Draft:The Five Priests
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The Five Priests is a 2021 documentary film chronicling the story of The Shreveport Martyrs. Directed by Chris Charles Scott of Strategery Films (Las Vegas, Nevada), with post-production by Chris Lyon, and produced by the Louisiana State University at Shreveport Foundation, the film achieved international acclaim at dozens of film festivals before making a global premiere on EWTN on 8 October 2024.[1][2] The film was licensed for free public release in September 2024 for airing global streaming platforms. Its recognition includes placing as Best Feature Documentary at the Cannes World Film Festival for Independent Film Makers, The New York Film Awards, The Los Angeles Film Awards, The Europe Film Festival, The SoCal Film Festival, and The Christian Film Festival, among many others.
The film is based on the 2021 book, Shreveport Martyrs of 1873: The Surest Path to Heaven (The History Press, Charleston, SC) co-authored by Father Peter B. Mangum, W. Ryan Smith, and Dr. Cheryl H. White.
Historical Context
During the third worst recorded epidemic of yellow fever in United States history, the city of Shreveport, Louisiana lost one-quarter of its population within twelve weeks, from August 21 to November 18, 1873. The compassionate response to the human suffering was led first by Father Jean Pierre, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Shreveport, Louisiana), and his assistant, Father Isidore Quemerais. When they both contracted yellow fever by mid-September, Father Pierre appealed to Father Jean Marie Biler for assistance. Biler was chaplain of the Daughters of the Cross community at Fairfield, approximately two miles from the town center. Father Biler responded and was able to provide the final Sacraments for Quémerais and Pierre, who died on 15 and 16 September, respectively. Soon ill with fever himself, Father Biler sent for the assistance of Father Louis Gergaud of Monroe, Louisiana and Father Francois Le Vézouët of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Both arrived in time to continue the work of comfort ministry among the sick of Shreveport, just before the death of Father Biler on 26 September. Father Gergaud succumbed on 1 October and Father Le Vezouet on 8 October. The timeline meant that the Catholics of Shreveport were never left without the Sacraments, and none of the priests died before another arrived to take his place working among the sick and dying. This is a story of heroic sacrifice. [3]
In December 2020, Bishop Francis Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport recognized them as Servants of God, thereby beginning the Diocesan phase of inquiry for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization.[4] The Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints combined the five to be considered as a single cause. At its 2023 plenary session, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gave its unanimous assent to the Cause.[5]
IMDB Listing: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt18297800/
Website: https://www.shreveportmartyrs.org
Cast
The Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, His Eminence Cardinal Christophe Pierre.
His Excellency Francis Malone, Bishop of the Diocese of Shreveport.
Very Rev. Peter B. Mangum of the Diocese of Shreveport, co-author and Episcopal Delegate for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization.
W. Ryan Smith, M.A., co-author, historian, and Member of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization.
Cheryl H. White, Ph.D., co-author, historian, and Chair of the Historical Commission for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization.
Adrian Perkins Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana (2018-2022).