Revealing Catholic Shreveport

Downtown Shreveport (photo courtesy of Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau)

Shreveport, Louisiana, is about a three hour drive from Dallas-Fort Worth, but feels a world away. It was once at the very western frontier of the United States and remains today the land where Creole meets Cowboy. It is here that the cultures of east Texas and Cajun country intersect to create a memorable impression on all who pass through Shreveport.

The riverfront city is well known for its casino resorts and cultural attractions. For music fans, its historic Shreveport Municipal Auditorium is where a number of renowned performers got their first big break on the music scene; none more famous than Elvis Presley, whose career was launched from the auditorium in 1954. The unique flavors of Louisiana also come alive on this side of the state line, including Shreveport’s famous stuffed shrimp, mouth-watering beignets, and other Creole treats.

What makes a trip to Shreveport extra special is the opportunity to explore how God’s grace has sanctified this region, from the heroic witness of the Shreveport Martyrs to the miraculous intervention of St. John Berchmans.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Shreveport Martyrs

At a time of suffering and misery, the natural inclination is to turn inwards or run away and hide. That is the opposite of what God calls us to do, and is the opposite of the example left by the five priests of the Shreveport diocese who were resident at Holy Trinity Catholic Church during the 1873 Yellow Fever pandemic that swept through frontier Shreveport. Their cause for canonization is now under active consideration by the Vatican and you can learn more about the cause here.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

These five holy priests died in 1873 while ministering to the locals of Shreveport who were suffering through one of the worst Yellow Fever epidemics in the U.S. which took the lives of an estimated fourth of the population in the span of just a few months. What is remarkable about their service is that it was mostly to non Catholics, given that Shreveport had such a tiny Catholic population at the time. It was a pure act of charity to care for those stricken with yellow fever, regardless of their faith, age or the color of their skin. When people were fleeing town by the train loads, these priests walked into the quarantine zone to perform a wide variety of acts of charity for those stricken by the illness, while also being present to bring the sacraments to those Catholics in need.

Today, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, there is a diocesan shrine to these five martyrs who once served the parish. The stained glass windows framing the shrine tell the story of the lives of these martyrs, anchored in the famous biblical inscription that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Cathedral of St. John Berchmans

Just outside of the downtown core is the city’s cathedral. It is home to a special shrine dedicated to St. John Berchmans, a Dutch saint with a very special connection to Louisiana. Why is this Dutch saint so honored in Louisiana?

St. John Berchmans Cathedral (photo courtesy of St. John Berchmans Cathedral)

In nearby Grand Coteau in 1886, the amazing miracle occurred to a 20 year old novice from Canada, Mary Wilson, who was studying at the convent and preparing to receive her habit. She fell deathly ill and was unable to eat food or drink for days, while in the infirmary. On the verge of death and after receiving the Last Rites, she appealed to then-Blessed Berchmans for a miracle, placing an image of the saint on her tongue. At that moment, she experienced instant healing and opened her eyes to find a man standing at her bedside, who identified himself as John Berchmans, and indicated that God willed her healing. She fully convalesced in an instant and her healing defied all medical wisdom. It was this miracle that paved the way for the canonization of this fifteenth century Dutch saint.

To learn more about this miracle and the Catholic heritage of the Louisiana Bayou, read more here.

Exploring Shreveport

There are many other attractions to occupy your time in Shreveport. Family friendly activities include the SciPort Discovery Center, the Shreveport Aquarium, the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base, the RW Norton Art Gallery and Botanical Gardens, and the Gators and Friends Adventure Park where you can even zip line across a live alligator pit.

Global Power Museum (photo courtesy of Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau)