Rayne in Acadia Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
St. Joseph's Catholic Church & Cemetery
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 1, 2010
1. St. Joseph's Catholic Church & Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Cemetery. . The site of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Cemetery was determined after the new settlement of Rayne was established. Huge wooden wheels were made and the old church from the original Poupeville settlement was mounted on them and moved to this location in 1882. The cemetery, adjacent to the church, was the only known Christian cemetery for many years, where the graves were placed in a north-south position lengthwise. According to ancient Christian customs, graves are positioned east-west so the bodies of the dead lie facing the rising sun, the symbol of Christ's resurrection. Folklore about the cemetery's misalignment has been passed down over the years in stories, but no one knows for certain why this cemetery does not follow tradition.
The site of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Cemetery was determined after the new settlement of Rayne was established. Huge wooden wheels were made and the old church from the original Poupeville settlement was mounted on them and moved to this location in 1882. The cemetery, adjacent to the church, was the only known Christian cemetery for many years, where the graves were placed in a north-south position lengthwise. According to ancient Christian customs, graves are positioned east-west so the bodies of the dead lie facing the rising sun, the symbol of Christ's resurrection. Folklore about the cemetery's misalignment has been passed down over the years in stories, but no one knows for certain why this cemetery does not follow tradition.
Location. 30° 13.922′ N, 92° 16.119′ W. Marker is in Rayne, Louisiana, in Acadia Parish. Marker is at the intersection of South Adams Avenue (U.S. 90) and East Anding Street, on the right when traveling north on South Adams Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 S Adams Ave, Rayne LA 70578, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Louisiana Frog Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jacques Weil Company
2. St. Joseph's Catholic Church & Cemetery Marker with the cemetery in background
July 2, 2010
3. St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
July 2, 2010
4. St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
July 2, 2010
5. St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2015. This page has been viewed 770 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2015, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 11, 2015. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
