Fête-Dieu a tri-parish celebration of Catholic faith
BY KIMBERLY MEDICIS
Beginning at noon on Saturday, Nov. 23, 150 years of Catholic faith in Lake Charles will be celebrated with processions both on and off the water.
The Gospel found its first home in Southwest Louisiana in 1869 with the establishment of St. Francis de Sales Parish, later renamed Immaculate Conception Parish, when a new church building was erected in 1881 as a result of extensive hurricane damage to the original mission church built in 1858. The parish became the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception when the Diocese of Lake Charles was established in 1980. It is considered the mother church of the Diocese because it is from this parish that all the other Catholic churches in Southwest Louisiana were born, including those established in 1919 — Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lake Charles and Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur.
“We’re celebrating our anniversaries together because we came from the same roots,” says the Rev. Rommel Tolentino, pastor of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
The reminder of these roots will be illustrated by the processions, he said.
“During the early days of the missionary activities of the church, before motor vehicles, the priests would have walked to these different areas to preach the Gospel. They would also have used boats to get to the other side of the lake to preach the Gospel there and bring the sacraments there,” Tolentino said. “Once a church was built in Lake Charles, the faithful from far-flung areas would have walked or used boats to attend Holy Mass.”
Fête-Dieu on the Lake participants will travel similarly as they walk from Sacred Heart to the lakefront and enter boats circling the lake, the journey ending at the Cathedral.
The tri-parish celebration holds extra significance because it falls during Fête-Dieu — Feast of Christ the King.
“We named it Fête-Dieu (which means “Feast of God” in French) because we believe that Jesus Christ is both God and king,” Tolentino said. “Not only is he the Lord of lords and king of kings as Scripture tells us, he’s also the Lord of heaven and earth and the Lord of land and sea. That’s why we have both the land procession and the boat procession”
In the nearly 100 years since Pope Pius XI instituted this liturgical feast, it has served to ensure the faithful that “while governments and philosophies come and go, Christ reigns as king forever.”
This year’s Fête-Dieu encourages those who gather to commemorate these many years of faith in Lake Charles, he said.
A Eucharistic procession will start at noon at Sacred Heart Church, followed by a boat procession at 1:15 p.m., a procession from the Civic Center seawall to the Cathedral at 2:30 p.m., benediction at 3:45 p.m. and a reception in the Ave Maria Hall at 5 p.m. Those interested may attend any or all parts of Fête-Dieu on the lake, though boat registration is required by calling 436-7251 or visiting “Fête-Dieu on the Lake” on Facebook.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
1. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is located at 1102 Mill Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Eucharistic Procession begins here at 12:00 noon. The walking distance from the church to the seawall is 1.2 miles.
2. There are two options for those who wish to join the Boat Procession:
a.) One begins at 12:00 noon from Nalmar Landing Marina (808 Mike Hooks Road, Westlake, LA 70669) to the Civic Center seawall. Sulphur people with boats are encouraged to meet at Nalmar Landing at 12:00 noon.
b.) Another one begins at 1:15 pm from the Civic Center seawall. Lake Charles people with boats are encouraged to meet at the seawall at 1:00 pm. The two groups will then meet and go around the Lake together.
3. Boat registration is required for those joining the Boat Procession. Download the attachment below. Return completed Registration Form and Waiver to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Office in person or via U.S. Mail at 935 Bilbo St, Lake Charles, LA 70601; or Fax to (337) 436-7240; or e-Mail to iccathedral@structurex.net.
4. Those who do not have boats will be able to pray with those that are on the boats, as the prayers and hymns will be transmitted on radio through speakers located on land. Please bring lawn chairs, or you can sit on the benches, grass or concrete steps by the seawall.
5. At 2:30 pm, we will have a joint Eucharistic and Marian Procession from the Civic Center seawall to the Cathedral. The walking distance is 0.75 miles.
6. At the Cathedral, Benediction will take place at 3:45 pm, followed by anticipated Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King at 4:00 pm.
7. After Mass, there will be a Reception in the Ave Maria Hall (935 Bilbo Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601).
8. Father Michael Champagne from the Community of Jesus Crucified will be hearing Confessions in his mobile Confessional from 1-2 pm by the Civic Center seawall.
9. Acadian Ambulance will be stationed at the Civic Center seawall in case of emergencies.
10. CONTINGENCY PLAN:
a.) If the water on the Lake is rough, but it's not raining, we won't have the Boat Procession. We will meet at the Civic Center seawall at 2:30 pm for the Eucharistic Procession from the seawall to the Cathedral.
b.) If it's raining hard, we will meet at the Cathedral at 3:00 pm for hymns and prayers, Benediction and Mass.
5. At 2:30 pm, we will have a joint Eucharistic and Marian Procession from the Civic Center seawall to the Cathedral. The walking distance is 0.75 miles.
6. At the Cathedral, Benediction will take place at 3:45 pm, followed by anticipated Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King at 4:00 pm.
7. After Mass, there will be a Reception in the Ave Maria Hall (935 Bilbo Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601).
8. Father Michael Champagne from the Community of Jesus Crucified will be hearing Confessions in his mobile Confessional from 1-2 pm by the Civic Center seawall.
9. Acadian Ambulance will be stationed at the Civic Center seawall in case of emergencies.
10. CONTINGENCY PLAN:
a.) If the water on the Lake is rough, but it's not raining, we won't have the Boat Procession. We will meet at the Civic Center seawall at 2:30 pm for the Eucharistic Procession from the seawall to the Cathedral.
b.) If it's raining hard, we will meet at the Cathedral at 3:00 pm for hymns and prayers, Benediction and Mass.