14 Facts About Antoine Blanc

Antoine Blanc was the fifth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Antoine Blanc was born in Sury, near Sury-le-Comtal, then in the Department of Rhone-et-Loire, France.

Antoine Blanc attended the seminary at Sury-le-Comtal and was ordained in 1816.

Antoine Blanc proceeded to build a log chapel at a French settlement on the Illinois side of the Wabash, about twelve miles from Vincennes.

Bishop De Neckere died in 1833, and Antoine Blanc was appointed administrator until October 1835 when he received the bulls naming him Bishop of New Orleans.

Antoine Blanc's jurisdiction included the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, to which Texas was added in 1838.

In 1850, the Diocese of New Orleans was raised to become an archdiocese, and Antoine Blanc became its first archbishop.

Monsignor Antoine Blanc invited the Jesuits and Lazarites to Louisiana to establish seminaries for the training of priests.

Antoine Blanc wanted to establish convents and schools for girls.

Antoine Blanc invited the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Good Shepherd Sisters, and the congregations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Holy Cross.

Antoine Blanc blocked the congregation of Black sisters known now as the Sisters of the Holy Family, founded by Henriette DeLille, from publicly wearing a habits or taking public vows.

Antoine Blanc supported the new congregations of English-speaking American migrants and Irish immigrants who had become established in New Orleans and the states since the Louisiana Purchase, as well as French- and English-speaking Blacks.

Antoine Blanc died in 1860 in New Orleans while still in office.

Antoine Blanc's institution building during the rapid growth of New Orleans and the states resulted in the number of churches increasing from 26 to 73, and of priests from 27 to 92.