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I From 1699 on history has been silent about the names of : missionaries serving the Bay i St. Louis area. It is known I that some missionaries from Mobile and New Orleans j visited the Coast occasionally during these years.
I In 1820, Bay St. Louis had a young priest performing the clerical duties for the people.
] His name was Fr. Michael | Portier. Later, Fr. Michael J became the first Bishop of j Mobile. After Fr. Michael came the Lazarist Fathers -Fathers Borgna, De Angelis ~ and Aquatoni. These priests were followed by secular priests:	Fathers Gallagher,
Gury and Martin.
On July 28, 1837 Pope Gregory XVI established the Diocese of Natchez. A Sulpician Father, Rev. John
Mary Joseph Chanche became its first Bishop. It is interesting to note that Father Chanche had been offered the bishopricks of Baltimore, Boston and New York. He turned them down to receive Natchez.