicals Postage PAID at Shreveport, LA 71102. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Connection, 3500 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport, LA 71104.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH: A statue in St. Joseph Cemetery, Shreveport. The result of the editor's note photo on page 5. Proof that trusting the process really does work, even if the process looks borderline insane.