The Five Priests of the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic

Holy Trinity Catholic Church is honored to have been served by the priests who gave their lives in service to the sick, during the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic in Shreevport. For more information about the five priests, and their history at Holy Trinity, please review the "Parish History" page of this website.
 

• Father Jean Pierre (first Catholic pastor of Shreveport, who ministered in the Parishes of Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Webster & Claiborne);
• Father Isidore A. Quémerais (first assistant priest of Shreveport, who also served in Rapides & Avoyelles parishes);
• Father Jean-Marie Biler (Chaplain of the Convent & Novitiate of St. Vincent’s on Fairfield);
• Father Louis Gergaud (first pastor of St. Matthew’s in Monroe, who also ministered in the Parishes of Ouachita, Morehouse, Union, Webster, Claiborne, Caldwell & Franklin);
• Father François LeVézouët (founding pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Many, who ministered throughout Sabine and Natchitoches parishes.

The Path to Canonization

On December 8, 2020, the Diocese of Shreveport received wonderful news from the Vatican: those five priests of the 1873 Yellow Fever epidemic have now been recognized as Servants of God, the first of four steps in the saintly canonization process! 

Click here to view the Press Conference on Facebook, which features Bishop Francis Malone, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, Holy Trinity Pastoral Administrator Fr. Duane Trombetta, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Rector Fr. Peter Mangum, Professor and Author Dr. Cheryl White, and Distinguished Author Mr. Ryan Smith.

In addition, click here to read the Press Release from the Diocese of Shreveport. This document lists the five priests, describes their history and service to the people of the diocese, and explains the next steps along the path to canonization.

Prayers and Intercession

The Catholic Church professes that the witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom - especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints - share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives. This is why saintly intercession is so important and efficacious. The people of the Diocese of Shreveport are encouraged to ask the five priests of the Yellow Fever Epidemic to intercede for us and for the whole world.

Shreveport Martyrs Web Page

A new Internet site entitled "Shreveport Martyrs" has been established to provide information about the five priests. Click this link or the image above to visit the site and learn about each priest's history, to review press releases, to request Holy Cards, and more.