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respect to the cross of the Savior doffed their hats. Thanks to the courage and religious influence Father LeDuc, peace was restored and Bay ST. Louis was saved from destruction.
Father LeDuc was a builder of the first rank. He rebuilt the original church, which had been condemned by the architects. He built churches at Bayou Binanchoa, Bayou Cadet, Pearlington, Bayou LaCroix, Waveland and St. Joseph’s on Dunbar avenue, and in his will he left money for the erection of a church at Edwardsville. He opened St. Mary’s cemetery on December 22, 1872. His records show that in the year 1879 he attended 13 missions in addition to the Bay and during this year 382 were Confirmed; of this number 49 were converts. These facts are sufficient to stamp him as a missionary of apostolic zeal.
In July, 1897, Father LeDuc decided to visit his native land. In boarding the ship he hurt his leg. The injury hastened his death, which occurred August 27,1897. He was buried in France, far from his beloved parish. Fifty years have passed since the death of Father LeDuc, but he is still loved by his children. Even to this day you can hear the older members of the congregation say with a feeling of pride, “I was Baptized by Pere LeDuc,” showing that this was considered a distinctive privilege and that a special unction was imparted by his ministrations. His cause may never be submitted to Rome, but he has long since enjoyed the domestic canonization at the hands of his people.