The solemn mass on the occasion of the feast of St. Louis will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 25 under special circumstances. Indeed, in a context marked by the Coronavirus and health restrictions, the celebration will only be able to accommodate 50 people, including members of the government, the opposition and the mayor of Port-Louis. Cardinal Maurice E. Piat, the Bishop of Port-Louis, will deliver the homily. The mass will be broadcast live on Radio Maurice.
The tradition of celebrating St. Louis, patron saint of the diocese and the city of Port-Louis, with a solemn mass was established in 1768. August 25, 1966 is a memorable date in the history of the country. It is on this date that the city of Port-Louis, founded 281 years ago, was elevated to the status of ‘City’.
According to the custom, the cathedral used to welcome for this celebration a large number of faithful as well as all the clergy and the officials of the country. But because of the covid, the faithful will not be able to attend the mass in the church.
Father René Bergougnoux of the diocese of Port-Louis gives us an overview of this celebration through the following video. Let us recall that Father René Bergougnoux is a fidei donum priest. Born in Fontanes du Causse, France in 1944, he was ordained a priest on June 29, 1969. After a first mission on the island in the 2000s, Father Bergougnoux has been back in our diocese since 2013.
