The annual St. Valerie Procession took place yesterday! This long-standing, annual tradition invites the public to join members of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department as they process the streets of Thibodaux saying the rosary with the relic and effigy of St. Valerie, the Patroness of Thibodaux.
St. Valerie of Milan’s relic first arrived in Thibodaux in 1868 through the efforts of St. Joseph’s pastor, Fr. Charles Menard. In 1916, the firemen saved St. Valerie’s relic and effigy from the St. Joseph’s church fire.
St. Valerie’s relic and wax effigy resides at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Catholic Church Thibodaux, nested in an ornate reliquary of oak, glass, and gilded copper. She is invoked for protection from storms, floods, and fires.
The procession was followed by the Fireman’s Mass at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. Please join us in continued prayer for our local volunteer firemen. St. Valerie, pray for us.