This past week was the anniversary of the death of Fr. Flavius Henri Rossi.

As the Priest serving St. Landry Church in Opelousas from 1817 until 1839, he ministered to many from the Vidrine family, baptizing, marrying, and burying many of Jean Baptiste Lapaise de Védrines’ children and grandchildren. Both Pierre Vidrine and Etienne Vidrine had been living in Ville Platte for about 10 years, where their mother, Elisabeth de Moncharvaux, had died in September of 1816, just about a year before Fr. Rossi arrived at St. Landry.

These are the entries with Fr. Rossi’s name that appear in the Sacramental Records of St. Landry Church:

Delphine Vidrine (1817-1864) daughter of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized Oct. 1817

Eloi Vidrine, Sr. (1818-1902) son of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized 26 Oct. 1818

Leon Levi Vidrine, Sr. (1818-182) son of Etienne Vidrine dit Lapaise and Victoire Soileau baptized 11 Feb. 1819

Evariste Vidrine (1816-1819) son of Etienne Vidrine dit Lapaise and Victoire Soileau baptized 11 Feb. 1819

Agathe Vidrine (1819-1847) daughter of Jean Baptiste dit Doisite Vidrine and Eloise Pitre baptized 4 Apr. 1819

Evariste Vidrine (1816-1819) son of Etienne Vidrine dit Lapaise and Victoire Soileau died 27 Aug. 1819 at age about 3 years at his father’s home at la Preerie [Prairie] de Baton Rouge [located in the Opelousas Parish], bur. 28 Aug. 1819 in the parish cemetery.

Eugenie Vidrine (1819-1890) daughter of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized 1 Nov. 1821

Celeste Vidrine (1822-1889) daughter of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized 28 Sept. 1822

Marie Vidrine (1823-) daughter of Jean Baptiste dit Doisite Vidrine and Eloise Pitre baptized 15 Mar. 1824

Pierre Vidrine, III (1825-) son of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized 28 Apr. 1825

Hilaire Vidrine (1824-) son of Etienne Vidrine, Jr. and Caroline Henry Fontenot baptized 19 Aug. 1824

Celesie Vidrine (1826-1893) daughter of Florentin Pierre Vidrine, Sr. and Celise Jeanne Lafleur baptized 29 Aug. 1826

Etienne Vidrine III (1826-1830) son of Etienne Vidrine Jr. and Caroline Henry Fontenot baptized 19 Nov. 1826

Marie Louise Vidrine (1827-1909) daughter of Pierre Vidrine, Jr. and Adelaide Larose Fontenot baptized 12 Oct. 1828

Eloise Vidrine (1827-) daughter of Louis Vidrine Sr. and Manette Guillory baptized 4 Jun. 1828

Azelie Vidrine (1828-1829) daughter of Jean Baptiste dit Doisite Vidrine and Eloise Pitre baptized 28 Sept. 1828

Evelina Vidrine (1828-1895) daughter of Etienne Vidrine, Jr. and Caroline Fontenot baptized 6 Jun. 1829

Arcene Vidrine (1828-1903) son of Jean Baptiste dit Doisite Vidrine and Eloise Pitre baptized 7 Jul. 1830

Etienne Vidrine III (1826-1830) son of Etienne Vidrine, Jr. and Caroline Henry Fontenot buried 19 Sept. 1830 at age 4 years

Eloise Vidrine (1830-1903) daughter of Zenon Vidrine and Marie Josephine Fontenot baptized 4 Jul. 1831

Louis Vidrine, Jr. (1829-) son of Louis Vidrine, Sr. and Manette Guillory baptized 5 Jul. 1831

Azelie Vidrine (1828-1829) daughter of Jean Baptiste dit Doisite Vidrine and Eloise Pitre buried 28 Jul. 1829 at age 18 mths

Emilite Vidrine (1830-) daughter of Antoine Vidrine and Josephine Ortego baptized 7 Jul. 1830

Felonise Vidrine (1829-1830) daughter of Zenon Vidrine, Sr. and Marie Josephine Fontenot baptized 31 Jan. 1830

Onesime Vidrine (1829-1912) son of Antoine Vidrine and Marie Josephine Ortego baptized 31 Jan. 1830

Florentin Pierre Vidrine Jr. (1828-) son of Florentin Pierre Vidrine, Sr. and Celise Jeanne Lafleur baptized 28 Mar. 1830

Olin Vidrine (1830-1910) son of Denis Vidrine, Sr. and Anne Nanette Reed baptized 27 Jun. 1832

Denis Vidrine, Sr. (son of Jean Baptiste Pierre Vidrine and Marie-Josephe Brignac) and Anne Nanette Reed married 17 Oct. 1826

Fr. Rossi was born in Siena, Italy. He was appointed Pastor of St. Landry Church in Opelousas, LA from 1819 – 1839. He appears to have arrived a little before, serving at the same time as Fr. Michel Barriere. From August 24 to October 5, 1817, all the entries made in the Parish books bear the signature of Fr. Flavius H. Rossi, who signs himself “Curate of the Church of St. Martin des Attakapas, in charge of the parochial church of Opelousas.” He appeared again in charge from December 27, 1817 to the end of June 1818, serving apparently as “Pro-Rector”. His letter of appointment as Pastor from St. Louis was on March 3, 1819. It stated that the parish had been vacant fro some 15 months. He was installed on May 2, 1819.

During his time as Pastor, in 1827-1828, Fr. Rossi built the second church of St. Landry, the first one constructed entirely of brick. (It was later demolished to construct the present church on the same spot.)

In the private Diary of Bishop Rosati (Administrator of New Orleans), there’s an interesting account of the consecration of the new church:

I consecrated to Almighty God, in honor of St. Landry, according to the rite prescribed by the Roman Pontifical, the Parish Church, which is entirely built of brick. Fathers Rossi, Pastor and Bouillier, of the Congregation of the Mission, acted as assistant priests. An immense congregation was in attendance; indeed last Sunday and today there were counted upwards of five hundred horses and thirty carriages around the church.”

He was serving as Pastor of the church in Alexandria in 1838-1839 (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, p. 541)

Fr. Rossi died on November 22, 1839 and was buried the next day. May he rest in peace.