St. Augustine Catholic Church 200th Anniversary and All Saints Day

On November 1, 2003, the Creole community of Isle Brevelle celebrated the 200th anniversary of St. Augustine Catholic church. The first chapel was established by patriarch Nicolas Augustin Metoyer in 1803, and the first church building was blessed and dedicated in 1829. The present church was built in 1917. Catholicism is one of the defining features of Creole culture, and St. Augustine Church provides the spiritual and social center of the Isle Brevelle community. In celebration of this important bicentennial, community members arrived using various modes of transportation and in dress reflecting different periods in the church's history. During the day, activities and demonstrations like filé making, quilting, and soap making called the historic community to mind. The event culminated with the annual Toussaints, All Saints, and All Souls Day observance and candlelight procession to the cemetery. All Saints Day is observed to remember the Communion of Saints and All Souls Day reinforces the sacred responsibility to pray for the repose of the souls of deceased family and community members.

08TRoqueTerrel
[L-R] Tommy Roque, portraying Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer, and Terrel Delphin served as masters of ceremony for the event.

01ArrivalByBarge
Arrival by barge reflected the importance of water transportation to the historic community.

02carWagon
Church members also arrived in mule-drawn covered wagons, vintage cars, bicycle, and on foot.

03coveredWagons
04Joh Deerearriving
Church members also arrived in mule-drawn covered wagons, vintage cars, bicycle, and on foot.

05PhoenixPichon
Pat Pichon and grandson Phoenix Pichon share a tri-cycle ride.

09Llorensfamily
[L-R back] Breanna Metoyer, Louise Llorens, Lorita Metoyer;
[L-R front] Alainna Metoyer, Archie Metoyer, Marissa Metoyer.

10MickeyNolan
[L-R] Nicol and Tanner Delphin, Mickey Moran and Nolan Jones.

11VeraBenedict
Benedict LaCour, Jr. and Vera Severin

12Victor
[L-R] Gerald Conant, Sheriff Victor Jones portraying the first sheriff of color in Louisiana.

14band
David Dupre, Big Al Metoyer and Bernard Balthazar provided musical entertainment.

15JimmieDancing
[L-R] Jim Llorens, Ernest Pichon, and Julia Brosette.

16crowd
The celebration afforded church community members a chance to socialize and catch up with out of town visitors.

17quilters
Louise Roque and Lizzie Metoyer demonstrate quilting.

18litChurch
Back view of the church and cemetery.

19ProcessionToCemetery
Altar server Breanna Metoyer leads the procession to the cemetery, followed by her aunts Jacqueline Metoyer and Laurie Metoyer.

21TerrellDelphin
Terrel Delphin placing candles on his family’s crypt.

22SusieBrooks
Susie Brooks placing candles on headstones.

23Gathering
Dennis Morgan, Lillie Delphin, Terrel Delphin, Bernadine Delphin, Mary Delphin Bordenave, and Daphne Delphin.

24cemetery
The ceremony completed, community members gathered in small groups to remember those passed. The evening ended with a gumbo supper in the church hall.

25cemetery
Our appreciation goes to the staff of the Creole Heritage Center, who assisted in identifying participants in the day's events.