St. Joseph Church, French Settlement, Livingston Parish, Louisiana File prepared by D.N. Pardue ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From the French Settlement Historical Register, published by the French Settlement Historical Society, French Settlement, Louisiana 70733. The LaGenWeb Archives thanks them for contributing this information. Vol. 2, December 1977 French Settlement or LaCote Francoise is located in Livingston Civil Parish between Baton Rouge and Lake Maurepas. The area along the Amite River from Port Vincent and beyond French Settlement was first settled in the early 1800's. These first settlers were ministered until the late 1830's by Spanish Capuchin and Franciscan Friars from the little church of St. Bernard in Galveztown and from the St. Gabriel Church of Iberville. In 1838 the Lazarist or Vincentian Fathers were placed in charge of the church at Donaldsonville and began to minister as far as the Amite River. Appeals were made by the Catholic settlers requesting that the Lazarist priests cross the Amite to the established settlement of Port Vincent. Thus, the mission of St. Vincent Ferrer at Port Vincent had its beginning. Vincent Scivicque, a native of Italy, donated to the diocese the land and chapel for the mission of St. Vincent Ferrer in February, 1837. At the beginning of the St. Joseph Parish Book of Baptisms appears this important entry: "On the 20th day of August, 1839, I Father Thadee Amant, aughorized by Bishop Antoine Blanc, blessed with the rites of the Catholic Church a small chapel built on the land of Mr. Vincent Scivicque, built by him in honor of St. Vincent Ferrer for the benefit of all the Catholic surroundings." Vincent Scivicque had built the small chapel so his mother would have a place of worship upon her arrival from Italy, but she died before coming to this country. This historic pioneer chapel was sold in 1909. The second chapel was destroyed by a storm before its completion. In 1914, the second chapel was completed and was placed under the invocation of St. Agnes. In 1959, the present chapel was built and, at the request of a substantial benefactor, was once again placed under a new patron, St. William. Most parishioners, descendants of Vincent Scivicque, think the chapel should be renamed after the original patron, St. Vincent Ferrer. The church at French Settlement got its start during the pastorate of Father Juhel at Cornerview in 1873. Father Branche was considered the first resident priest, but he remained only about a year. Prior to 1873, missionaries had served the people in individual homes and in a small chapel (built of logs and mud) near the old community cemetery in French Settlement. After Father Branche, the parish was again ministered to by missionaries from New River from 1874 to 1878. On October 6, 1876, Hubert Haydel donated a piece of land, measuring two arpents by five arpents and situated on the public road at French Settlement, for the purpose of building a church. This site was located down the road towards the ferry (Amite River) about a mile from the present church. In 1882, the citizens of French Settlement signed two petitions, one requesting a resident priest and the other requesting that a church be built. This church when built was placed under the invocation of St. Joseph. The first confirmations that took place in the parish were conferred by Archbishpo Lemay of New Orleans on April 17, 1883. Two hundred five persons received the sacrament that day. Persons from all over the parish gathered there for the occasion in order to be confirmed. Several among the confirmers were already married and some were elderly. After a storm destroyed this church the members decided to change the location to the center of the community in order to accomodate more people. By 1887, Rev. Joseph Maumus was the resident pastor of St. Joseph, which had been set up as parish, serving the missions of Port Vincent, White Hall, The Lake, Bear Island, and Head of Island. The present church was built in 1889. On July 22, 1891, there was another confirmation conducted by Mgr. Janssens of New Orleans and one hundred nineteen received the sacrament. Another confirmation took place on July 9, 1895, conducted by the same bishop with one hundred forty-four receiving the sacrament. On February 16, 1922, Archbishop J.W. Shaw established the Parish of St. Joseph at French Settlement, giving boundaries, after placing it under the care of Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1918. Rev. J.A. Sirois, O.M.I., the first Oblate pastor, not only looked after the established mission, but added Denham Springs, Hungarian Settlement, and others when an assistant was assigned to St. Joseph Church. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission Chapel of St. Joseph Church, Head of Island, was dedicated on May 31, 1942, by Archbishop Rummel of New Orleans. The building of this chapel was possible because a rich lady in New Orleans, hearing of the condition of this community, donated all the necessary money to acquire a piece of land and paid for everything else needed to prepare the chapel for services. Starting in 1839 with the baptism records of St. Vincent Ferrer, marriages in 1873, and funerals in 1887 are the earliest records of St. Joseph. There are a few scattered marriage and funeral records before these dates. Early records are now located in the Diocese Archives, Baton Rouge. Compiled by Mercy Cambre Reviewed by Father John Courchesne