The old Saint John the Baptist Catholic School building has recently been renamed the LeVezouet Center in honor of its founding priest, Father Francois LeVezouet, who is being remembered as one of the Five Martyrs of the Shreveport Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1873.
On October 8, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport, a Holy Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francis I. Malone with other esteemed clergy. Within the context of the Mass was the opening session of the cause for beatification and canonization of the Shreveport Martyrs followed by a special remembrance of Fr. Francois LeVezouet, the founder of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Many, on the 150th anniversary of his death. Present for the celebration were living relatives of Father LeVezouet, including his nephew, also a priest, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Saint-Brieuc, Father Herve LeVezouet.
Saint John the Baptist in Many was honored to have Father Herve LeVezouet and other deby scendants of the founder of the church visit Many on Monday, October 9th. The family hails from Brittany, France and all had traveled to Shreveport to attend the commemoration ceremonies honoring their great uncle, Fr. Francois LeVezouet. They were present for the opening session of the cause for beatification and canonization of the five martyrs at Holy Trinity Church in Shreveport on October 8th, which was also the 150th anniversary of the death of their uncle, Fr. Francois LeVezouet.
The group enjoyed visiting Saint John the Baptist where some of the parishioners prepared and hosted lunch for them While at St John’s in Many, the group viewed a special 19th century chalice from Brittany, France, near the birthplace of the church’s founder and recently acquired by the church’s pastor, Fr. Tim Hurd, designated as the “LeVezouet Chalice”. The special piece will serve as a remembrance of Father Francois and the love he had for the people of Many.
The LeVezouet Family also enjoyed viewing pictures of their ancestor and the 150th Anniversary video of the church and its history.
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church was honored to have these special visitors and is hopeful that in years to come its founding priest will be canonized a saint.