Father Dagobert de Longuory (a.k.a. Père Dagobert) was a
Capuchin friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders in the Catholic Church. There are also friars outside of the Catholic Church, such as within the Anglican Communion. The term, first used in the 12th or 13th century, distinguishes the mendi ...
who arrived in
New Orleans
New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
from
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
in 1722. In 1745, he became priest of the Parish Church of St. Louis (dedicated as a Cathedral in 1794) and later was appointed as
vicar general
A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vica ...
of the diocese. He was active regionally for over 50 years and died in 1776.
While largely overlooked today, his contributions to New Orleans and its people are significant and enduring. One finds numerous references to him in historical accounts of 18th-century New Orleans, and despite sometimes conflicting information, it is agreed by the majority of historians that he was a seminal figure in the spiritual and social life of the city.
Following are some themes that reoccur throughout historical documents.
He was:
* Regarded as a great champion of the poor, and beloved by the people of New Orleans
* Praised for his kindness and love of the people of New Orleans, and their customs.
* A little "rotund" and described as "jolly."
* A great lover of food and wine, and was even described as a "gastronome."
* Criticized by the Spanish clergy for being too lax with regard to Catholic ritual.
* Non-traditional in that he wore a tricorn hat and other non-sanctioned garb.
[New Orleans; the Place and the People, Grace Elizabeth King - 1895]
* Noted for celebrating births and marriages at homes of his parishioners, and even frequented taverns.
* In charge of
Charity Hospital for 8 years in the 1750s
* Quite famous regionally and even somewhat nationally well into the 20th century.
The consensus in historical texts is that his substantial political and social influence came, in large part, from his popularity.
1. A Catholic history of Alabama and the Floridas, Volume 1
2. New Orleans; the Place and the People, Grace Elizabeth King - 1895
Clergy from New Orleans
People of New France
Capuchins
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