Official Web Site of the Diocese of Shreveport

Archives of the Diocese of Shreveport

Source: "The Catholic Church in North Louisiana," Roger Baudier, 1953
Catholic sacramental records for churches within the boundaries of the Diocese of Shreveport generally begin in 1856. These records may be accessed at the archives of the Diocese of Shreveport. A frequent question is where to look for Catholic records before those dates.

1692 . . .	Missionary priest visited Native American tribes along Mississippi River near present-day Newellton, Tensas Civil Parish
1699 . . .	Missionaries returned to Mississippi River area Established headquarters at Natchez, Mississippi
1716 . . .	French established Fort St. John the Baptist on Red River Settlement became known as Natchitoches Catholic chapel had no permanent priest; served from Pointe Coupee or Los Adayes
1717 . . .	Spanish Presidio of Los Adayes founded with mission chapel of San Miguel de Linares Abandoned when war broke out between Spain and France
1721. . .	Los Adayes and San Miguel re-established Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pilar) built for soldiers and settlers Spanish Franciscan priests from San Miguel also assisted at Natchitoches
1728-1734 . . .	Chapel at Natchitoches dedicated to St. Francis
1734-1738 . . ..	St. Francis chapel at Natchitoches served by priest from New Orleans
c.1760 . . .	Mission of St. Louis des Appalages established near present-day Pineville Served Native Americans leaving the areas occupied by British, Spanish and French
1769-1774 . . .	Spanish assumed possession of the Louisiana colony Los Adayes abandoned Spanish Franciscan priests served at Natchitoches
1795 . . .	Chapel built at Las Cabezas on Bayou Scie, named Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, served from Natchitoches Priest from Natchitoches also visited Cane River, Grand Ecore, Isle Brevelle, and Rapides
1796 . . .	Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel established in Avoyelles Civil Parish between present towns of Marksville and Mansura Left vacant 1804-1812 and 1832-1834 Served by traveling priests from Opelousas 1812-1814 and 1818-1824
1806-1838 . . .	Church of St. Francis at Natchitoches charged with serving all missions Parish vacant 1806-1812, 8122-1828, 1826-1828, 1837-1838 Sometimes served from Nacogdoches, Texas, or Opelousas, Louisiana
1817 . . .	Chapel built at Alexandria; no resident priest until 1840
1829 . . .	St. Augustine Church built at Isle Brevelle Served from Natchitoches until receiving resident priest in 1851
1831 . . .	Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary built at Campti Served from Natchitoches until receiving resident priest in 1851
1849 . . .	Planters at Milliken's Bend, Madison Civil Parish, requested resident priest Chapel built and priest stayed 1849-1854 Abandoned in 1862 due to Civil War
1851 . . .	Rev. Louis Gergaud First resident pastor of church at Monroe, 1856	In late 1700s Spanish fort had been established and served spordically by clergy from Pointe Coupee, New Orleans, Avoyelles (1803, 1828) Priest sent from New Orleans to built church at Monroe in 1851 Contractor failed with construction incomplete; no funds remained Priest returned to New Orleans
1853-1857 . . .	Diocese of Natchitoches established with resident bishop and clergy Included six parishes (one vacant): Alexandria, Avoyelles Civil Parish, Campti, Cloutierville, Isle Brevelle, Natchitoches Bayou Scie area served from Cathedral
1854-1855 . . .	Missionaries from southeast Texas and Natchitoches Civil Parish began to visit Bayou Pierre in DeSoto Civil Parish, Shreveport, and communities near present Bossier City, Athens, and Minden
1855 . . .	Priest sent to establish parish near Carmel on Bayou Pierre in DeSoto Civil Parish; Left to found Shreveport church DeSoto Civil Parish Catholic church served sporadically from Natchitoches
1856 . . .	Priests sent to reside in Monroe and Shreveport
1858 . . .	Clergy from Nacogdoches, Texas, took over care of all Spanish missions