Faithful take to the Teche for Eucharistic procession

FRANKLIN — The ninth annual Fête Dieu du Têche held on Tuesday drew thousands of Roman Catholics from around South Louisiana and beyond to celebrate their faith, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana after their exile from Canada.

Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Acadian people and of Acadiana, on Aug. 15. The day also marks the 258th anniversary of the arrival of French-Canadian immigrants who brought the Catholic faith to Acadiana after enduring great trials and suffering.

Following the mass, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament and a statue of Mary and St. Joseph proceeded up Main Street, then down to a nearby boat landing along the Bayou Teche. The Eucharistic procession then headed up the Teche to New Iberia, with pauses to disembark at makeshift altars along the Bayou Teche for recitation of the Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Baldwin, the Chitimacha Reservation and Jeanerette.

The flotilla then disembarked in New Iberia for a Benediction, with a procession to St. Peter Catholic Church for Solemn Vespers and a final benediction.

Marian Pusateri, 91, of Franklin, walked part of the procession from the Church of the Assumption to the bayou.

“It’s awesome,” said Pusateri, who was attending her first Fête. “I am (very glad to attend). I didn’t think I’d be able to, but I tried.

“It’s such a special day, and we are privileged to have it in our town, seeing as our church is the Church of the Assumption, so it has special meaning.”

She said the marking of the Assumption of Mary is an important day for Catholics.

“It’s a special day,” she said. “It’s a Holy Day of Obligation.”

Carla Boudreaux, 67, of Breaux Bridge attended the event with her husband, Herbert, and granddaughter, Lily Carain.

“It’s part of our Catholic faith, and I love our faith,” Boudreaux said. “And I love Father (Michael) Champagne and what he’s doing for our Catholic faith. And I love Mary too.”

This year’s gête began with a Mass celebrated in French by Lafayette Diocese Bishop Douglas Deshotel at the Church of the Assumption located on Main Street in Franklin. The church recently celebrated its 100th year in the current building. The church was filled with attendants including students from nearby Hanson Memorial High School and St. John Elementary School.

The Fête Dieu du Têche has typically included a boat procession down the Bayou Teche from Leonville to St. Martinville, replicating the early migration of Acadians to their new homeland. The only previous celebration not following that route was in 2018, when the Fête began with a mass at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville, followed by a procession up the Vermilion River to Lafayette.

Ross Landry, 70, of New Iberia, took part in the flotilla for the first time but has taken part in the fête in the past.

“The Assumption of Mary is a big deal in the Catholic Church,” Landry said. “She listens to petitions that nobody else listens to. She’s the mother of Jesus.”

During Fȇte Dieu du Teche the Blessed Sacrament is fixed on an altar on the lead boat under a canopy. Two bell boats announce Jesus’ arrival and the thurifer boat carries a thurible which burns over 10 pounds of incense along the journey. A statue of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a statue of St. Joseph follow on individual boats behind Jesus.