Canavan, Father Patrick, Opelousas, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blance !, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1853 March 16

Canavan received Blanc's note of the 8th. He is not yet perfectly "creolized". He has not studied a French lesson since he came. He and the people get a long pretty well but he did not think that ladies would go there and tell anything but the truth. Canavan never had an opportunity of publishing a collection at Washington. Christmas Day was his first day there and Father John F. Raviol did so and said that Canavan was his vicar and would occasionally attend Opelousas. Blanc told Canavan that he would attend Washington only. While Raviol read Blanc's letter to the people, Canavan said to himself that he could put in a few months in misery as well as anyone. A week ago Sunday Raviol went there for the first time since Canavan came. He told the people he was very happy in seeing to large a congregation and everything orderly. Then he started in on the congregation and the manner in which Father Paul Gelot, his last vicar, acted. So since then there is nothing but a general outcry against him. The people wanted to buy his church and he wants $3000 for the building and the lot, not deeded nor paid for yet. They have concluded to build another church if approved by Blanc; they will never return when he comes there. Canavan intends to go to New Orleans immediately after Easter and then to Ireland if Blanc approves. Canavan supposes Blanc has letters from Washington about the determination of the people. The people say they had a subscription of nearly $3000 on condition they would have a priest of their own and a parish separated from Opelousas. As soon as Raviol heard this, he put up this building against their will because he feared a division. :: VI-1-e A.L.S. 3pp. 4to.