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States. When returning from France he encountered a storm and he felt destruction was inevitable. Falling to his knees he invoked the protection of the Blessed Virgin, and promised, if their lives were spared he would erect a shrine. Their lives were saved and a few months later a statue arrived from France. This statue was taken in procession to a pedestal. In a pamphlet we read: "A gentle man involved in serious difficulties made a promise to "Our Lady of the Woods" that if she would help him he would build a suitable shrine in her honor." The shrine still stands today. This simple statue, made of plaster of Paris, with no other protection stands as a beacon to many who honor her. Rev. Louis Stanislaus Mary Buteaux died in Boston on June 14, 1875.
Very Rev. Henry LeDuc, pastor from November 17, 1859 to August 1897, was bom in Nantes, France. He came right after ordination in France to Bay St. Louis. This would be his one and only assignment for nearly 38 years. He would spend himself and be spent in service of this parish. The ground broken and the seed planted by Fr. Buteaux were now nurtured by this young priest.
In 1864, during the Civil War, the Confederates repulsed the Yankees and took prisoners. About two weeks later 200 Federals came to rescue these captives. Captain Marshall of the Confederates was shot at the comer of Front and Union Streets while on a reconnoitering expedition. After these events, the Yankees were determined to bum down the town. Father Le Due appeared on the street in the neighborhood of the church, holding aloft the cross of Christ. The federal soldiers, mostly Irish Catholics, instantly ceased firing and in respect for the cross of their Savior, doffed their hats. Bay St. Louis was saved from destruction by Fr. LeDuc.
The original Church was condemned by architects and Fr. LeDuc rebuilt it: He built churches at many sites including Pearlington, Waveland, and St. Joseph's on Dunbar Avenue. He opened St. Mary's Cemetery on December 22, 1872. In 1879 he attended 13 missions in addition to the Bay.
Traveling to France he hurt his leg and eventually died from this injury on August 27, 1897. The third pastor was Very Rev. Florimond J. Blanc who served from January 1, 1898 to June 1903. He put electric lights into the church and bought the property where the present rectory stands. He fell ill in June of 1903 and on Sunday, June 14, he died. He was buried in the vault beneath the Calvary in St. Mary's cemetery.
Fr. Aloise van Waesberghe served from 1903 to 1906. He is buried in St. Mary's cemetery. On June 23, 1906 Rev. John M. Prendergast was appointed pastor of Bay St. Louis, a post which he held until January 17, 1918.
On Saturday morning, November 16, 1907, a great catastrophe occurred. St. Joseph's Academy, the Church of Our Lady of the Gulf and the Catholic rectory were destroyed by fire. The loss was irreparable. Father Prendergast was not disheartened. He formulated plans for a greater church. On October 4, 1908, the cornerstone was laid for the present church. On December 13, 1908 the First Mass of the new Church was celebrated by Fr. Prendergast; it was like wise the day of the first initiation of the Knights of Columbus in Bay St. Louis named after Fr. LeDuc. Fr. Gmelch became pastor of Bay St. Louis on January 17, 1918 and served for many years here until he died in the late 50's and was buried with other former pastors at St. Mary's Cemetery.
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