The long awaited time for us to welcome our French Guests from Orléans is here. Jeanne d’Arc, Maïlys Boẽt and her mother, along with her page, Enguerrand Semon, and his father, and Madame Benedict Baranger, President of the Jeanne d’Arc Organization in Orléans will all arrive at 7:40 pm on Friday Jan 3. You are invited to meet them at the airport for a New Orleans style welcome. On Saturday, we will travel to LaPlace to the St Joan of Arc Catholic church where they will present some relics to Father David Ducote. They are bringing some soil from Hermitage of Bermont, where Jeanne liked to go to pray and they also have a piece of stone from the chapel itself. These items will be placed in the church at the newly built Meditation Garden commemorating Joan of Arc. While in the area, we will introduce them to a Swamp Tour and poor boys for lunch. They will be guests of the Krewe of Joan of Arc at the annual banquet in the evening. On Sunday, they will attend the special Joan of Arc Mass at St Louis Cathedral then they will enjoy a private tour of the Cathedral followed by lunch at Antoines. You are welcome to join us for this luncheon (Costs approximately $70). Our President Kelleigh will sign the Partnership Agreement with Orléans to continue this cultural exchange for another year. In the afternoon, they will visit the private home of our member, Andre Moss, for a look into an original French Quarter residence designed and styled with French antiques. The evening ends with a Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Natchez. You are invited to join us for this and I have a discount code for tickets. Email Gayle GBDell@aol.com Monday starts with a guided tour of the World War II museum and lunch in the private St Mere Eglise dining room. The big event is the Krewe of Joan of Arc parade which kicks off at 8pm in the French Quarter. Our guests will wear their Orléans period costumes and will walk in the Restoration Battalion section of the parade. They will hand out Rotary cards along with other hand made items from the Krewe. Hope to see you lining the streets to see our very significant Rotary presence in the parade. Look for banners, and the Rotary volunteer Monks carrying signs telling the history of Joan of Arc. To round out the week, on Tuesday they will visit Mardi Gras World then they will be guests of the Hermes Krewe to visit their den and see the floats. And Thursday the French Maid and Page will participate in the Battle of New Orleans Celebration in Jackson Square by laying a wreath at the statue of Andrew Jackson. You are all invited to this significant celebration of the history of our city. The visit culminates with a Send Off Reception at 5:30pm at the Jazz museum. Distinguished guests will speak and present gifts to our departing guests. PLEASE come out and celebrate this cultural exchange with our French guests. Special Jazz concert at 6:30. I encourage you to join us at 400 Esplanade to send off the visitors in true New Orleans style. |
