Jesuit Bend, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jesuit Bend
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 Jesuit Bend
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Plaquemines |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 504 |
Jesuit Bend is a small community in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is an unincorporated community, meaning it does not have its own local government. The community is located on the west side of the Mississippi River.
Contents
History of Jesuit Bend
Early Settlers and Satsuma Farming
In the early 1700s, members of the Society of Jesus (also known as Jesuits) settled in this area. They chose a bend in the Mississippi River, which is how the community got its name, "Jesuit Bend."
These Jesuit settlers brought something special with them from Asia: the satsuma. A satsuma is a type of tangerine that has loose skin and no seeds. People have been farming satsumas in Jesuit Bend ever since the Jesuits first arrived.
Transportation and Environment
At one time, Jesuit Bend had a train station. This station was part of the New Orleans, Fort Jackson & Grand Isle Railroad line.
Today, Jesuit Bend is also home to the Jesuit Bend Wetland Mitigation Bank. This project works to restore wetlands in the area. Wetlands are important natural areas that help protect the land. This effort helps to reverse the problem of wetlands disappearing in the Mississippi River Delta.
The Jesuit Bend Incident
In October 1955, a difficult event happened at St. Cecilia Church in Jesuit Bend. Parishioners (church members) stopped Father Gerald Lewis, an African American Catholic priest, from leading Mass. They did this because of his skin color.
The Archbishop of New Orleans, Joseph Francis Rummel, responded by closing the chapel. This closure, called an interdict, lasted for two years.
Eventually, the chapel was reopened after a priest gathered signatures from parishioners. They promised to accept any priest sent to them. However, the Archbishop later learned that the signatures were obtained through a misunderstanding. Even so, he decided to keep the chapel open. Soon after, a hurricane destroyed the chapel, and it was never rebuilt.
See also
In Spanish: Jesuit Bend para niños
