On Track to Sainthood: Shreveport Martyrs Declared Servants of God

By: Kierstin Richter, Editor

n the heat of the summer of 1873, plagued by the third worst epidemic in U.S. history, Shreveport lost a quarter of its population to yellow fever. A mass grave of nearly 800 mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers stands at Oakland Cemetery, a haunting memorial of faces forgotten and stories lost to history. But to five priests here in Shreveport, these forgotten faces were the faces of Christ to their dying breaths.

Fathers Jean Pierre, Jean Marie Biler, François Le Vézouët, Isidore Quémerais and Louis Marie Gergaud served the sick and dying here in the city, despite the danger of contagion. Each of them fell to the illness, but not until the next one was surely on the way to take the previous one’s place.

In pain and desperation, the sick were completely and utterly alone. The fear of contagion divided the people in their most vulnerable moments, many left to die quietly and alone, devoid of any affection, charity or piety. But these five men abandoned this fear. Although they were not doctors, they were stewards of God’s grace. These brave men stood by the side of the sick, praying with them, annointing them and caring for their fragile humanity when the world left them abandoned and afraid.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, nearly 150 years after the loss of the priests and the residents of Shreveport, these five brave men were declared by Pope Francis as “Servants of God,” the first step in possibly a decades long process to reach canonization into sainthood. The next step is to be declared venerable, which will occur following an in-depth investigation from the Vatican.

From Left: Rev. J.M. Biler, Rev. Louis Gergaud, Rev. Jean Pierre, Rev. François Le Vézouët and Rev. Isidore Quémerais (Courtesy of Holy Trinity Catholic Church)

This is an unprecedented, historic moment for the City of Shreveport, and what Father Peter Mangum refers to as a “noteworthy historic parallel” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Father Mangum, W. Ryan Smith and Dr. Cheryl White have worked and researched extensively and tirelessly for four years in pursuit of the sanctity of these five heroic men. A book length manuscript, podcast, and graphic novel project (right) are all under way, including the soon to be published, The Surest Path to Heaven: 1873 Shreveport Martyrs.

The five priests are memorialized in the stained glass windows of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in downtown Shreveport. Even “Pierre Ave.” is named in rememberance of Father Jean Pierre.

The 150th anniversary of the Yellow Fever epidemic is soon approaching in 2023, making this a historic and commenerative mark in history for the five priests’ sacrifices for the people of North Louisiana.

The US ambassador of His Holiness, Pope Francis wrote in October, that “this episode in the history of the American Church is a needed message for our Western world in the current age. It highlights a model of sanctity that is attainable for all of the faithful.”

Bishop Malone signs the Decree of Recognition for the five priests as Servants of God.