[1] He then attended St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, before furthering his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

[2] Schexnayder also served as state chaplain of the Knights of Columbus (1932–1944) and pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Houma, Louisiana (1946–1950).

[3] He received his episcopal consecration on February 22, 1951, from Archbishop Amleto Cicognani, with Bishops Jules Jeanmard and Louis Caillouet serving as co-consecrators.

[3] During his tenure, he built a new chancery building, expanded Immaculata Minor Seminary, established thirty-one parishes, and ordained eighty-one priests.

In a lawsuit, the diocese's insurance company "argued that the diocese knew for years, if not decades, that some of their priests had fondled and even raped children" and that "the molestations took place largely during the reigns of Bishops Maurice Schexnayder" and his successor, Bishop Gerard Louis Frey.