Shreveport Martyr Father Jean Pierre Fearful Steps Strengthened by Hope (The History Press)

Shreveport Martyr Father Jean Pierre: Fearful Steps Strengthened by Hope (The History Press) by Dr. Cheryl H. White, William Ryan Smith, Peter Bolton Mangum
English | April 1, 2025 | ISBN: 1467155446 | 128 pages | PDF | 7.83 Mb
Father Jean Pierre, a missionary priest from Brittany, France, answered a call to serve in sparsely populated Shreveport, where he chose to remain when a yellow fever epidemic struck in 1873. From a perspective told largely through his own words, Father Pierre provides the reader a glimpse of his "fearful steps strengthened by hope." His unique insights extend even to the secular history, framing the development of Shreveport and the surrounding region in the middle of the nineteenth century. Gradually emerging as someone widely respected and admired for his intellect and ability, Father Pierre's story culminated in a heroic choice to sacrifice his life in the service of strangers when the epidemic ravaged the city. A trio of authors celebrates the life of this Shreveport martyr.