SHREVEPORT, La. - Five Catholic priests from France gave their lives during the yellow fever epidemic of 1873 in Shreveport in order to care for the sick and dying.

Now known as the Shreveport Martyrs, their sacrifice has become a symbol of faith and courage; however, these five priests could soon become saints.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Diocese of Shreveport celebrated the submission of research on the five priests on Thursday with a mass. All of the groundwork on the local level has been completed, now the decision lies in the hands of the Vatican.

The mass brought church leaders from across Louisiana and the world to celebrate this next step in the process of beatification for sainthood.

Though Apostolic Nuncio Christophe Cardinal Pierre could not attend, he wrote a lette

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