Arnaudville – A Mass in memory of Servant of God Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue and in celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be held on Friday, June 27 at 6:00 p.m. at St. John Francis Regis Church, 232 Main Street in Arnaudville.
His Excellency Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette will be the Celebrant. Father Travis Abadie, Pastor of St. John Francis Regis Church will be the Concelebrant.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart will be recited prior to the Mass.
Immediately following the Mass a reception will be held in the Little Flower Auditorium across from the church. A spaghetti dinner will be provided. The Little Flower Auditorium is the same location where for years Nonco held his annual Sacred Heart Plays with the children of Arnaudville acting on stage.
The Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue story begins in 1889, when Auguste Pelafigue, who was not yet two years old, and his family, travelled by ship from France to the United States and settled in Arnaudville.
As Auguste grew older, he was given the nickname, “Nonco” derived from “Nonc,” the French word for uncle, and the first syllable of his name which is pronounced “oh”. Nonco was an appropriate name, too, because Nonco was considered everybody’s uncle.
Nonco is best known as an organizer and promoter of the Apostleship of Prayer League of the Sacred Heart, now known as the Pope’s Prayer Network, with some 1200 members and 100 promoters who helped him distribute the monthly leaflets in their communities. Nonco traveled on foot to deliver the leaflets and to visit the sick and the grieving. He was referred to, by his pastor, as another priest in his parish as Nonco assisted at Mass daily, on Sundays, and on Holy Days of Obligation. For more than 24 years until his death in 1977 at age 89, Nonco continuously spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and promoted the intentions of six popes – for a total of 68 years until the day he died in the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Nonco is one of three people in the Lafayette Diocese being considered for sainthood. The first stage of the canonization process has been completed, and he has received the title “Servant of God”. The Roman phase has now begun.
Please join us in working towards Sainthood for NONCO by attending this Memorial Mass and supporting his Cause.
Everyone is invited!
