Historic Two-Day Eucharistic Procession to Sail on Mississippi River

For its tenth anniversary the annual Fête-Dieu du Têche will make history by charting a two-day course on the Mississippi River instead of the usual bayou in Lafayette on August 14–15. Flotilla will carry a 14-foot monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament 130 miles from Baton Rouge to New Orleans with stops and rallies along the way to “bless the river and the state of Louisiana,” said organizers.
 
Renamed Fête-Dieu du Mississippi this year, meaning “festival of God on the Mississippi River,” the event was planned in conjunction with the national three-year Eucharistic Revival taking place in the United States, and is intended as a missionary endeavor following the National Eucharistic Congress that drew 60,000 pilgrims to Indianapolis last month.
 
For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, since the Blessed Sacrament is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, and not just a symbol.
 
“We are moving the Eucharistic boat procession for a one-time historic route on the mighty river to bless the river and the state of Louisiana,” said Fr. Michael Champagne, an organizer of the event. “We desire to thank God for the great state of Louisiana and its mighty river, and we desire to beg God’s blessing as we embark on our future journey toward Him.”
 
The historic two-day procession will begin in Baton Rouge with an 8:00 a.m. mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Michael G. Duca, followed by a 9:15 a.m. Eucharistic procession to the river and departure at 10:15 a.m.
 
“I am honored that the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi will begin in the Diocese of Baton Rouge,” Bishop Duca said. “By participating in a Eucharistic Procession, one makes a public act of faith to follow Jesus Christ, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is my prayer that the men and women participating on any leg of the procession route will be living witnesses of Christ, awakening a faith-filled fire and inspiring those around them to love one another as He has loved us first.”
 
The procession will include six stops along the way, including Plaquemine, Donaldsonville, Convent, Reserve, and Luling, with prayer services and the sacrament of reconciliation offered at each location. An all-night stop in Convent will include solemn vespers, compline, and all-night adoration as well as morning mass, and the festivities will conclude with a 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond at St. Louis Basilica.

To view the schedule of events CLICK HERE.