The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-08-09

The Venerable Priest Passed
Away Pc cefuIIy Last Even.
ing-RecOrd of HIS Life.
Funeral Fixed for II
Il. III. Monday.

Donaldsonvilie Chief. Aug 3.
At 7:I5 O'Clock yesterday evening the
soul of Very Rev. John Honore Dubernard,
canon, rector of the Roman Catholic Con
gregation of Ascension and of the Church of
the Scared Heart at Donaldsonville, gently
passed from its mortal casket into the
realms of immortality. The transition was
peaceful; and painless, the brave old priest
yielding up his life calmly and without a
tremor, sustained by the Christians faith in
blessed redemption beyond the portals Of
the tomb.
Father Dubernard had been at the point
of death many days, and it was known that
he could not recover, still his passing away
will inflct shock of regret and sorrow upon
this community, where he was universally
respected, esteemed and teloved-
The funeral will take place Monday, Aug.
a., at o'clock a. m, and will be CON
betting the high rank Of the venerable
soldier of the cross who has fought his last
tight and gone to his reward. The remains
will be inferred beneath the church, under
the transept, in conformity with the wish
expressed by Father DubernarC. before and
during his last illness. A marble slab will
and over this the worshppers of the
Cregaton will pass their way to and from
the altar
Father Dubernard born seventy-five
years ago in the southern part 70 France,
and came 10 America in early manhood.
In 1855 he entered Spring Hill College,
near Mobile, Ala, to acquire knowledge of
the English language and complete his
e
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1857
by the Bishop of Mobile, and celebrated his
first mass in the chapel Of the we'll known
Convent of the Visitation, near that city.
The young priest was then appointed vicar
of St. Augustine Church, New Orleans, and
remained there year. During the ensuing
ten years he was pastor of the church at
Breaux Bridge, ard then served for eighteen
years as rector of the Bayou Goua and St.
Gabriel congregations. In July, 1855, he
was sent TO Donaldsonville, where the
affairs of the church were in a bad way
owing to conflict of authority and
property interests between the congregation
and the diocesan authorities. Father Du-
bernard was largely instrumental in restoring
harmony, and it has been maintained without
interruption since under his wise
direction.
Before leaving France, young Dubernard
enlisted in the Notigeurs corps and saw
active service in the Algerian campaign.
He has been for years chaplain of Major
Victor Maurin Camp, L. G. ", and spiritual
director Of the local branch of the Catholic
knights of america. His parents have
both died within the past few years at La
fayette, La, and he leaves brother and
two sisters at that place: Jules Dubernard,
the father Of large family, Miss Marie
Dubernari and Mrs. Paul Castel, mother of
Rev. Louis Castel, the able and popular
young vicar of the Donaldsonvile church.
His Grace, Archbishop Chapelle, accom-
panied by Vicar General Laval, visited the
dying priest "Wednesday and gave him a
final blessing.
1t may be fifty said of Father Dubernard
that while firm 4 rock in what he con-
ceived to be the right, he gentle and
kind withal. He loved charity for charitys
sake. and though he ranked as one of the
ahlest pulpit orators in the diocese, and
j canon in the church and of the four
advisers of the archbishop, he modest
and as humble of heart Il child. He was an
ind efatigable worker, and it principally
through his efforts that the Ascension
greGation became possessed of the magniti-
editice ;hat forms Donaldsonvillc
most conspicuous and attractive architectu-
raj ornament, credit to the community
and monument to the noble old priest
beautiful structure