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Third Pastor at the Bay
The third pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf church was Very Rev. Florimond J. Blanc, January 1,1898, to June 14,1903. Father Blanc was born in the Diocese of Le Puy in France April 4, 1842. At the completion of his classical course he entered St. Mary’s Seminary at Baltimore. He was ordained for the Diocese of Natchez, and in the fall of 1870 began his missionary work in Mississippi. Only a man with the zeal of an apostle could stand the difficult missions of Aberdeen and Columbus back in the (18) 70's, but zeal he had in abundance and for 10 long years lived the life of a pioneer missionary. From 1880 to 1890, he was pastor of Pass Christian where his record shows that he was a great builder and an able financier. As pastor of Biloxi from 1890 to 1898, he kept up this excellent work and for this reason Father LeDuc requested that good Father Blanc succeed him as pastor of Bay St. Louis. Bishop Heslin acceded to the wishes of Father LeDuc, and Father Blanc became pastor of the Bay about January 1, 1898.
During his short tenure of office Father Blanc lived up to all expectations. He repaired the church, bought the property where the present rectory stands, put electric lights in the church and made other important improvements. As pastor he endeared himself to all the people and they loved him as a father.
Father Blanc fell ill about June 1, 1903. His condition failed to improve and he went to Hotel Dieu for treatment. On Sunday, June 1, he died. On Tuesday, June 16,1903, he was buried in the vault beneath the Calvary in St. Mary’s cemetery.