Brothers of The Sacred Heart at D'Evereux Hall


JANUARY 30
B. HUGH STUTZMAN
(1900 - 1919, TP)

Eighteen years old, three years of religious life. Born in Fort Adams, MS, died and buried in Natchez. Hugh entered Metuchen at the age fifteen from Cathedral School in Natchez where the brothers taught him.

Hugh was an ideal novice whose quiet, sunny disposition endeared him to others. While still a scholastic, he was attacked by tuberculosis and sent to Mobile to recuperate, but his condition got worse.

At his parents' request, he was allowed to spend his final days at home with them in Natchez. He accepted his early death cheerfully in a spirit of faith and courage.
(Annuaire 13:219)

Eleven brothers were buried in the Natchez Cemetery between 1872 and 1948. The brothers' plot on Catholic Hill was renovated in 1987 and concrete crosses put into place


JANUARY 21
B. WALTER HOLUBOVICH
(1894 - 1942, PP)


Forty-seven years old, twenty-nine years of religious life. Born in Austria, died suddenly in Natchez and buried there.

Walter grew up near Metuchen and joined the brothers there in 1913 at the age of nineteen. He was a strong, hearty man, full of practical jokes, and always the center of merriment.

A happy man who loved to work, Walter put his enormous strength and energy at the service of the orphans. Most of his work was done in the greenhouse at Catholic Boys' Home in Mobile or on the farm at D'Evereux Hall, Natchez. He is credited with preparing and selling tons of the famous "mystery soil" in Mobile that was eagerly sought throughout the South by florists, agriculturalists, home gardeners, and landscape artists.

Walter was a lovable character, full of charm, a contagious good cheer, and a wholesome goodness and piety. (Annuaire 36:124)

MARCH 4
B. ALFRED SARRUC
(1880 - 1909, PP)

Twenty-eight years old, sixteen of religious life. Born in France, died and buried in Natchez. After first vows, Alfred came to the US in 1899 and spent ten years in this country teaching in New Orleans, Bay St. Louis, Muskogee, Natchez, and Mobile.

A capable and methodical teacher who believed in strict discipline, Alfred was also an enthusiastic and very hard worker. During the rebuilding of St. Stanislaus at the Bay following the fire of 1903, many hard demands were placed upon the brothers. Alfred was overcome by fatigue, but continued to push himself beyond the point of recovery. Extreme exhaustion led to his early death.

A pious man, Alfred had a strong devotion to the Eucharist and made frequent visits to the chapel. He foresaw his early death and prepared himself for it. This saintly man died surrounded by his brothers who prayed the rosary at his bedside. By his happy disposition Alfred brought joy to those who lived with him. (Annuaire 3:160)

St. Vincent's in Mobile served as the first novitiate in the U.S.


MARCH 18
B. AGAPET VEYSSEL
(1840 - 1908, PP)

Sixty-seven years old, forty-one of religious life. Born in France, died of blood poisoning in Natchez and buried there. Agapet joined the community at age twenty-seven and came to the US in 1868 after two and a half years of formation at Paradis. He was employed in manual labor in several houses in Indiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. Most of his life was spent serving the orphans in Mobile and Natchez as cook.

A quiet and capable worker, Agapet never looked for praise. He was totally devoted to religious life and to the Institute. He was a holy man of prayer who lived a rigorous life without complaining, finding a deep joy in the simplicity called for by our Rule. (Annuaire 2:247)

The French missionaries who came to America made their novitiate at Paradis in LePuy, France, where many of them came under the influence of B. Polycarp, who as superior general, established his headquarters at Paradis. This photo was taken in 2003 shows the dilapidated condition of some of the buildings which are no longer in use.


JUNE 11
B. EMERICK FAURE
(1855 - 1885, PP)

Twenty-nine years old, eight of religious life, six of them in the US. Born in France, died and buried in Natchez. Emerick joined the juniorate at Paradis in January of 1877 and made his first vows in August of 1878. Just three months later, he arrived in the US along with eight other brothers.

Emerick was stationed at St. Joseph's Novitiate in Indianapolis to learn English. The following year he began his teaching at Frankfort, KY. He later taught in Vicksburg and Natchez. While in Natchez as prefect, he contracted tuberculosis and died from it at the young age of twenty-nine.

Of a quiet disposition, Emerick was always punctual and faithful to his religious exercises. In a circular announcing his death to the brothers, B. Athanasius, provincial, wrote of him: "He was a model of patience, meekness, and humility."
"All brothers are encouraged to find ways to deepen and express their solicitude for the sick and dying among us especially by visiting frequently those who are in the hospital, and to make efforts to meet and console their relatives."
Wisdom, Age and Grace, p. 2

JULY 13
B. LINUS BERARD
(1888 - 1922, PP)



Thirty-four years old, twenty-one of religious life. Born in France, died and buried in Natchez.

As a novice, Linus came to the US in 1903 among the group of exiles from France. After completing his formation in Metuchen, he worked in the kitchen and gardens of various houses.

In Natchez when the garden produce no longer supported the orphanage, Linus very industriously began the dairy farm. He became a superb dairy farmer, using the latest techniques and acquiring over seventy-five head of cattle.

Linus loved to hunt with his dog in the bayous and swamps near Natchez. Careless of his health, he let a case of influenza develop into a serious fever. Finally he succumbed to consumption at the age of only thirty-four. He was a good and faithful religious, very devoted to his work and spiritual exercises. (Annuaire 16:219)

This new dining hall overlooking the pecan orchard at St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis was completed in 2009. The old one was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.


OCTOBER 23
B. LUDOVIC WESTER
(1871 - 1948, PP)



Seventy-seven years old, sixty-one of religious life. Born in Belgium, died and buried in Natchez. In 1887 Ludovic joined the brothers at Arthabaska, Canada, and made his novitiate there.

In 1891 he began his long teaching career at Augusta, GA, where for six years he did an exceptional job with the younger students. Ludovic taught in many schools in the South and served as principal of the Day School at the Bay and director at St. Patrick's in Meridian, St. Vincent's in Mobile, D'Evereux Hall in Natchez, St. John's in Indianapolis, and St. Rose of Lima in Brooklyn.

As teacher, director, administrator, and postulant master at Metuchen for one year, Ludovic was well- organized and painstakingly methodical, paying attention to every little detail. He was a charitable, even-tempered man who worked hard and who shunned any type of praise or public acclaim. He observed both the letter and the spirit of the Rule. (Annuaire 43:343)

OCTOBER 24
B. XAVIER THOMPSON
(1854 - 1923, PP)


Sixty-nine years old, forty-nine of religious life. Born in Jacksonport, AR, died and buried in Natchez. Xavier entered the community in 1873 at St. John's Novitiate in Indianapolis from our school in Natchez.

Xavier began teaching the first and second grades at St. John's in Indianapolis. He did so well that he remained in that assignment for twenty-one years. Later he taught, prefected, and worked in various manual activities in most of our schools in the South. He did all well, very quietly, and without boasting or seeking praise.

Shunning attention of any type, Xavier rarely took part in conversations and moved about so silently that his comings and goings were hardly noticed. His unselfish devotion to duty and his total detachment from material possessions made a powerful impression on Monsignor John Prendergast, vicar general in Natchez, who praised him for his religious poverty. (Annuaire 18:173)

“Dialogue of the Heart” bronze statue in Centennial Courtyard at CHS in Baton Rouge.


DECEMBER 18
B. MICHAEL BEAUMONT
(1850 - 1932, PP)

Eighty-two years old, sixty of religious life. Born in Mobile, died and buried in Natchez. At twenty-one, Michael entered the novitiate at Indianapolis and was put to work in the tailor shop. He spent fifty-six years working with the orphans in Natchez, primarily as tailor.

A small man, scarcely five feet tall with one leg shorter than the other, Michael had to use a cane and a special built-up shoe. His handicap, however, never kept him from his duty nor from walking a mile to daily Mass in Natchez. The orphans loved him, and his tailor shop was the scene of much activity with them. He directed, counseled, admonished, and joked with the orphans while he sewed.

Michael lived the corporal works of mercy as a tailor and an infirmarian in a simple, cheerful, and non-assuming manner. His regularity in ringing the 4:30 a.m. bell was unfailing, even if he had sat up the night before with a sick patient. (Annuaire 27:176)

"This ardent desire of Jesus can only inflame our hearts and excite our zeal. Thus our love for our brothers and the young people entrusted to us, then, radiates from the love that Jesus has for us."

Rule of Life 118




Photos from St. Mary Basilica Archives
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