The eleventh annual Fête-Dieu du Teche, held on Aug. 15, brought together Roman Catholics from across South Louisiana to celebrate their faith, honor the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and commemorate the arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana after their exile from Canada.
This year’s celebration was especially significant, as it coincided with the Catholic Church’s Great Jubilee Year, observed every 25 years, and centered on the theme “The Christian’s Pilgrimage of Hope.”
The day began with a French Mass at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Leonville, celebrated by Bishop Douglas Deshotel. Following Mass, a Eucharistic procession began its journey toward St. Martinville, accompanied by statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. The route retraced the historic passage traveled by the Acadians 260 years ago, with stops in Arnaudville, Cecilia, Breaux Bridge, and Parks for rosary recitations and Benediction.
In the afternoon, the pilgrimage reached the Evangeline Oak in St. Martinville before continuing to Notre Dame Church for Benediction, then to St. Martin de Tours for another. The day concluded with a solemn procession down Main Street to Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel, where Vespers and final Benediction were celebrated.
The annual event, first organized eleven years ago by Fr. Michael Champagne of the Community of Jesus Crucified, has since become a meaningful spiritual tradition for the region.
