Born on January 10, 1805, Napoléon-Joseph Perché was a native of Angers in the Department of Maine-et-Loire in France.

Seeing the need for a priest who could speak French, Blanc petitioned the Vincentians to transfer Perché to the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Perché founded the first archdiocesan newspaper, Le Propagateur Catholique, published in French.

[2][3] On February 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX appointed Perché as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and titular bishop of Abdera.

[4] Despite the archdiocese's shaky financial standing, Perché borrowed heavily to finance his expansion program, as well as his personal charity to the poor.

On October 23, 1879, Pope Leo XIII appointed Bishop Francis Leray as coadjutor archbishop and apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, giving him full control over its operation.