Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Reverend John Pierre
(1856-1873)

Father John Pierre, pastor of the Catholic church at Bayou Pierre, DeSoto Parish, began regular visits to Shreveport in 1855 and made efforts to search out the scattered Catholics living in the area. In a letter to Most Reverend Augustus M. Martin, first Bishop of Natchitoches, Father Pierre said that he had visited the settlement of Shreveport on the Red River and that he thought is advisable to relocate to that place. Father Pierre's foresight was remarkable. Even then he relized that the prospects were much brighter for the establishment of a parish on the Red River than it was on Bayou Pierre. It was in March 1856 that Bishop Martin authorized Father Pierre to take up his residence at Shreveport and endeavor to build a church there.

Father John Pierre was born Jean Perec or Perez in Brittany, France. He was a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Brieue when he met Bishop Martin. Martin was traveling in France to recruit clergy for service in the Diocese of Natchitoches. Pierre responded to the call to serve the American missions and returned to Natchitoches in 1854 with Bishop Martin. He completed his studies for the priesthood and was ordained at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches on September 22^nd, 1855. That same day Martin established the first new parish of the diocese, Holy Apostles, in Bayou Pierre, DeSoto Parish, and assigned Pierre as the first pastor.

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St. Mary's School
(1860-1954)

Providing the opportunity for Catholic education has been a priority of the Catholic Church. Holy Trinity Parish was no exception to this goal. Father John Pierre and some Catholic laymen opened Trinity School for boys in the early years of the parish. It was located on the site of the present church.

Father Pierre was not satisfied with this effort but wanted to offer instruction to the young women of the parish also. In 1860 he made a special appeal to the Daughters of the Cross at their convent in Avoyelles Parish asking that serveral sisters be sent as soon as possible to begin a girl's school at Holy Trinity. He assured them that a satisfactory building would be available as school and convent.

On November 30^th, 1860, St. Mary's Convent opened its doors to a large number of pupils of every religious denomination. Father Pierre sold four lots north of the present church to the Daughters of the Cross in 1861 for St. Mary's School and Convent. St. Mary's no longer exist, but many will remember that for some years it was an outstanding school. It became a boarding school and included a high school course as well as all the amenities associated with convent schools.

In 1888 a new building was constructed. Due to the shift of population to other parts of the city, St. Mary closed in 1954 and was demolished a year later. The closure coincided with the opening of two new schools, St. Theresa in Shreveport and Christ the King in Bossier City. Although the building underwent extensive remodeling in 1942, it lacked many of the features essential to a modern educational structure. Enrollment in the final class was 160 individuals. The lot where St. Mary's stood have been a parking lot for many years and were recently sold to Holy Trinity parish.

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Yellow Fever Epidemic
(1873)

The dreaded disease, yellow fever, had struck Shreveport twice before the year 1873, and Father Pierre had proved himself to be a model of charity and sacrifice in ministering the sick. The worst yellow fever epidemic to be experienced in Shreveport appeared in mid-August 1873 and lasted through mid-November. One-third of area residents may have fled before quarantines were enforced. Total cases numbered somewhere between 2600 and 3000 with 759 deaths. Five priests and two religious sisters died while caring for those who were ill. One of the priests was Father John Pierre.

Father Joseph Gentille record the following in his diary:

Father Pierre was struggling with the plague. The battle had commenced for the leaders. One had fallen. His young Assistant, Father Isidore Queremais, who was laboring under the dreadful disease Consumption was the first to pay his tribute to the epidemic. On the 15^th of September he died. Father Pierre followed his assistant on the 16^th of September. His death was a public calamity. He was beloved and esteemed by all.

Death was not yet satisfied. Father Biler, Chaplain to the Sisters at St. Vincent's, Fairfield stood alone on the ramparts. Before he fell reinforcements had come from two different priests. Two worthy, holy priests came to Shreveport to share the fate and the crown of those who had already fallen.

Rev. L. Gergaud parish priest of Monroe arrived in time to assist poor Father Biler who on the 26^th of September answered the call of the Savior and received the reward of his christian charity and heroism. Father Gergaud ministered to the wants of the plague stricken on by four days. Yellow fever struck him dead on the 1^st of October 1873.

Father F. LeVezouet came from Natchitoches in time to assist and console dear Father Gergaud. Out of five one was yet standing animated, worn and he fell, but before falling he had entreated Most Rev. Bishop Perche of N.O. (New Orleans) to send help and assistance. He fought the dreadful disease until he himself could be anointed. Then he breathed his last Oct. 8^th, 1973.

Rev. Father Duffo S.J. and Charles Ferec from the Cathedral left N.O. on Friday October 3^rd and arrived here Wednesday, 8^th. Father Duffo visited Father LeVezouet as he was dying at Dr. Moore's residence. Father Ferec had a mild attack of the yellow fever. He recovered, returned to N.O. at the beginning of December. Father Duffo stayed at Shreveport until the arrival of the new pastor Rev. J. Gentille who was coming from Lake Providence, Carrol (sic) Parish, La. He left Lake Providence November 24^th. On his way to his new field of labor he stopped at Natchitoches to see Bishop Martin and received his instructions. On December 8^th Father Gentille in company of Dom I. Robot took the Steamer Durfee. They arrived at Shreveport on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The new Pastor was received by Father Duffo and on the 11^th at High Mass he was inaugurated, he entered immediatley into the discharge of his pastoral duties.

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Reverend Joseph Gentille
(1873-1895)

Joseph Gentille, second pastor of Holy Trinity Church, was born in Dongas, France, January 8^th, 1829. Upon graduation from the Grand Seminary of Nantes, he was ordained to the holy priesthood in December 1855 and appointed curate of a small village. In 1860, Father Gentille responded to a request for priests to serve the American missions. He chose to join several of his former seminary classmates who were working in the Diocese of Natchitoches, and for about eight months he assisted the pastor of the church at Campti. Gentille served as vice president of St. Joseph College, Natchitoches, from 1861 until its occupation by the Confederate Army medical department in 1863.

From 1863 to 1869 Father Gentille assisted the pastor at Monroe and visited Catholic communities in the Mississippi River district. He was appointed chaplain-general of the Trans-Mississippi District of the Confederate Army in 1865, but the Civil War ended before he was able to report for service. In 1869 he was assigned pastor at Lake Providence and was serving there when he received his appointment to Shreveport.

During his 22 year ministry at Holy Trinity, Father Gentille maintained a diary recording challenges and difficulties he encountered. The pastor of Holy Trinity at that time was pastor of all Caddo Parish as well as Bossier, Webster and Claiborne Parishes. Gentille's rectory was located on the corner of Marshall and Fannin Streets right next to the church. The housekeeper lived at the back of the lot in a small cottage. The church was apparently in poor condition, and Gentille made every effort to improve both the structural problems and the furnishings. Gaslights were added to the church on Ash Wednesday 1888.

In 1879 the church bell cracked, and its sound became so offensive that Father Gentille stopped its ringing. An appeal was made for funds to replace the bell, but an insufficient amount was collected. In February 1880 the bell was loaded on a river boat to be taken for repair to Troy, New York. That bell, however, proved irreparable, and a new one was ordered arriving in Shreveport in June 1880. The inseription on the bell reads “Our Lady of Lourdes; Sponsors Jules Guerre, Mary T. Copes, C. Horan; Father J. Gentille, 1880, Clinton H. Meneely Bell Company, Troy, New York.”

As early as 1886, Father Gentille felt the need of a new church and endeavored to arouse the enthusiasm of the congregation to the point where they would generously support a building fund. The ladies of the Altar Society held numerous fund raising events and suppers to assist this work.

After several attempts, Father Gentille finally managed to return to his native country for a visit in May 1887. While in France he interviewed an architect and had plans drawn up for a new Gothic style church in Shreveport. Apparently this was not the plan used by Father Gentille's successor, but it shows that the old pastor had set his heart on building a temple worthy of the God he loved so much.

The last paragraph of his diary for the year 1894 reads:

“We had resolved to lay the foundations of our new church early in the Spring of 1895. We found it impossible for several reasons. First, we have no money in the bank. Second, it would have proved a failure to attempt to collect the interest on our church fund...With God's help what was delayed is not abandoned. Next Spring we shall witness a grand ceremony of blessing the cornerstone of a beautiful Catholic Church.”

The spring of 1895 came, but Father Gentille did not see his dream come true. Ill health came instead, and Holy Trinity's second pastor died in New Orleans, October 15^th, 1895. He was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Shreveport. In the parish records it was noted that “Reverend Father Granger, of Marshall, Texas, buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, the Rev. Joseph Gentille...Present at the funeral: Rev. L. Enaut of Monroe, Orator: J. Roulleaux of Fairfield, A. Thiollierre of Pineville, S.B. Scharl of Pineville.”

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St. Joseph Cemetery
(1882)

On November 9^th, 1882, Father Joseph Gentille purchased 10-1/2 acres of land for a Chatholic cemetery using his own savings. Purchase price was $210. The location was described in Gentlle's diary as a beautiful one “not too far from the town on the Texas or Greenwood road.”

A Catholic cemetery in Shreveport had been the dream of Father Gentille for over five years, but the Catholics generally exhibited indifference toward the proposal. Father Gentille designated a lay person to negotiate the sale on his behalf. There was some confusion in the process, but Gentille did require the land he wanted.

In early 1883, Father Gentille received $200 from a fair put on by the ladies of the parish. It was his intention to use these funds for fencing and laying out the Catholic cemetery. On March 4^th, Gentille designated St. Joseph as the name of the cemetery in honor of his patron saint. Cedar posts were placed ten feet apart with cypress as base and rails and barbed wire in between to serve as fencing. The ground was leveled, and the cemetery was divided in lots twenty feet square, described in Gentille's diary:

four lots with a three feet walk between form a forty three feet square with roads twelve feet all around. Seven roads from North to South are intersected by seven more from East to West. The main road, twenty feet wide, called “Calvary road” leads from the double gate to a (sic) artificial mound seven feet high surmounted by a beauitful Cross.

It ia mound that the pastors of Shreveport shall be buried under the shadow of the Cross.

A beautiful double gate - (the) work of W.W. Waring surmounted by a Cross will give entrance to carriages...two side gates will admint visitors on foot.

In November 1883, Gentille secured permits from the Board of Health to transfer the remains of Father Pierre, LeVezouet and Queremais to St. Joseph Cemetery. These were three of the priests who had died in the 1873 Yellow Fever Epidemic. The actual transfer was postponed until cooler weather and took place the last week of March 1884 accompanied by a procession.

St. Joseph Cemetery was donated to Bishop Anthony Durier and the Diocese of Natchitoches in January 1886. Gentille, in his diary, states “The Bishop seemed to be disposed to adopt compulsory measures to force Father to make the transfer.” Over $1,200 had been spent to prepare the cemetery. The donation was made without compensation.

In 1979, Msgr. O'Hanlon initiated the project of rebuilding St. Joseph's Cemetery which had deteriorated over the years. His labor of love to restore the beauty and serenity of today's St. Joseph Cemetery was rewarded in 1996 when teh Congregation of Holy Trinity Parish and the City of Shreveport renamed the street entrance sign to the cemetery as “O'Hanlon Avenue” in his honor.

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Reverend Sebastian B. Scharl
(1895-1903)

Father Sebastian Scharl's administration lasted eight years. He was born in Germany and was a gifted author. For Christmas 1902 he published a booklet entitled “Along the Way”, a collection of original poems. He also published a monthly paper called “Trinity Chimes”.

Father Scharl came to Holy Trinity from Pineville, Louisiana, where he had been serving as assistant pastor. At Holy Trinity he lived in a house facing Fannin Street across from the church. The coner of Fannin and Marshall was a vacant lot, and a house facing Marshall was used as a boy's school. This house was used as a rectory during the pastorate of Father Francis Bertels. In 1890-1891 Trinity Hall was built, and services where held there while the new church was under construction.

Scharl continued to raise funds for the new church and succeeded in erecting the present Holy Trinity Church. The conerstone of the new church was laid September 27^th, 1896, less than a year after Father Scharl became pastor. An advisory board for construction of the church included the pastor, Messrs. Andrew Querbes, Charles L. Horne and S. Currie. In a letter to Father Scharl dated January 1896, Bishop Anthony Durier directed that the cost of the new church not exceed $18,000 when ready for service. The March 5^th, 1899 issue of “Trinity Chimes” contains this information:

Contractors Jones and Duffy expect to complete their work on the new Catholic Church in a few weeks, if the weather promises to continue fair enough for building purposes. The Church will probably be blessed and occupied in the latter part of May. No interior decoration will be undertaken at the present moment except such as is absolutely needed for the occupation of the building. The object of this delay is to gain time for an elaborate interior finish in keeping with the Romanesque style of the Church.

The church was not dedicated until October 1^st, 1899, three years after the placing of the conerstone. The invitation sent out for the occasion shows a beautiful drawing of Holy Trinity Church showing an impressive tower crowning the edifice over the transept. This plan was not carried out. A clause in the contract permitted postponement of contraction of the dome if all the money allowed had been spent. The interior of the church was not completed until the administration of Father Bertels. Father Scharl left Shreveport in the spring of 1903 to take up the life of a Capuchin monk in Cincinnati.

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Reverend Francis Van Haver
(1903-1904)

Bishop Anthony Durier asked a young priest by the name of Father Francis Van Haver, who recently had come from Belgium, to become the pastor of Holy Trinity Church. Father Van Haver was at that time pastor of Zwolle. The young priest had been in Sabine Parish only a short time but had grown fond of the people there. His knowledge of English was rather limited, and he was a humble and self-effacing individual. It may be for those reason that he did not cherish his new assignment. There was much to be done in Shreveport then, and he thought the task should be given to someone of greater experience. So his stay in Shreveport on this occasion was short-lived.

Bishop Durier permitted him to return to the people of Zwolle after a stay of only one year in Shreveport. However, Father Van Haver figured prominently in the history of Holy Trinity parish a little later on.

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Reverend Francis Bertels
(1904-1926)

With the return of Father Van Haver to Zwolle, Father Francis Bertels was assigned to Holy Trinity Church. Father Bertels, a native of Belgium, worked as a member of the Jesuit Fathers in south Louisiana until he requested to become a secular priest and was accepted by Bishop Durier. He served at Lecompte and Cottonport before coming to Shreveport. His 1906 annual report to the diocese listed 800 families in Holy Trinity parish.

The new pastor set himself to the task of completing the church. He collected funds to plaster the interior and place the stained glass windows in the body of the church. For this purpose contracts were signed with Garson Brothers and J.H. Harrison. When he died on February 6^th, 1926, he left the parish in fine shape financially and spiritually.

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Reverend Monsignor Francis Van Haver
(1926-1944)

On March 26^th, 1926, Msgr. Van Haver again became pastor of Holy Trinity Church. At this time the parish took in the civil parishes of Bossier, Claiborne and Webster, downtown Shreveport and north Caddo parish to the Arkansas state line including the towns of Oil City and Vivian.

Msgr. Van Haver's first concern was to build a new rectory. Until then the pastor lived in an old frame building across the street from the church on the site occupied by the parish hall. On August 6^th, 1928, Edward Neild's plans for the present rectory were accepted, and a contract was let to H.G. Hodges for its erection. The house was built, and remains today, next to the church facing Marshall Street. Once the new home was completed, the old rectory was torn down. Later the lots on Marshall and Fannin Street and the hall were leased to the Tri-State Bus Company as a depot.

Members of the building committee were C. Tubre, Charles Horne, Jr., M. Giambre, Alex Caplis, Howard Doll, Joseph Caplis, W.L. Trowbridge and Charlie Harrison. There also was a ladies' committee that assisted greatly with fund raising, - Mrs. Howard Doll, Jr., Miss Lucile Horne, Mrs. Alex Caplis, Mrs. T.E. Crofton, Mrs. J. Patzman, Mrs. H.J. Wolcott and Mrs. Leo Gunning. Activites to raise money for the new rectory included bridge parties, musical reviews and plays and magizine sales. By December 1928 funds collected amounted to over $4,000. Cost of the rectory was about $14,000. On March 16^th, 1929, Msgr. Van Haver made this announcement from the pulpit:

“Church collections for the debt on (the) rectory will be continued but pledges will not be collected any longer. All bills and first note due on mortgage have been paid. Substantial balance is left in the treasury. Ladies of the congregation are now joining efforts to raise money for the plastering and painting of the interior of the church.”

The next project was the renovation of the interior of the church. A coat of fresh paint was added. A beautiful new pipe organ was purchased and installed as well as a new heating plant. An automatic electrified bell ringing system was put in to replace the rope pulling method of ringing the church bell. This last was a gift from the Dillinger family in memory of their mother.

At Christmas 1943 the health of Msgr. Van Haver was not good. Despite this he answered a call to minister to a dying man. Pneumonia ensured and the pastor lingered for two weeks between life and death. On January 25^th, 1944, he died.

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Reverend Monsignor J.V. Plauché
(1944-1952)

On February 1^st, 1944 Msgr. J.V. Plauché became pastor transferring from St. Catherine of Siena Church, Shreveport. On taking charge, he found that the former pastor had accumulated a fund for future improvements, and there were no debts. He set out at once to remodel and renovate the church and rectory and to improve the grounds. It was during World War II, and some wanted him to wait until the war was over to begin the work. However, he called in a landscape artist, and the beautiful garden, now known as "Our Lady's Garden", was developed as a tribute to those serving in the armed forces.

On the evenful D-Day, work was begun on the church. A new roof was applied. In October 1944 a contract was signed for a complete renovation and decoration project. New pews, doors, lighting system, additional stained glass windows, vestments and many other improvements were ordered. Painting of the five priest who died in the 1873 yellow fever epidemic were added to the walls of the church as a historical gesture.

Msgr. Plauché celebrated his Silver Sacerdotal Jubilee in 1946 in conjunction with the 90^th anniversary of the founding of the parish and the golden jubilee of the church. At his direction a comprehensive history of Holy Trinity Church was compiled. He retired from parish ministry in 1952 and resided at Maryhill Seminary in Pineville serving as Diocesan Consultor and Chancellor before his death on January 9^th, 1956.

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Reverend Monsignor John C. Vandegaer
(1952-1974)

In 1952 Holy Trinity Church again received a new pastor, Msgr. John C. Vandegaer, a native of Many, Louisiana. As a young man he was told that his health was not strong, nonetheless he followed his call to serve as a priest. His entire family was fervent in their love of the Church. One brother was also a priest, and a sister became a nun.

Msgr. Vandegaer served Holy Trinity for 22 years until his retirement in 1974. He was a kindly, pleasant individual and made many friends in Shrevport. During his pastorate the exterior of the church was painted with brown and white waterproof paint in an effort to slow damage to the structure caused by moisture.

For a few months after leaving Holy Trinity, Msgr. Vandegaer continued in ministry as assistant to St. Mary of the Pines Church in Shreveport serving at St. Ann Chapel in Stonewall and residing there. He moved to a retirement cottage on the grounds of Maryhill Renewal Center, Pineville, in October 1981. He died in January 1983.

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Reverend Monsignor William O'Hanlon
(1974-1999)

Born in 1922 at Mallow, Ballysimon in Cork, Ireland. William Christopher O'Hanlon was educated in his native country at St. Colmain's and St. John's before finishing at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained by Bishop Greco into Holy Priesthood on June 11^th, 1949, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria. Monsignor O'Hanlon, the beloved pastor of Holy Trinity, will be remembered for his tireless efforts in serving the parishioners and the restoration of this beautiful church which holds such significant historical records of the Catholic faith in this area. Steadfast in his priesthood, he once said, “I was always very close to the Church.” He is uniquely and affectionately known for the Irish touch he always gave to his sermons on Mother's Day.

After 15 years of ministry in downtown Shreveport, the Holy Father appointed Monsignor O'Hanlon as Honorary Prelate in October 1989. Msgr. O'Hanlon was well known throughout Northwest Louisiana by many of the area religious and was an expert on genealogy of some Louisiana families. He also initiated a yearly celebration of the Red Mass for all those who practice law in the area. During the 140^th celebration of Holy Trinity Parish, Msgr. O'Hanlon was presented with a replica of his beloved church created by one of the parishioners. It was placed at the side altar where it remains for all to view.

Holy Trinity Church was in urgent need of repair when Msgr. O'Hanlon inherited it in February 1974. With dedicated determination and sagacity, he procured the necessary funding and mixed it with capable architectural guidance as he lead a remarkable renovation of the entire exterior and interior of the church, restoring it to all of its Romanesque High Victorian and Gothic glory.

Included in the restoration were the powdering of the outside red brick surface, a new roof, new carpeting, clear plexiglass covers for all 60 stained glass windows, a restroom and a children's cry room, relocation of baptistery to left of the main altar in the sanctuary, enclosure of an entrance vestibule, modern lighting, refurbished pews, artwork restored, reversal of the worn marble front steps to present like new surfaces and the addition of new brass handrails.

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Reverend Monsignor Franz Graef, STD
(1999-2006)

Monsignor Franz Graef, STD, succeeded Monsignor O'Hanlon as pastor of Holy Trinity in July 1999. He was born December 6^th, 1930, in Heidelberg, Germany. After graduating from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, he was ordained for the Diocese of Alexandria, La. on April 6^th, 1957 by Bishop Paulus Rusch of Innsbruck.

He began his ordained ministry in January 1958 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor at Alexandria, Louisiana. He served the Alexandria Diocese and later the Diocese of Shreveport as a pastor, dean and Diocese Director of Religious Education and Greco Instruction. Archbishop Francis Schulte awarded Msgr. Graef an honorary doctorate in May 1999 for his dedication in educating seminarians and theology students at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Bishop Friend noted that the awarding of the honorary doctorate is also an honor and distinction for the Diocese of Shreveport and said, “We are all blessed that one of our priests has been afforded this recognition.”

Acknowledging Msgr. Graef's desire to return to pastoral ministry in North Louisiana, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Bishop Gregory Aymond, Rector of the Seminary, remarked, “One of his greatest gifts to me has been his personal support, friendship, good advice and wisdom.”

During his administration the installation of an upgraded sound system was accomplished in 2000. The refurbishment and expansion of the church organ with addition of digital equipment in 2003, enhanced the music of the church services. Based upon its historic importance to the Catholic community, Holy Trinity Parish was named in 2000, one of the six churches for pilgrimage in the Jubilee Year within the territory of the Diocese of Shreveport.

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Reverend Monsignor Earl. V. Provenza, V.F.
(2006- )

On July 1^st, 2006, Msgr. Earl Provenza is now our current pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

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