Sacramental Records

St. Matthew Sacramental Records/Archives is open for research by appointment only. Researchers are asked to schedule an appointment at least two weeks prior to their intended date of research. Usage of materials is subject to procedures established by the archives.

PROCEDURES FOR ACCESS TO SACRAMENTAL RECORDS

All requests for individual sacramental and cemetery records for genealogical purposes are to be submitted in writing and are answered according to the approved procedures specified below. Sacramental records are not available for personal research by genealogists. Requests for family or genealogical information can be made either by mail or e-mail - telephone requests should be kept to a minimum.

Each request is answered with a certificate in English that includes all pertinent family information, except for information on race and legitimacy. Photocopies of sacramental records are not available.

St. Matthew Catholic Church follows those guidelines set forth by the Diocese of Shreveport, which recognizes the responsibility of preserving sacramental records and protecting their confidential nature in accordance with canon law and applicable laws of the State of Louisiana. In providing access to sacramental records, the Diocese of Shreveport follows the example of the United States Census Bureau and designates sacramental records 72 years old and older to be open. Sacramental records less than 72 years old are available to the person named in the record, next of kin, parent or guardian or authorized representative.

Note: The 72 year rule of the U.S. Census Bureau is based on records created prior to 1997. For documents dated 1997 and later, the time period changes to 90 years.

The recording of the reception of a sacrament is a documentary service performed by the church similar in many ways to the recording of births, marriages and deaths by government agencies.

Death record - usually the least helpful:
1) Person's name
2) Date of death or burial
3) Location of burial
4) Sometimes next of kin

A word about language: in this area we did not have native born clergy. The priests were generally form France and they recorded the sacramental information in French. Most of the earliest records require translation. Prayers, sermons and instructions in Catholic schools also were in French while most of the population was English speaking. It wasn't until 1878 that the Bishop required everything to be in English. Another characteristic of recording of baptisms had to do with French speaking priests writing down names that were Spanish, English, etc…and misspelling them or because a first name was to be that of a saint, adding the first name of "Mary, Marie" or "John, Joseph" in front of the individual's actual name. Sometimes the priest was the only one present who could read and write, so no one could verify that names ere recorded correctly.

Written requests should be directed to:

St. Matthew Catholic Church
Attn: Serita Smith, Cemetery Supervisor/Off. Mgr./Adm.
121 Jackson Street
Monroe, La 71201

Requests should be as specific as possible and should include at least the following:
• Surname
• Given name
• Church or place of ceremony
• Approximate date
• Type of record (baptism, marriage or funeral)

If an exact date or church is not known, detailed information such as parents' names, birth dates of first children, Monroe address, name of the priest who performed the marriage, etc…, is very helpful.

Each letter should include no more than four specific requests. Individual baptismal, marriage, funeral or burial certificates are available only to family members or authorized researchers.

Sacramental records were handwritten by priests in notebooks or even on scraps of paper because the priests usually were required to travel throughout a large territory. These records sometimes offered comments beyond the simple recording of the baptism, marriage or death. The standard pre-printed registers did not come into general use in this area until after 1898.

What you can expect in a baptismal record:
1) Date of baptism and baptismal name
2) Probable date of birth or age
3) Parents names (mother's maiden)
4) Godparents/sponsors
5) Name of officiating priest

What you can expect in a marriage record:
1) Names of both parties and date of marriage
2) Indication if blood relatives
3) Indication if married by J.P. or another church
4) Sometimes parent's names
5) Name of officiating priest

Again from about 1913 through 1922 language becomes an issue with the sacramental records. The Catholic Church went through a phase where all communications and records were to appear in the official language of the church-Latin. Even people's English names were translated, causing a lot of confusion for those of us who use those records today for genealogy.

Today all sacramental records are recorded in the vernacular so as to ensure a more fluid process.