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MIRE - On Saturday, June 23, a 4 p.m. Mass celebrated the Assumption Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mire 64th anniversary as a parish.
During the special Anniversary Mass, parishioners of 90-plus were recognized, including Leota Bergeron, Sybil Blanchard, Vivian Faul, Ruby Gautreaux, Lorena “Tee Moon” Guillot, Helen Hebert, Joseph “D-Das” Martin, Leoval Meche, Emola Melancon, Anthlie Sonnier and Mabel Thibodeaux.
The Mass was followed by a reception in the Family Life Center with all parishioners and public invited to attend.
Guests were served a variety of refreshments, beveraged and a special anniversary cake topped with a picture of the former church building and present-day church.
The anniversary celebration was held in conjunction with Diocese of Lafayette’s Centennial celebration.
Joining Fr. Michael Arnaud, pastor, in welcoming everyone, were committee members Gadric Fontenot (chair), Flora Babineaux, Dot DeRouen, Vivian Richard, Mitzi Arceneaux, Gloria Pellerin, Genny Coolman, Cora Faul, Chad DeJean, Diane Besse and Reid DeJean, video.
In celebrating its past, there was also a Holy Hour adoration held between 6-7 p.m. in the church on Friday, June 22.
History
Farm houses and the Mire School were the settings for the earliest masses in the community which was to become Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church of Marais Bouleur. The church was established as a mission of St. Joseph Parish of Rayne in 1922.
The original St. Joseph Church building was dismantled and moved to the newly purchased property in Marais Bouleur. The mission of Assumption later became a mission of Coulee Croche (Cankton) and, finally, a mission of St. Theresa, Duson, in 1929.
Church parishioners worked diligently to raise money during the mission years. The goal was to be established as a parish. That goal was reached on June 22, 1954, when Assumption was made a parish and Rev. Edgar Bissonnette was named pastor.
A rectory was built, and the parioshioners’ goal then was to build a church. On Aug. 10, 1958, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church, built at a cost of $40,000.
The old church building was converted into a hall for CCD and parish use and the name of the parish location was changed from Bosco to Mire in 1964.
Other important dates of the church include:
1967 - Fundraisers sponsored by the Ladies of the Altar Society was held annually for a number of years.
1972 - Contract signed to build the first mausoleum.
1977 - The Eucharist was given in the hand for the first time in Assumption Parish.
1990 - Weekend Masses of Oct. 20-21 were celebrated in the newly built Parish Life Center with a total cost of the building and furnishings of $198,000.
1992 - Cemetery extension completed.
2002 - Church interior renovated.
2003 - The first “Mayfest” was held as an annual fundraiser.
2011 - A new rectory was completed.
2016 - “That Man Is You” program began.
2017 - “Come Lord Jesus” program began.
Interesting Facts
• The first church trustees were Clesma Cormier and Sidey Larcade.
• The first Baptism recorded was Carter Wayne Credeur, son of Delton Credeur and Norma Lee Roy, dates July 3, 1954.
• The first marriage recorded was Burleigh Mire and Alvine Fruge, dated Sept. 25, 1954.
• The first burial recorded was Marguerite Isaee Allemand, dated June 27, 1954.
• The officers of the first Parish Council were president Joyce Cormier, vice presdient John Higginbotham and secretary Vivian Cahanin.
• The first Lay Minsiters of the Eucharist were Malcom Bearb, Pearl Cormier, Cora M. Faul and Lurnice L. Meche, special minister to the sick.
• A native of Assumption Church Parish, Fr. Donald J. Hebert, was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1968.
• A native of Assumption Church Parish, Sister Vernola Lyons, took her final vows in the Order of the Francisan Missionaries of Our Lady of 1973.
• The first church deacon was Rev. Mr. J. Douglas Melancon who diaconated at Mass on June 27, 1993.
• A native of Assumption Church Parish, Fr. Garrett Savoie was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 2013.
Assumption Parish Priests
1954-65 Rev. Edgar Bissonnette
1965-73 Rev. Raphael Gautier
1973-74 Msgr. Michael Benedict
1974-75 Rev. Ovila Gorget
1975-80 Rev. Angua Beaton, CJM
1980-86 Rev. Henri-Paul Chiasson, CJM
1986-88 Rev. Edwin Bourg
1988-89 Rev. Eugene LaFleur
1989-2000 Rev. Donald J. Hebert
2000-2012 Msgr. Russell Harrington
2012-2018 Rev. Michael Arnaud

Hopefully, Mother Nature will allow the Rayne Chamber of Commerce to host the first Farmers Market of the season on Saturday, Aug. 11, at The Depot Square between 8 a.m. and noon.
Normally held the second Saturday of each month, the Market was cancelled for the past three months due to inclement weather and the annual Rayne Frog Festival.
Co-sponsored by the City of Rayne and the Rayne Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers Market offers only home-made or home-grown items for sale by local and area artisans and farmers.
Prior Markets have featured such items as handmade crafts, seasonal vegetables and produce, homemade jellies, sweets, bakery items, food and concessions.
Musical entertainment will be provided by a local disc jockey, while concessions of soft drinks, coffee and bottled water will be sold.
In addition to food vendors, Donny Miller will be cooking up BBQ burgers, pork steak sandwiches and sausage poboys. Louis Borne will be busy cooking homemade jambalaya.
A special event to be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rayne and Our Lady of Lourdes will be a blood drive from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. All donors will receive a t-shirt. The mobile unit will be located near the Depot Square.
Anyone interested in becoming a vendor for the event should call the Chamber of Commerce office at 334-2332 or email raynechamber1@bellsouth.net or visit www.raynechamber.com or the chamber’s Facebook page for application forms and more information.A fee of $25 per booth space, per month is required.

RAYNE - Work began bright and early Monday morning on the repair project for the original St. Joseph Church Cemetery.
The community of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church undertook the much-needed repair project for the old cemetery located on the block just south of the church.
Tombs in need of attention are being pressure washed and repainted.
Providing the workforce for the project are wokers with the DOC work program through the Rayne Police Department as announced by Rayne Polcie Chief Carroll Stelly.
The St. Joseph Church Cemetery is listed in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” as the only cemetery in the Judeo-Christian world facing north-south, rather than east-west.

Bryan Borill is announcing his candidacy for the office of Mayor of the City of Crowley in the Nov. 6 election.
His statement is as follows:
I am pleased and honored to officially announce my candidacy for the office of Mayor for the City of Crowley. I have lived in Crowley for 58 years and this city is very dear to me.
Let me begin by telling you a little about myself. I am married to my wife of 41 years, the former Judy Dailey, who has been employed with Carmichael’s Cashway Pharmacy for over 40 years. Together we have two sons, Joshua and Jake Borill, along with their spouses, Tonya and Brittany, and two precious granddaughters, Reese and Rhyan.
I have been employed as a professional in health care for over 25 years and currently as a Health Care Marketing Liaison with Lamm Family Care Home Health and Hospice.
Currently, I am a member of the First United Methodist Church and participate in the choir and serve as chairman of Church Council. I am past president of the Crowley Lions Club and still am an active member of the board.
I devoted over 25 years to the youth of this community by my involvement at the Crowley Recreation Department as a baseball, football and soccer coach, baseball League president, and served on the Recreation Director Advisory Committee. This also included being an active football and baseball official.
I am a past member of Crowley Kiwanis, Lafayette Young Kiwanis and Crowley Jaycees.
When my children participated in sports, I was very active in Crowley Junior High, Crowley High and Notre Dame Athletics Booster Club. I was also a graduate of Leadership Excel, am a volunteer with Crowley Chamber of Commerce and participated in Dancing with the Stars in a Caring Way to benefit Crowley Christian Care and the Welcome House.
My passion, besides city government, is officiating college and high school football. Since 1985 I have been a member of the LHSAA as a high school football official and had the honor of officiating two State Championship football games in the Louisiana Super Dome. Also, I began officiating college football on the Division 1 level in 1992 and was chosen to officiate four College Bowl Games, I retired from D1 football in 2013.
During my two terms as an elected member of the Crowley City Council I have gained valuable experience and an understanding of the complexities of city government. This knowledge is essential, beneficial, and critical for Crowley’s next mayor in order to understand the processes and ordinances of city government and to make progressive changes. The mayor must be an active communicator between the citizens of Crowley, city government and an advocate for ALL of the people in the community.
When elected, and working together with the city council, we can and will present to our community an action plan.
Our city has many vital issues that need to be addressed, some will need a comprehensive long term plan, these include improving drainage and continued capital improvements. This can be best done by upgrading technology at city hall and other city departments to improve day-to-day business operations.
Some of the issues can be addressed in a shorter term. An overhaul to the city’s maintenance program would allow a much more proactive city work force. I have a plan to keep the city clean on a daily basis.
As your mayor, I would pledge to continue balancing fiscal responsibilities, use sound judgment and provide the citizens of Crowley an informative and a transparent government.
All of this is accomplished by a good working relationship with the elected council. We will have a number of new aldermen after the election, and I would look forward to helping them be effective.
Finally, and most importantly, economic development must be at the forefront. By working with local and state officials along with the new Acadia Chamber of Commerce, we must have our fingers on the pulse of what is happening. We must seek opportunities for new businesses and provide growth.
The critical foundation of every successful and thriving community should include education, healthcare, the arts, local shopping and recreation for all.
In my 35 years of involvement with Crowley businesses and civic affairs, I feel that I have been in touch with the citizens and business leaders in this community, and I want to continue to listen and respond to their needs. My people skills can bring the citizens of Crowley together and toward common goals and unity that can and will make our city a better place to live and do business in.
Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach, has three simple rules in life and they have guided me for many years.
Rule 1: “Do Right.” Just do the right things in life.
Rule 2: “Do everything to the best of your ability with the time allotted.” Not everyone will be an All-American or win the Heisman Trophy, not everyone is destined for greatness, but everybody can do the best they can with the time allotted.
Rule 3: “Be kind and show people you care.”
I’m excited about Crowley’s future and look forward to a positive and successful campaign. Please feel free to contact me on Facebook at Bryan Borill, Borill for Mayor or borillformayor.com to find my contact information and more about my candidacy.
My goal is to visit with as many of you as possible in the coming weeks and months.
I want Crowley to be the best place to live in Louisiana, and I want to serve as your mayor to make that happen. Please elect Bryan Borill for mayor on Nov. 6.