DE ANDREIS, Felice. — Born at Demonte (Cuneo) on 12 Dec. 1778, died at the “Barrens” (Louisiana, U.S.A.) on 15 Oct. 1820. At the age of nineteen he entered the Congregation of the Mission (1 Nov. 1797) at Mondovì. Owing to Napoleon’s suppression of religious communities in Piedmont, De A. took refuge in Piacenza, where he continued his theological studies. Ordained priest on 19 June 1802, after a period of preaching he was invited in 1815 by Bp. L. Du Bourg of New Orleans to labour with other confreres in his diocese. After a two-year journey, the missionaries reached their destination and settled at St Louis in Missouri. In a short time they established a solid religious organization. De A. made several visits also among the Native Americans.
His name is especially associated with the “Barrens,” a steppe region eighty miles from St Louis, which he transformed into a flourishing centre of life. Here he opened the first American house of his Congregation, which he directed until his death. The cause for his beatification was introduced on 25 July 1918.