The incredible experience of Jesus in the Eucharist carried from Baton Rouge to New Orleans on the mighty Mississippi (check out video at end of the article)

 Holy Eucharist Carried in Procession on Mississippi River

COMMENTARY: The ordinary meets the divine along the ‘River of the Immaculate Conception.’

The Eucharistic Host is raised before being placed in the special monstrance. (photo: Emily Malloy / Emily Malloy)

Emily Malloy CommentariesAugust 16, 2024

BATON ROUGE, La. — The ordinary met the divine as the Blessed Sacrament was processed through the Baton Rouge streets Aug. 14 as part of the kickoff of the 10th-annual Fête-Dieu du Teche (“Feast of God on the Teche”) — a grand by-water-and-by-land extravaganza of prayer coinciding with the Solemnity of the Assumption.

Historically, the Eucharistic procession flotilla takes place on the bayous of southern Louisiana. This year’s procession, however, is along the Mississippi River, planned to coincide with the National Eucharistic Revival, as “a one-time historic route on the mighty river to bless the river and the state of Louisiana,” Father Michael Champagne, organizer of the event, told the Register. “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 Mississippi River is an important backdrop to the commerce of the United States but is a particular source of sustenance to the local economies that lie along the 2,300 miles of its riverbanks. Though no stranger to ships transporting all manner of freight, on the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi embarked upon a sacred journey from the state capital: a 130-mile, two-day procession — en route to the final destination of New Orleans on Aug. 15 — carrying the most precious of cargos: the Blessed Sacrament. 

As is the tradition of the fête, a parade of all manner of ships, from steamboat to tug, accompanied the vessel bearing the Sustenance of eternal life to shore for land-based processions and prayers along the way to the final destination on the Marian solemnity: the Crescent City. 

The fête began at St. Joseph Cathedral with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Baton Rouge Bishop Michael Duca concelebrated with Lafayette Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel and Father Champagne, the Fête-Dieu du Teche’s organizer, along with an endless sea of fellow priest concelebrants and altar servers. 

Filling the air of the cathedral were the sounds of a beautiful sacred liturgy as the cathedral was bursting at the seams with faithful.

In the homily, Bishop Duca spoke of St. Maximilian Kolbe and how he and other imprisoned priests were able to say Mass while in prison with just scraps of bread or drops of wine

“There’s never been so great an offering of a gift in all of time,” the bishop emphasized of the Eucharist.

“Let us reflect on how we receive the Lord.”

He continued, “As we take the Lord into the streets now, we offer that light to all who can see we offer that Light of Christ to shine upon them to open their hearts” as people “see how we believe,” for “we have that one hope that cannot be taken away from us.”

During the following procession through the capital’s streets, flower girls strew petals as streams of Catholics and non-Catholics welcomed the Lord — in a towering 14-foot monstrance constructed for the occasion — with loving hospitality while imploring his grace and blessings upon the aching world. 

A multitude of participants followed close behind, adoring with song and prayer while processing the Lord through the streets to the water’s edge — the launching point of the waterway portion of the two-day trek that embarked after the Baton Rouge festivities, with several stops the same day, concluding with all-night adoration.

The Baton Rouge portion of the event continued after the procession with the striking use of “Friar Truck” (an old fire truck fitted with an ambo for preaching) and “Mercy Mobiles” (ambulances fitted to serve as mobile confessionals), which is an unmistakable sign of the ministry of Father Champagne. Father Josh Johnson, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baton Rouge and diocesan vocations director, preached from the unique perch resembling a modern-day stylite

Interwoven into the morning were countless reminders of God’s providence. On the eve of the Assumption, the Marian imagery of a ship carrying Our Lord along a river, once referred to as the “River of the Immaculate Conception,” is one difficult to overlook. 

I was fortunate enough to run into my pastor, Father Aaron Williams, the rector of St. Mary’s Basilica in Natchez, Mississippi, who commented about the significance of the procession moving over the pelican-adorned manhole covers in the Baton Rouge streets. Pelicans have long been a symbol of Christ’s Eucharistic sacrifice, and the long-billed bird is on Louisiana’s seal and adorns its flag: a touching reminder of the state’s deep Catholic roots. It was a day teeming with gestures that God is always in our midst and sorts out even the smallest of details to illustrate his love.

Indeed, the fête’s launch showcased the beauty of the faith that unites us and the river that connects us as we bring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament to creation. 

 

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A grand Eucharistic Procession set to float from Baton Rouge to New Orleans; Fete-Dieu du Mississippi

 

Annual Eucharistic Procession to Set Sail on the ‘Marian Mississippi’

The Blessed Sacrament will make a two-day pilgrimage in a flotilla that continues the Eucharistic Revival with a nautical flourish.

Clockwise from left to right: The statue of Mary for the Blessed Mother boat for the Fête 2024; the massive monstrance for the 2024 event; highlights from 2022 (photo: Courtesy of the Fête-Dieu du Teche and Father Michael Champagne, CJC )

Joseph Pronechen NationAugust 6, 2024

The annual Fête-Dieu du Teche Eucharistic procession — traditionally conveyed aboard boats along the south-central Louisiana bayou — includes a big surprise for this year’s 10th anniversary. 

After nine years of 40-mile boat processions with the Blessed Sacrament at the head along Louisiana’s Bayou Teche, this year’s two-day event Aug. 14-15 will move to the Mississippi River.

This history-in-the-making move to “Old Man River” not only marks this milestone anniversary, but it was also planned to connect with the national three-year Eucharistic Revival that included the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in July.

It’s an appropriate choice, as the Mississippi, in 1673, was named by French Jesuit and explorer Father Jacques Marquette “The River of the Immaculate Conception” — a worthy name indeed to carry the Eucharistic Lord in a magnificent adoration cruise.

“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,” Father Michael Champagne, organizer of the event, told the Register. “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.”

Father Champagne, superior of the Community of Jesus Crucified in St. Martinville, Louisiana, has charted and piloted all previous annual Fête-Dieu du Teche (“Feast of God on the Teche”) nautical processions along the bayou. He hopes that this procession along the great waterway brings about a “conversion to the Eucharist” as called for by Pope Francis.

He shared some of Louisiana’s deep Eucharistic roots. 

“In 1812, when our first governor, William C.C. Claiborne, designed the flag, he replaced an earlier seal of an eagle with the image of a pelican wounding its breast to draw blood and feed its starving young. This is an ancient symbol of the Eucharist, Christ wounding himself to feed us with his Body and Blood.” 

The priest also pointed out that the names of eight of Louisiana’s civil parishes were taken from Catholic churches in existence. Church territories became the civil boundaries, and since then, Louisiana calls its regions not counties but parishes.

Anchors Aweigh

This historic 130-mile Fête-Dieu du Mississippi will set sail from Baton Rouge, the state capital. Bishop Michael Duca of Baton Rouge and the bishops of the Louisiana province will open the spiritual extravaganza with a morning Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The eve of the Solemnity of the Assumption is also the memorial of a great Marian saint, the Franciscan martyr St. Maximilian Kolbe.

“I am honored that the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi will begin in the Diocese of Baton Rouge,” Bishop Duca said in a release. “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.”

According to Father Champagne, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Broome sees the blessing of the state and river as an important historical and spiritual moment. As Broome said in a news release, “I am honored to support the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi and its beautiful tradition of blessing our state and the river with the Eucharistic Boat Procession. This historic event not only celebrates our faith but also unites our community in a spirit of reverence and reflection. I encourage everyone to participate in this meaningful occasion, as we come together to seek blessings for our city, our state, and all who call Baton Rouge home.”

One-of-a-Kind Monstrance

Everyone from here to New Orleans, whether on the river or on the banks, will have no trouble seeing the monstrance. It stands 14 feet tall and was constructed specifically for this year’s event. It will hold a 14-inch Host.

The procession will include a monstrance constructed by Lyndon Stromberg, owner and operator of Stromberg Architectural Products of Greenville, Texas (pictured above). The monstrance stands 14 feet tall and will hold a 14-inch Host, easily visible from the riverbanks and by the crowds in attendance. | Photo courtesy of the Fête-Dieu du Teche and Father Michael Champagne, CJC

Once on the Eucharistic flagship, the monstrance will be placed upon a large early-19th-century Belgium altar that was extended to carry this massive monstrance. This necessary addition is fashioned from 500-year-old red cypress reclaimed from old Mississippi River steamboats.

A bell boat will lead the procession with its flotilla of large boats. Six Louisiana bells will ring out, the oldest dating to 1850, all from churches along the Mississippi, such as St. Mary’s of the River in Union and St. John the Baptist in Edgard.

Next in line is the boat carrying a 17-foot-tall crucifix fashioned specifically for the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi after a smaller early-19th-century French crucifix. The “thurifer” boat follows, with two large thuribles burning incense before the Blessed Sacrament during the entire procession. Father Champagne identified one thurible as a model of the 1765 St. Martin de Tours Church in St. Martinville and constructed by an Angola Prison inmate in 2015 for the first Fête-Dieu du Teche.

Next will be the “Eucharist boat” that is a floating “church” — pushed by a large tugboat. Priests, religious sisters and brothers as well as laity will kneel in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament onboard. The prayers will be livestreamed to the other boats, and pilgrims will join in the prayers.

Then follows the “Blessed Mother boat.” Mary will be represented by a 14-foot-tall statue from the courtyard at New Orleans’ Notre Dame Seminary. Other boats continue the processional fleet, with the last vessel being the “St. Joseph boat,” holding a statue also 14 feet tall from the same courtyard as Mary’s statue, representing the Custodian of the Redeemer and Protector of the Church.

The entire fleet of 15 large boats, the maximum the Coast Guard will allow, will stretch about a mile and a half. Joining this flotilla in the homestretch to New Orleans on the second day will be the Mississippi River steamboat Natchez transporting adorers. They will  make a Holy Hour on the Mississippi before arriving in New Orleans and the French Quarter for the “grand blessing,” the final Eucharistic Benediction at the site of founding of the city of New Orleans in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. The prayer that will be prayed at each of the rallies is a consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus written for the occasion.

River Rallies

Once the flotilla leaves Baton Rouge after the Mass and a cannon send-off, people can line the river banks during the 130-mile journey of the Blessed Sacrament. Churches and rallies will sponsor Rosaries and talks. One of the emcees from the NEC, Father Josh Johnson of Baton Rouge, will lead the Rosary on the river bank.

“The bishops are now sending all Catholics out on mission to share our Eucharistic Lord with everyone throughout our neighborhoods, on the highways and even in the water,” he said in a release as he encouraged “all citizens throughout our state to prioritize this historic Fête-Dieu du Mississippi procession.”

Bishop Andrew Cozzens, the chairman of the organizing committee of the recently concluded National Eucharistic Congress, is bishop of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, which is also the location of the Mississippi River’s headwaters. 

“I’m very happy to endorse the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi,” he said in a press release. “As the bishop of the diocese where the Mississippi begins, I am so delighted that the wonderful tradition of the Fête-Dieu du Teche continues to grow. As we saw through the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress, whenever we honor Our Lord in the Eucharist, he pours out blessings upon us and our country. I pray many people, especially families, will come out to show the world how much we love our Eucharistic Lord by joining the Masses and processions of the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi.”

Local Enthusiasm

At the end of the first day’s journey, the flotilla will disembark in Convent and process to historic St. Michael the Archangel Church for all-night adoration and prayer. St. Michael’s, founded in the early 1800s, contains an early replica of the Marian grotto in Lourdes, France. 

“If the Israelites at the time of Moses and Joshua could be victorious carrying the Ark of the Covenant into battle, imagine how victorious we can be against evil carrying the Real Presence of Jesus Christ,” Father Vincent Dufresne, St. Michael’s pastor, said in a press release. “Renewing our faithfulness to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist will be our victory.”

Co-host of the EWTN coverage of the NEC and local Cajun priest Dominican Father Aquinas Guilbeau, currently The Catholic University of America university chaplain and vice president of ministry and mission, will also speak at St. Michael’s. 

“Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives. He is the Lord of our hearts. All good things come from him,” Father Guilbeau said in a news release. “For the centuries of extraordinary blessings that Christ has bestowed upon the peoples and cultures of Louisiana, we Cajuns and Creoles and everyone else who calls the Bayou State home owe the Lord an extraordinary act of thanksgiving.” 

Also expected to attend is Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and his wife, first lady Sharon. In a press release, the governor said, “From the Holy Masses celebrated to the floating Eucharistic procession to the numerous prayer rallies — the Fête-Dieu du Mississippi is an historic moment in our state, highlighting the strong faith of our people and giving us an opportunity to ask God for His protection.” He encouraged “all of Louisiana to witness and participate in the Blessing of the Mighty Mississippi River.”

The Fête-Dieu du Mississippi finishes with a procession to historic St. Louis Cathedral for a closing solemn Mass of the Assumption led by Archbishop Gregory Aymond. On Aug. 15, 1638, France and her colonies were consecrated to Mary under the title “Our Lady of the Assumption.” Our Lady is the Acadian people’s and Acadiana’s patroness.

As Father Guilbeau said in a news release, La Fête-Dieu du Mississippi “will offer us all a unique opportunity to say, ‘Thank you, Lord’ for everything: for our families and homeland, for our faith and culture, for our prosperity and well-being, and for a rich past and a promising future. Join your fellow Christians and citizens on the banks of the Mississippi to say: ‘Thank you, Jesus. All this is yours. All I have is yours.’”

The Adventures of the Deacon and his wife on a cruise; a first

On Thursday morning last, a cold and crisp morning, Wendy and I really did board a cruise ship; after 42 years of marriage, I finally took Wendy on cruise; something she has desired for a long time.  For my part, I had no real desire for a getting on a cruise ship, getting out over water and getting far from high ground, yet I knew it was time to take care of the good wife!  We climbed atop the Carnival Triumph, found our balcony state room and immediately went to lunch at Guy's Burger Joint.  We explored all the various places to eat and then returned to the room to watch the ship leave the port of New Orleans.  Being a local we watched the ship turn around to pull away from the Crescent City Connection as we enjoyed the pre-sunset view of Algiers Point and then many familiar points downriver. Dinner was next where we met a nice couple from Birmingham As we left the river, close to midnight, we began to see the big majestic oil rigs that dot the landscape.  Friday was travel day, all day on the sea.  Unlike what I had been told by so many, we actually experienced some rough weather late in the day and we rolled a bit, even rocked some.  Although apprehensive, I was managing the situation.  Friday was a mix of food, drinks, activities and shows.  I was getting the hang of this but walking on a big boat that moving was a challenge.  Friday night Wendy and I took in a great show with excellent dancing and singing.

Keep in mind we are on this boat now at a day and a half and on the water for well over 24 hours.  Everything Wendy and I are doing is learning on the fly and then add in the rough weather and things are interesting.  We are now so looking forward to Saturday morning because we are going ashore, a 6 hour stay in Cozumel, an island part of the Yucatan  and what will be for us stepping upon our 4th foreign country.  But when it came time to disembark, the rain came down, hard and sideways.  If we carried it, owned it or wore it, it was soaked.  We boarded buses soaking wet and made it to a Mayan village for a folklore event; various cooking demonstrations, a Mayan prayer of some sort, a demonstration of a Mayan sporting event, kind of like soccer but played on a most unusual field, oh by the way, if you were the winner, you earned the right to be sacrificed to the "gods".  Oh, did I mention there was tequila tasting, not once but a few times.  Then finally lunch and some Mayan folk dancing and our day was done in Cozumel Mexico.

Now this is where things get very interesting.  Not maybe 15 minutes after leaving port, the seas became angry.  We were now in some uncharacteristic rough seas for a Carnival cruise and was all you could do to get your legs under you.  For that reason, and because we had such a busy day in Cozumel, we called it quits after dinner.   Sometimes, when you are in bed, the rocking of the boat is kind of peaceful, and sometimes when it actually shakes, it's quite disturbing.  Come Sunday morning, still rough seas and even more seasoned cruisers and some staff were mentioning the unusual aspect of that days weather event.  Scheduled activities were being moved or cancelled, the pools were drained of the waters and deck chairs removed, it was something else.  Yet, Wendy and I endured and found various fun things to do.  Finally, as we approached the Mississippi River, the seas calmed a bit and once in the river, no more problems.  Wendy and I took in a show dedicated to New Orleans music, had dinner, packed our bags, prepared for today, our return trip home.  And home we are; we did it; Wendy and I successfully navigated our first cruised and really enjoyed it, despite the bad weather and rough seas.

Some things I found interesting: only a distance of about 90 miles, it takes 7 hours or so to navigate the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and vice-versa.  Also, it is approximately 640 nautical miles from New Orleans to Cozumel.  I also found out that the ship we were on, the Triumph, is scheduled for a complete overhaul soon in dry-dock.  Also, there are employees on board from over 80 nations and I think we were told there is approximately 50 languages spoken by the crew.  Final interesting tidbit, despite the Mayan history, culture and presence in the Yucatan, since the arrival of the Spanish, there is no longer anyone living there that is fully 100% Mayan.

So even though there is so much more I could add, and may at some point in the days to come, that's about all for now.  So the question needs to be asked, will I do this again?  The answer is I would be very open to it.  So we will see.

Cruise, check; Mexico, check; we survived(and had fun), check!

Once again: prayers needed for southeast Louisiana

The Mississippi River continues it's slow methodical march to the sea.  Swollen this year by a large snow melt and plenty of rains in the nation's mid-section, she is breaking records and leaving destruction from Missouri/Illinois, down through Tennessee, flooding Memphis and now Arkansas, Mississippi and northern Louisiana.  Soon she will arrive in record levels at Baton Rouge and New Orleans. 

For us here in the deep south, the levees and other protections developed since the big 1927 flood will keep most safe.  The problem is the river is still rising and moving fast, very fast.  The first big move, made earlier this week, was to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway.  That massive structure is moving Mississippi River water into Lake Pontchartrain.  Tomorrow the other shoe drops with the opening of the Morganza Spillway north of Baton Rouge, not opened since 1973.  This floodway will divert great quantities of Mississippi River water into the Atachafalya River and the surrounding flood plain.  Literally hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland will be ruined, not to mention many people's homes and businesses and the possibility of the entire city of Morgan City.

For the good people of southeast Louisiana, this is a big blow in light of the BP oil disaster of a year ago and the continuing recovery from Katrina and Rita in 2005. 

So I simply ask for prayers for this great state and her good people.  Once again we ask for the intecessory help of Our Lady of Prompt Succor!