Five Priests and Their Journey to Sainthood
Closing Session
On August 28, 2025, at the historic Holy Trinity Church in Shreveport, the diocesan phase of the cause for beatification and canonization of the Shreveport Martyrs was formally sealed and forwarded to Rome. Read the full story of this landmark moment and next steps.
Roman Phase
The Cause for the Shreveport Martyrs has officially entered its Roman phase — Bishop Francis Malone and Father Peter Mangum met with Vatican officials to open the documentation. Marking the next step toward potential Beatification and Canonization. Learn more about this historic milestone.
Shreveport Servants of God: Martyrs to Their Charity
In 1873, Shreveport lost one-quarter of its population to the third worst yellow fever epidemic in United States history. Amid this tragedy emerged heroic virtue, exemplified in the lives of five priests who voluntarily and freely offered their lives for others and persevered in this determination unto death.
On December 8, 2020, the first phase of the process of Beatification and Canonization (progress to sainthood) concluded when Bishop Francis I. Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport named them as Servants of God. On August 28, 2025, the second phase of the process comes to a close in another solemn ceremony at Holy Trinity Church to mark the official conclusion of the diocesan phase and the beginning of the Roman phase. All of the work of the Tribunal and Historical Commission over the past five years now goes to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
FR. ISIDORE QUÉMERAIS
Learn More +
FR. JEAN PIERRE
Learn More +
FR. JEAN MARIE BILER
Learn More +
FR. LOUIS MARIE GERGAUD
Learn More +
FR. FRANÇOIS LEVÉZOUËT
Learn More +
“Greater love than this no one has that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).
Hear From Leaders in Faith
