Finding a leader for St. Bernard Parish
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Father J. Zeller
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In 1847, Bishop Blanc sent Fr. J. Zeller to St. Martin de Tours to assist Fr. Dufour. In the same year, Fr. Dufour reassigned Fr. Zeller to St. Bernard as a resident. As resident priest, Fr. Zeller's first action was to build a rectory. At first his plans seemed unattainable, but later he was able to obtain materials for a rectory for $240. Complaints concerning the manner in which Fr. Zeller conducted his pastorship were sent to Fr. Dufour. Not knowing how to handle the problem, Fr. Dufour turned the issue over to Bishop Blanc. Eventually the bishop resolved the question, and Fr. Zeller was sent to St. Charles College in Grand Coteau for a short time. He later established Mater Dolorosa Church Parish in New Orleans.
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Father J. LeGrand, Father A. Dillegret, and Fr. Matthias Schifferer
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On Ash Wednesday in March 1848, Fr. J. LeGrand was assigned as pastor of St. Bernard Church. In the first three weeks of his pastorship, Fr. LeGrand performed eight baptisms and celebrated five masses for deceased parishioners. Fr. LeGrand also started catechism classes for children and adults thirty to forty years of age. Attendance at Fr. LeGrand services grew steadily due to the simple style of his sermons. During his time in St. Bernard Parish, Fr. LeGrand was able to build a new rectory and start a fund for the building of a new church. In 1851, Fr. Legrand was eventually transferred to Gethsemane, Kentucky.
Fr. A. Dillegret arrived in March 1851 but was only able to stay until May 1851, when he was transferred to Lafayette to take up residence with Abbe Megret until 1853.
Fr. Matthias Schifferer, assigned to St. Bernard in May 1851, was from Bavaria. He was reassigned to Holy Trinity Parish in New Orleans because of a shortage of priests.
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Father J.H. Dubernard
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July 1857 Fr. Jean Honore Canon Dubernard became pastor of St. Bernard Parish. His first major project was to finish Fr. LeGrand's plan for a new church. In the later part of the 1850's, the church was completed at the site of the present church building. In 1861, Fr. Dubernard formed the first Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Breaux Bridge. During Fr. Dubernard's role in St. Bernard Parish, the town of Breaux Bridge was incorporated in 1859. He offered moral support to the congregation throughout the Civil War and helped the families of the young men that he knew who had left to fight and never returned from the war. He experienced all of the hardships of war with the people of his parish. In 1865, Fr. Dubernard was transferred for St. Bernard to St. Gabriel, at the Coast of Iberville.
(All of the history information of St. Bernard Church was taken from the Sesquicentennial book compiled by Thomas Guidry. To purchase a book for $15, call the rectory or contact Farmers-Merchants Bank & Trust.)
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