Father Maurice De Long D'Aussac De St. Palais was the fourth resident pastor at the Chicago Mission (St. Mary's Church) from 1840 until his recall to Vincennes upon the formation of the Chicago Diocese. It appears that during the six-month period of controversy between Father Timothy O'Meara and the Bishop of Vincennes, Father De St. Palais spent some time ministering to the missions along the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This was in addition to duties in Chicago. When Father O'Meara resigned as pastor at the Mission of Chicago, Father De St. Palais concentrated his activity in Chicago. Later, Father De St. Palais returned to the canal area as a circuit rider.
An heir to a substantial fortune, Maurice was born on the 15th of November 1871, at La Salvetat in the south of France. Maurice De St. Palais was a descendent of a long line of crusaders. His aristocratic background allowed him to attend St. Nicholas-Du-Chardonet in Paris to study classics. The revolution of 1830 in France influenced him to enter the seminary, which he did at Paris with the Sulpicians.
On Trinity Sunday, The 28th of May 1836, Archbishop De Quelen of Paris ordained Maurice De St. Palais. It was about this time that Bishop Bruté was on his recruitment expedition. The fervor of the bishop was contagious. Inspired by the idea of the work in America, Father De St. Palais committed to return with Bishop Bruté much to the consternation of his mother. Madame De St. Palais petitioned the Archbishop to intercede and to deny her son's departure. The Archbishop, knowing full well the souls of Bishop Bruté and her son, informed her that he could not comply. On the 21st of July 1836, in the company of nineteen other missionaries mustered by Bishop Bruté , Father De St. Palais set foot on the American shore at New York City.
Father Maurice vigorously applied himself to the task of learning the local customs and the language. Consequently he was the first of the group recruited by Bishop Bruté to venture out. His first duties were at St. Mary's Church in Loogootee, Daviess County, Indiana. Dubois and Spencer Counties were also taken care of. His mission touched indigenous tribes in northern Indiana.
On one of the rounds made through northern Indiana during this period Father De St. Palais experienced an incident that was not untypical for the "Holy Tramps" of the American frontier. Unable to acquire decent shelter one evening, he found himself in the precarious position of lodging at one of the raucous, wilderness taverns. Some of the local ne'er-do-wells pegged him for a land agent due to the bulky saddlebags he toted. In actuality, the saddlebags carried the portable altar and accessories needed on the frontier. The good Father caught wind of what was about to occur and took flight through a window. As the Lord would have it, Father Maurice was on the second floor of this dwelling. When he came out of the window he found himself wedged within the branches of a tree. The highwaymen searched the grounds with lanterns but failed to find Father De St. Palais. As dawn broke he lowered himself from the tree making a hasty departure.
The conflict between Father O'Meara and Father Maurice De St. Palais put a wedge in the development of the Church in Chicago in its infancy. While Father Maurice was locked into this situation his mission work continued along the Illinois and Michigan Canal, near Naperville and Elgin, and other areas west of Chicago.
Bishop Quarter's arrival was a time for quick action on the part of Father De St. Palais and the other priests from Vincennes. It was just a matter of time before their recall. Father De St. Palais desired a smooth transfer knowing all too well the horrors that arise when this does not happen. Acting as Archdeacon Father De St. Palais assisted Bishop Quarter in ordaining the priests who would build the foundation of the great Catholic Church of Chicago. On the 15th of June 1844, he accompanied Bishop Quarter on a tour of the Canal area, which was the initial leg of an introduction to the boundaries of the new diocese. Father De St. Palais felt it necessary to guide the Bishop from one end of his See to the other and back.
With the establishment of Bishop Quarter at Chicago, Father De St. Palais rejoined the Diocese of Vincennes at Logansport, Indiana. By 1846 he was at St. Michael's Church in Madison, Indiana. The next year Bishop Bazin of Vincennes appointed Father Maurice Vicar General and Superior of the Ecclesiastical Seminary at St. Gabriel College, Vincennes.
With his last breath Bishop Bazin designated Father De St. Palais as the diocesan administrator.Pope Pius IX preconized Father Maurice on the third of October 1848. By the following 14th of January, Father Maurice De St. Palais was consecrated Bishop of Vincennes at Francis Xavier Cathedral, Vincennes, by Bishop Miles of Nashville, Kentucky. Reputed for his"attractive personality, priestly and gracious manner", Bishop De St. Palais rebuilt the See which had suffered much during his predessors. Father Benoit, who had requested to be transfered to New Orleans before De St. Palais' arrival, now welcomed Bishop Maurice and removed his request. Bishop De St. Palais was a strong friend of the Sisters of Providence. As leader of the flock in the Diocese of Vincennes, Bishop De St. Palais served the Lord well until his passing.