May Day Procession

Our Lady of the Smile - Theme for the 19th Annual May Day Procession May 1, 1967

The Annual May Day Procession is a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the first day of her month of May by the religious and laity of St. Martinville and the surrounding area. It began over 70 years ago in 1949 by Msgr. Henri Hamel, sponosored jointly by the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daugthers of America as an aswer to the Communist celebration of the day - and an affirmation of the Christian belief and devotion to God which alone will acheive the objective of the end of wars and world peace. The Procession forms at St. Martin de Tours Church and proceeds, while reciting the Holy Rosary, to Longfellow-Evangeline State Park, where a living Tableau or theatrical production about Our Lady is given.