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Nativity Catholic Church Campti, Louisiana
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Campti, Louisiana, is a daughter of the venerable, pioneer Church of Saint Francis of Assisi at Natchitoches, just at the town of Campti is an offspring of the old colonial settlement of the Post of Natchitoches that grew up around Fort Saint John the Baptist. Two Church centers developed in that area early in French colonial days -- the Saint Francis Church at the French post and the Mission of Los Adayes, with the chapel of Fort Saint John the Baptist. Colonists followed in the wake of the establishment of the French post on the Red River, and soon immigrants from France and discharged soldiers took up lands above and below the Natchitoches post, which became the center of civil and Church activities in the upper Red River Valley. French Capuchin missionaries were placed in charge of Saint Francis Church at Natchitoches, and Spanish Franciscan Friars directed the Mission of San Miguel at Los Adayes. Both of these groups ranged far and wide in central and northwestern Louisiana in the colonial days, ministering to the scattered Catholic settlers and to the Indian tribes. The latter were the special interests of the Spanish Friars from San Miguel. Father Maximin, the French Capuchin, was the pioneer French missionary of the Natchitoches area, beginning his labors in 1729. Father Pierre Vitry, the French Jesuit missionary, served Natchitoches and its environs from 1734 through 1738. Those who served longer and did much for the surrounding communities in succeeding years were Father Barnabe, Father Eustache, and Father Valentin, all French Capuchins in the period between 1744 and 1762. Father Valentin was particularly zealous in visiting the growing settlements along the Red River. One of these was the community of Campti, on the northern bank of the Red River, northwest of the Post of Natchitoches. Tradition has it, says the "Louisiana State Guide" that the town got its name from the chief of an Indian tribe which lived on a nearly hill. His name was "Campte", and as he was highly popular with the white settlers, the small colonial settlement of white people took its name from him. The Spanish Capuchin and Franciscan missionaries who replaced the French Capuchins after Spain took over Louisiana in 1769 also visited regularly the offspring settlements of Natchitoches along the Red River, including Campti. Among these were Father Luis de Quintanilla, Father Frencesco de Caldas, and Father Pedro de Vales. After the French Revolution, a number of French refugee priests came to Louisiana, and served a number of the parishes. Some of the Spanish priests came from Nacogdoches and looked after Natchitoches and its missions for a time. The visiting priests made calls at settlements and at plantations completing Baptism ceremonies for the many children and even adults who entered the registers as having been "ondoyes;" that is, having received lay Baptism in the absence of a priest. One of the French priests who visited Campti in the last decades of the 1700's was Father Jean Delvaux, who was the pastor at Natchitoches from 1786 to 1793, and again in 1795. For the next 11 years it was Father Pierre Pavie whose journeys around the vicinity of Natchitoches can be traced in his entries for Baptisms, marriages and funerals. For the conducting of ceremonies in private homes, he stated in his entries that he had the permission of Bishop Penalver, the first Bishop of New Orleans. His tours included Grand Ecore, Campti, Isle Brevelle, Riviere aux Cannes, and the Appalache Village. At Ecore he visited the homes of Jean Baptiste Cloutier and the Widow Monet. Father Pavie's zealous pastorate ended in 1806, and for the next 7 years the Catholics of the upper Red River depended upon devoted Father Louis Buhot of Opelousas to come periodically to minister to them, or depended upon Priests from Nacogdoches, Texas, who travelled to Natchitoches on the old Camino Real. One of the latter was Father Francesco Maynes, a Franciscan. He deplored the religious conditions that existed in the Red River and Cane River sections, so he decided to devote himself to the people of that section. With Bishop Dubourg's permission he became a secular priest and took up work at Saint Francis church in Natchitoches from 1813 to 1825. Father Maynes was very zealous in looking after the spiritual needs of Catholic groups along the Red River from the Post of the Rapides (Alexandria) up to Grappe's Bluff, including Campti. Unfortunately, Father Maynes left in 1822 and the area was bereft of a pastor until 1825. Bishop Dubourg visited this section in 1821, travelling on horseback, and again in 1825. He then assigned Father Dusaussoy to Natchitoches, and shortly afterwards, Father A. Anduze, both of whom served that area until 1827. A new era for Northwest Louisiana dawned with 1827, when Father Jean Baptiste Blanc was assigned as pastor of Saint Francis Church of Natchitoches and its dependencies. His work there until his death in 1834 is an epic of priestly devotion, self sacrifice and zeal. He visited nearby Campti frequently where he gave instructions and awakened the people to their religious duties. Aware of the vast amount of work to be done in this section, Bishop Rosati, then administrator of the New Orleans See, gave Father Blanc an assistant in the person of Father H. Masearoni and later Father Edmond D'Hauwe. Father Jean Baptiste Blanc's work bore fruit. He was able to build a chapel at Isle Brevelle and a new church at Natchitoches. Finally, the Catholic community at Campti received the blessing of a church in its midst. How this happened has been preserved for us by an entry that Father Blanc made in the Natchitoches records; "Blessing of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Campti on September 8, 1831, day of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I, pastor of Natchitoches, having gone to the district of Campti, proceeded to bless a chapel dedicated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the name of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was built under the auspices of and through the generosity of Mademoiselle Francoise Crichet, who was kind enough to give the land and of her own volition made all the necessary expenses. May forever the memory of this generous and Christian deed be remembered on earth and in heaven." Signed Jean Baptiste Blanc Thus, through the exemplary Christian spirit and generosity of Miss Crichet, Campti got its first Catholic Church in 1831. From then on, the Catholic Community at Campti was able to worship periodically in its own neat Church which Father Blanc zealously served. After his untimely death in 1834, Father D'Hauwe, pastor at Natchitoches, and his assistant, Father Francais looked after Nativity Church until 1840. Bishop Blanc visited this section on a trip in 1836 and again in 1839. During the latter year, he administered Confirmation at Campti to 23 persons and during another visit in 1842, he confirmed 27 there. In 1840, Bishop Blanc placed the parish of Natchitoches with its many missions in charge of the Congregation of the Mission, popularly known as the Lazarists or Vincentians, and for the ensuing decade they worked energetically in the vast parochial territory. The pastor usually had the benefit of one or two assistants. The Lazarist pastors who looked after Campti during that time were Father Giustiniani, Father Pascual, and Father Andrieuz. Among the assistants who visited the missions were famous Father Hector Figari, Father Stehle, Father Alabau, Father Magnard, Father Murphy and Father Verrine. During that time, Campti had services regularly. The Vincentian Fathers found themselves obliged to give up the Natchitoches parish in December 1849. Bishop Blanc, eager to organize further the Catholics of North Louisiana, sent Father Auguste Martin to Natchitoches as his Vicar General for that section and as pastor of Natchitoches in 1850. He was a most capable, methodic, and conscientious priest, and with the Bishop's authority began to plan, organize and propose several parishes. One of these was for the Catholics of Campti and an adjacent territory of 10 miles by 40 miles along the Red River, and another was for Ile Brevelle both to relieve Natchitoches of some of its vast parochial territory. An account of the new parish written by Rev. N. Judermans in 1914 states: "Until the year 1850, Campti was a mission belonging to Natchitoches. In 1850 the present church was built. The original population was mostly farmers, consisting of not more than 15 families and perhaps 200 slaves. The limits were always the same, differing from 10 to 40 miles in every direction from the town. Rev. Philip Jourdain took charge of the new parish on October 19, 1851." Father Jourdain had come from France as a seminarian and completed his studies at the Diocesan Seminary of Saint Vincent De Paul at Plattenville, Louisiana on Bayou Lafourche. Archbishop Blanc sent him to Natchitoches as an assistant at Saint Francis of Assisi Church under Father Auguste Martin and from there he was sent to take charge at Campti. His pastorate extended until 1855, when Rev. J B. Avenard was designated as pastor of Nativity Church, and he continued in that post until 1870, when he was transferred. Father Avenard's pastorate was during the turbulent days of the War between the States. Campti experienced all the tragedy, destruction and bitterness of actual warfare. General Banks' Red River Campaign brought Federal gunboats up the river and the land forces ravaging through the countryside. The war craft stopped at Campti for a time, then moved north; but, after the Battle of Mansfield, the Campaign collapsed and as the gunboats threaded their way back down river, they shelled Campti and fired into its buildings. Patient, lovable Father Avenard was a tower of strength and comfort to his stricken people at this time and in the days to dire poverty that followed. With keen regret they saw Father Avendard leave them in 1870. Nativity Church was then placed in charge of another French Priest, Rev. Joseph A. Poullain, whose 20 year pastorate was the second longest in the century old parish. Father Poullain served his people devoutly and conscientiously from 1870 to 1890. Better days followed the Reconstruction era with its bitter turmoil, the Colfax riots and widespread poverty. The men in grey ambled back from the Confederate armies to a Campti in smoldering black ruins and farms turned to weeds. The decade that followed when they struggled to adjust themselves to new conditions brought only political uproar and bitter clashes. In those dark times, Father Poullain was a source of comfort, encouragement and wise counsel to his flock. The year after Father Poullain assumed the pastorate, Bishop Martin sent Rev. Peter Guilloux as assistant to the pastor. However, his stay was only brief as he died on August 27, 1871, at Nativity Church, at the early age of 26. Father Poullain had the consolation of seeing better times set in for his people and prosperity rise with the cotton crops. He died at Campti, while still serving his people, on April 24, 1890, at the age of 45. For the next six years, Nativity Parish was directed by Rev. C. Arnaud whose short pastorate was uneventful. Rev. C. Brahie, a native of France, ordained by Bishop Durier on August 31, 1895, came to Campti for his first pastorate in 1896. In 1898, the Bishop sent him to Moreauville, and Rev. L Lambertz was appointed pastor of Nativity Church. The latter was transferred in 1909, then Rev. D. Dorval was named pastor, filling a pastorate that lasted only two years. In July, 1911, Rev. N. Judermanns was assigned to Nativity Church as pastor. He was an energetic worker; and although he remained only until 1914, he built two mission chapels, one at Coushatta, which he blessed on February 15, 1912, and the other at Powhatan, blessed on February 18, 1912. The extensive work in the parish of Campti at that time may be gauged from the fact that eight missions were served from mother parish of the Nativity of Our Lady. These missions were Clear Lake, whose church was erected by Very Rev. A. Piegay, V. G., pastor of Natchitoches in 1890; Clarence built in 1880 by Father Dupre; Black Lake, Spanish Lake, built about 1844 by the Lazarists of Natchitoches; Trichel, built in 1890 by Father Piegay; Grappe's Bluff where the former Presbyterian Church was bought and converted into a Catholic chapel, and the new missions of Coushatta and Clarence. Several of these had been previously missions of Natchitoches; but, eventually, they were detached from that parish and given to the pastor of Campti to serve. At that time, in 1914, Nativity Church had its Altar Society, a Holy Name Society, a Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and the Sodality of the children of Mary. It was during the pastorate of Father Lambertz in 1904 that Saint Cecilia's Convent was built by the Sisters of Divine Providence with an enrollment of 60 pupils. That same year, the Sisters of Divine Providence built the Sacred Heart School, which likewise had a roster of 60 pupils. Father Judermanns was sent to Marksville in 1914, and Rev. F. J. Plutz became pastor of Nativity Church. His pastorate of 21 years is the longest to date in the history of the parish, although it was interrupted by his years of Army Chaplain service in Siberia and the Philippine Islands. Father Plutz was a determined, energetic man who achieved much for the Campti Parish, and he won the respect and esteem of the people. One of his projects was the erection of the new rectory, a sorely needed improvement. He gave much attention also to the parish schools and to the several missions that depended upon Campti, but above all, did a great deal to promote Catholic living and a true religious spirit. For a period of six months in 1927, Rev. N. P. Nothofer served Campti as pastor, but he was transferred and Father Plutz resumed the pastorate. Then in 1936 Father Plutz was assigned to Lake Providence as pastor and Father Lambertz returned as pastor, having served previously from 1909 to 1911. Father Lambertz renewed old friendships and was welcomed heartily by old timers of the parish. He was the last of the diocesan priest pastors of Nativity Church. The late Most Rev. Daniel F. Desmond, Bishop of Alexandria, in 1939 requested the Dominican Fathers who were already serving the parish of Boyce to take charge of Campti and its missions. This they agreed to do and Rev. G. R. Carpentier O. P. became pastor, with Rev. A H. Hamel O. P., an assistant. A new Sacred Heart School was built under Father Carpentier's direction in 1941. Father Hamel entered Army Chaplain service in 1942. After Father Hamel's departure, Father Carpentier served Campti along, but in 1943, Rev. Leonard Curtis, O. P. was sent to Nativity Church as an assistant. The new mission of Saint Patrick at Montgomery was added to the Campti Parish, and a substantial chapel was erected there. Other missions served by Campti are Saint Joseph at Trichel, Black Lake, Verda, Clear Lake, Bayou Bourbeaux, and Coushatta. Mission stations are Goldonna, Lake End, Castor, Ashland, and Saint Maurice. Nativity Church of Campti antedates the founding of the Diocese of Alexandria by three years, the latter having been erected in 1853. The parish has the distinction of having had all six Bishops of the See visiting and officiating in its parish church; Bishop Martin, Bishop Francis Xavier Lerey, Bishop Antoine Durier, Bishop Cornelius Van de Ven, Bishop Daniel F. Desmond, and the present incumbent Most Rev. Charels P. Greco. Campti and its Nativity Church constitute links between the old French and Spanish colonial days and the modern times. The venerable parish is a living monument and symbol of the patient and difficult work of the missionaries of bygone days and the self sacrifice and determination of devoted pastors of one hundred years. The tiny mustard seed planted in colonial days has grown into a great tree, thanks to the sweat and tears and labors of zealous priests, aided by loyal Catholics of former decades who did much to help perpetuate the Faith of Campti and its environs. Father Leonard Curtis, O. P. succeeded Father Carpentier, O. P. as Pastor of Campti in 1946. Father Curtis continued the building program for the missions. He first built a new Church for the people of Black Lake. Mass was said every Sunday in the new church. Father Curtis, O. P. also added to the number of Missions, the mission of Shell Point which is known now as St Rose church at Aloha. Father Curtis also managed to take on the mission Church of Saint Albert in Abington. In all this mission work Father Curtis was assisted by Father Balsam and Father B. I. Roberts, O. P. Father A. C. Therres O. P. succeeded Father Curtis O. P. in 1953 as pastor. Father Therres O. P. was asked to add another mission at King Hill. Father Therres was assisted by Rev. B. I. Roberts O .P. and Rev. J. G. Going O. P. Father F. R. Crowe O .P. followed Father A. C. Therres O. P. as pastor. Another mission church was built in 1960 at Saint Maurice. Thus, at the present time, there are 9 missions plus the main Church in Campti. As with the priests in the past, the preseent priests serving Campti and the Missions depend upon loyal parishioners for cooperation and support in order to spread the Gospel of Christ for the honor and glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Transcribed: May 8, 1996,
James Jules Maricelli |
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