Neches River Eucharistic Flotilla

Neches River Eucharistic Flotilla -- May 10, 2025

“You are there, my Lord Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist.
 You are there but a few feet from me, in the tabernacle.
 Your body, your soul, your humanity, your divinity,
 your entire being is there in its double nature!
 How close you are, God!”
Saint Charles de Foucauld

Join us in prayer on May 10 for our third annual Eucharistic Flotilla. This year the day will also include Bishop Toups blessing the water before the beginning of hurricane season. You can join us on land or by boat at one or both sites. Boaters and every person on the boat must register by clicking on the "For Boaters" tab on the left. 

The day will include:

• Mass
• Spending time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that will be exposed in a special maritime monstrance aboard the Ivory Bill
• Praying the rosary
• Blessing of the Water before Hurricane Season 

The stops are:

• 1:00 pm, Port Neches -- Mass at Port Neches Park, 601 Grigsby     
• 3:00 pm, Port Arthur -- Adoration, Rosary, Blessing of the Water, at Turn Services (park at Moran Towing, 8740 Old Yacht Club Road)

Please arrive early, time of arrival at each location is approximate.                                                                       
Please bring chairs, water and other items needed for being outside.

“Recreational boat owners are also invited to participate in the process,” Father Sinclair Oubre said. “They may sail in part or all the procession with the Blessed Sacrament. Just reach out to me, so that we can properly register their participation.” Please click on the "For Boaters" tab on the left for Rules, Regulations and Registration.

For more information on this Neches River Eucharistic Procession, contact Father Sinclair Oubre at 409-749-0171 or [email protected]
 

Port Neches

1:00 pm, Mass at Port Neches Park, 601 Grigsby

Bishop Toups will celebrate Mass under the pavilion. After Mass he will bless the new Our Lady, Star of the Sea statue. There are some bleachers, but you may want to bring your own chair. Remember this will be outside on a May afternoon. Please be prepared for being outdoors -- water, hat or whatever items you may need.

Port Arthur

3:00 pm, Adoration, Rosary & Bishop Toups Blessing of the Water before Hurricane Season, held at Turn Services

Registration Form (pdf) 

Rules and Regulations (pdf)

Mary - Star of the Sea (Stella Maris) Novena:

Bishop Toups:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Deacon:

“All those joined in continuous prayer, together with several women,
including the mother of Jesus . . . ” (Acts 1:14)

All the Faithful together Pray the Prayer of St. Pope John Paul II to Our Lady Star of the Sea:

Mary, Star of the Sea, light of every ocean, guide seafarers across all dark and stormy seas that they may reach the haven of peace and light prepared in Him who calmed the sea. As we set forth upon the oceans of the world and cross the deserts of our time, show us, O Mary, the fruit of your womb, for without your Son we are lost.
Pray that we will never fail on life's journey, that in heart and mind, word and deed, in days of turmoil and in days of calm, we will always look to Christ and say, 'Who is this that even wind and sea obey him?'

Our Lady of Peace, pray for us!

Bright Star of the Sea, guide us!

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for seafarers, pray for us. AMEN

Bishop Toups:

When Jesus ascended into heaven, his disciples became confused and wondered why Jesus had left them. Afraid to be seen in public, they locked themselves away in the Upper Room. At that time the loneliest person must have been Mary who was now separated from her only son.
Her main concern was not her own loneliness, but the disciples and their lack of courage and conviction. She joined them in the Upper Room and, through her faith and prayer, inspired the disciples to open their hearts to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Seafarers are in some ways like the disciples. They are shut away from the rest of society. They do not have the support of an organized Christian Community to help them when they are at sea, especially when they become discouraged or experience loneliness. Let us pray that Mary will share in our prayer of intercession for seafarers and their families.