The Good Shepherd, Rev. Joseph Jeremiah Ferguson, Pointe Coupee Parish, La. Part Four, "Historic Sketch" File submitted by Pauline Bizette Brandy This is an excerpt from the booklet, Historic Sketch, St. Ann Parish, Morganza, La. Diamond Jubilee, 1872 to 1947. It was compiled and published for the church's Diamond Jubilee which was celebrated at Morganza, La. on January 18, 1948. It is reprinted by permission of St. Ann's Catholic Church, Morganza, La. For records of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you may contact the Archives via mail: Diocese of Baton Rouge, Archives, P.O. Box 2028, Baton Rouge, La. 70821-2028 Phone: (504) 387-0561 Fax: (504) 387-8789 E-mail: chancery@diobr.org Or visit their website at http://diobr.org/Welcome.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------ ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------ The history of practically every Catholic parish persents some outstanding figure, whose efforts, energies and personality have been stamped upon it and have contributed mightily to its continuation, thriving and achievements. Our Lady of Seven Dolors parish of Raccourci is true to this pattern. Its annuals are bright with the striking personality of Rev. Joseph Jeremiah Ferguson, who stands out as the good shepherd of that isolated parish for 18 years. Up to the time of his death, his was the longest of all the pastorates at Raccourci. Father Ferguson was a native of South Carolina, who came to the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1892, and was accepted by Archbishop Janssens. He was only 36 years of age at the time that he was assigned to the pastorate of Raccourci. Open, frank, fearless, straightforward, almost to the point of brusqueness, he was regarded as a man with a golden heart, and a spirit of charity and devotion that was inspiring. Utterly forgetful of self, he cared little about personal appearance, and his personal wants were few and restricted to essentials. His only interests in life were the salavation of souls, the care of the people assigned to his care, and his own eternal salvation. Self sacrifice was the rule of his life. It is said that never once did he complain about his assignment to his isolated parish, nor did he ever ask for a transfer elsewhere. He was loyal to the will of his religious superiors. Life in the parish was difficult. If his wants were few, his needs were many, but he was always satisfied with little. He wrote once, that food was difficult to obtain, but even if he had money, he would find it difficult to obtain a pound of beef. Yet, he never complained. To help meet his needs, he cultivated a patch of corn and cotton, and a garden, and these satisfied him, together with the kind gifts of his people. In his sermons, he was eloquent and forceful. In his insistence for obedience to the laws of God and His Church, he was stern. In his charity he was magnanimous. He never absented himself from his parish for long trips or vacations, and never was he away from Raccourci, for more than a day or two at one time, on the very few occasions that he went out of the borders of the remote parish. He had a horse and buggy and a road cart, and with these he made his way around the vast territory assigned to his care. He served Red River Landing and St. Francis of Pointe Coupee, besides visiting the distant settlements where Catholics resided. That he should be respected and loved is not surprising. Father Ferguson assumed charge of Raccourci church in January, 1893. The new pastor plunged into his work with characteristic vim. He checked over his parish population and discarded the previous estimates, setting it down as "between 500 and 600." Promptly, he established the Children of Mary for Young Ladies, and prodded the Altar Society and the Ladies of St. Ann to greater activities. The year 1893 showed only 427 Communions, but the following year (1894), they had risen to 462, and in 1895 to 712. Ten years later (1905), Father Ferguson reported 987 Communions in the parish. Such is the eloquent record of his spiritual labors. Yet, the Catholic population remained around 700, scattered over a wide area. The 24 Baptisms of 1894, grew in 1902 to 81. Catholic marriages that had always hovered around the annual total of six or eight, went up to 15 in 1901, but later slumped. All of this was the result of his instructions, his sermons, his pleas, his thundering, and his endless insistence upon the care of one's immortal soul. In 1897, he inaugurated a branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the Colored, and guided the men of his congregation in the ways of exercising Christ-like charity for their needy fellowmen. The organization continued its excellent work for a number of years. Archbishop Janssens came for Confirmation in 1895, and 67 received the Sacrament. The next visit was that of Bishop Rouxel in 1900, when 103 received Confirmation. In 1905, Archbishop Chapelle came and 65 persons were Confirmed. St. Francis Church at Pointe Coupee once again was threatened by the Mississippi River in 1893. There was much discussion and many plans about something being done to preserve the historic edifice, but nothing actual resulted. Father Ferguson took matters in hand and conferred with Jules Labatut, a plantation owner, suggesting that he donate some land for the re- establishment of St. Francis Church. On February 9, 1893, Father Ferguson wrote to the Archbishop that Mr. Labatut was willing to donate some property for a church and cemetery, but on condition that he and his family would have the privilege of three lots in the cemetery and two pews in the church in perpetuity. This was finally agreed upon, and Mr. Labatut deeded the property on June 5, 1894 to Archbishop Janssens. (Engry No. 17020, June 19, 1894) The old St. Francis Church was demolished, and moved four miles to its present location at Brooks, where a new church was erected, at cost, Father Ferguson stated, of $648. Some furnishings and paintings from the old church were kept and installed in the new church. It was opened for services in 1895. From that time, Father Ferguson began offering Mass at St. Francis every Sunday, except the first Sunday of the month. In addition to this, he continued his regular visits to Red River Landing (Torras). One of the important events of the administration of Father Ferguson was the incorporation of the parish and transfer of all property to the parish corporation. This system of making each individual parish an independent corporation, was inaugurated by Archbishop Janssens for every parish of the archdiocese in 1894. The Raccourci parish was incorporated on August 7, 1894, under the name of "The Congregation of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church," by an act before W. Morgan Gurley, registered in Pointe Coupee Parish Mortgage Book Volume 16, under E No. 8, June 11, 1895. The new corporation officers consisted of Archbishop Janssens, president; Very Rev. John B. Bogaerts, the Vicar General, vice-president; Rev. Joseph J. Ferguson, pastor at Raccourci, secretary-treasurer; and Edward A. Fisher and Morgan O'Connell, trustees and members of the board of directors. The Raccourci church property was transferred by the Archdiocese of New Orleans to the new corporation on May 5, 1896, according to Conveyance Record Parish of Pointe Coupee, 17524, Book No. 7. Father Ferguson continued the parochial school that had been inaugurated by Father Clark. In addition, he manifested his zealous interest in the spiritual welfare of his Negro parishioners by opening a school for them, just as he had sought their material aid through the St. Vincent de Paul Society for the Colored. Unfortunately, lack of funds made it impossible for him to continue the school for Negroes and in 1902, he closed it. Another project that commanded the interest of the pastor, was the growing congregation that had developed on the former Morganza Plantation, where a town was gradually building up. When the Texas and Pacific Railroad line was built, it left Raccourci several miles eastward, after veering westward at Morganza. This left Raccourci stranded and it began to lose its importance, particularly with the decline in river transportation. Noting this and the need to provide for the Catholics at Morganza Plantation, Father Ferguson bought some lots on First Avenue, which is now the levee, by an act of sale of October 23, 1902, from the Citizens Bank of Louisiana, which had taken over Morganza Plantation property. However, Father Ferguson died before bringing to realization his project for a church at Morganza. Another settlement that had developed was Jacoby in the northwestern corner of the parish, where a number of Italian Catholic farmers had taken up their residence. Rev. Vincent Ciolino, who did missionary work among the Italian Catholics of the archdiocese, visited Jacoby to minister to these members of the Raccourci parish, and informed Archbishop Blenk in 1907, that the Catholics there were sufficiently large in number and well disposed to warrant to make parish provisions for them. The Archbishop made inquiries from Father Ferguson, but no action was taken then. Angelo Sparacino had built a chapel there and had established a cemetery, both of which were used by the Catholics of the area, and this chapel was served from Raccourci. Father Ferguson continued his zealous ministry at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church for 18 years, conscientiously performing his duties and never complaining about hardships, privations or difficulties. On Thursday, August 10, 1911, he was stricken ill. Rev. Father Henry, a missionary, administered the last Sacraments, and on the morning of Friday, August 11, he expired calmly. He was 54 years old. The funeral services were conducted on the next day. The sermon was preached by Rev. Louis Savoure, pastor at Lakeland. Present were Rev. F. Bacciochi and Rev. Arthur Drossaerts, a close friend. Later in the day, another of his friends among the clergy, Rev. L. Richen, arrived with Father Ferguson's brother. The deceased pastor was interred in the Raccourci parish cemetery, but on August 11, 1942, the body was removed to Morganza and buried in St. Ann's Cemetery, by Rev. Paul Gauci. Thus closed the career of one of Raccourci's outstanding pastors, one who contributed much to the maintenance of the parish and its developments, despite many difficulties and obstacles, not the least of which was the church's location that had become isolated more than ever, and the loss of prestige by the community due to economic and geographic circumstances. The administration of the successor of Father Ferguson belongs to this period, for it marks the beginning of the end for the Raccourci parish. This is the pastorate of Rev. Joseph M. LeBerre. After the death of Father Ferguson, the parish was vacant, and Rev. Theodore Van Eyck ministered to the congregation. The people of Raccourci were promptly won by the young priest's zeal, devotion and geniality, so they drafted a petition to Archbishop Blenk, respectfully asking His Grace to designate Father Van Eyck as their pastor. More than two score names were affixed to the petition. However, the Archbishop appointed Father LeBerre and in December, 1911, he undertook his duties at Raccourci. For the year 1912, Father LeBerre had 47 Baptisms, and in 1913, there were 58. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered to 139 persons in 1912. He continued to serve St. Joseph's Chapel at Torras, and St. Francis Church at Pointe coupee. He reported that there were three Altar Societies, one at each of the three churches in the parishes, and that each had about one-half dozen members. The number of Holy Communions continued high, the year 1913 showing 950. The population drift was away from Raccourci and the area around it and above, and Morganza was steadily developing. Better roads and other factors were against Raccourci. Father LeBerre's administration lasted only two years and three months. He was transferred in March, 1914, by Archbishop Blenk, and later became pastor of Vinton, La. He died in France in 1939.