Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to Father Mariano Brunete
(St. John Baptist)
The Bishop states:
1. That by the census received with the official letter of Sept. 23, 1795, the Bishop notices that only fifty persons out of 2048 have fulfilled the annual obligations.
2. That this indifference can be called absolute irreligion.
3. That the Bishop knows that violence does not work but that the repeated quiet and charitable suggestions are very efficacious.
4. That God will ask an account of Father Brunete for this flock. Therefore Brunete is to notify the Bishop of the means he judges proper for the spiritual good of the flock. This is signed by Bishop Penalver y Cardenas.

IV-5-f D.S. 4pp. 8vo. (Spanish)
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1795, Sep. 23

Brunete, Father Mariano
(St. John Baptist of the Allemands)

to Bishop Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans)
Father Mariano Brunete states:
1. That he is sending enclosed therewith the census of the parish of St. John Baptist for the year 1795, according to the orders received from the Bishop.
2. That the total of souls is 208. Many of the inhabitants are German; others Acadians, Americans, and Englishmen. That insofar as exterior worship is concerned, it is not known whether they are Catholic or Protestants. This is signed by Father Mariano Brunete.
--To this is added the census of the parish of St. John Baptist drawn up on Sept. 23, 1795: I Men:
1. White. From 1 to 15 years of age, there are 237; from 15 on,
232.
2. Free Half-breeds. From 1 to 15 there are 3; from 15 on, 4.
3. Slaves. From 1 to 15 there are 155; from 15 on, 541.
4. Total of men: 1192.
II Women: 1 White. From 1 to 15 years of age there are 250; from 15 on,
221.
2. Free Half-Breeds. From 1 to 15 there are 5; from 15 on, 6.
3. Slaves. From 1 to 15 there are 137; from 15 on, 257.
4. Total of women: 876.
III Total of souls: 2048.
IV Father de Brunete states:
a) That there is an increase of seventy inhabitants over the preceding year.
b) That only fifty persons have fulfilled the annual obligations.
c) That this church does not have any permanent income. The pews are rented to the inhabitants. The total amount gets to 250 "pesos" or even to 300.
d) That he needs many things. However, it is possible to buy every year some ornaments out of the money from the pews.
e) That in this parish where many nationalities are mixed, there will be many secret heretics. This is signed by Father Mariano Brunete.

IV-5-f D.S. 4pp. 8vo. (Spanish)

1796 Jan. 16

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to Father Bernardo Limpach
Pointe Coupee
The Bishop states:
1. That by the census received with the official letter of Sept. 9, 1795, he notices that only 98 parishioners out of 1838 have fulfilled the annual obligations towards the Church.
2. That since Father Bernardo Limpach knows French, he must not cease exhorting the parishioners in his sermons, and talking with them in a charitable but firm way.
3. The ministers of the Gospel must have firmness in the carrying out of their duties. This is signed by Bishop Penalver y Cardenas. (copy)

IV-5-f A.L.S. 1p. 8vo. (Spanish)
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