Feb. 22 saw another in a long line of yearly Mardi Gras observances at St. Peter Catholic Church of Pine Bluff.
The on-campus gymnasium was filled with better than 100 celebrants decked out in their Mardi Gras finery for the 28th annual occasion. Traditional New Orleans music provided by DJ William “Rocky” Howard, the aroma of simmering gumbo, laughter, line dancing, bead throwing, king cake and camaraderie provided a festive Fat Tuesday atmosphere in the St. Peter Family Center.
St. Peter’s pastor, the Rev. Andreas Keati, offered a Mardi Gras blessing.
“I’m so glad you are here sacrificing your time to be with us tonight,” Keati said.
Terri Jackson acted as mistress of ceremonies, introducing the 2024 St. Peter Mardi Gras King and Queen, Travis Caudle and Nola Harris.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
She also announced the 2025 King and Queen, Alfonzo Perez and Helen Barajas. In addition, the 2025 Prince and Princess are Tommie Howard and Michaela Howard-Perez.
With their presentation, the nobility took the traditional Mardi Gras walk, with second line revelers from the audience falling into the procession.
Juanita Currie of St. Peter Altar and Rosary Society explained preparations leading up to Easter season.
“This is only our second year back since the covid shutdown,” she said.
“The kids helping out here tonight are from Star City schools. Arkansas requires 75 hours of volunteer work to graduate high school and volunteering here is a way they can make up some of those hours.
“Mardi Gras is one of our annual fundraisers to help support the efforts of the church in the community,” Currie said.
The pastor further explained.
“The money we raise doesn’t just go to St. Peter, but to the work of several denominations. This is an event to overcome our divisions and help unite the community,” Keati said.
St. Peter Church traces its origin back for 131 years to Monsignor John M. Lucey, who pastored St. Joseph Catholic Church.
He was closely involved with founding Pine Bluff’s Colored Industrial Institute in 1889, which later became St. Peter Catholic School. Lucey established St. Peter Church as an African American mission in 1894.
In 1903, the congregation had grown to the point of needing to relocate from the original small church house to a newly erected structure with its landmark steeple visible from any point in the city.
In a milestone appointment, St. Peter received their first African American Catholic Priest, the Rev. John Dorsey of St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, who served the parish from 1905 until 1907.
The 1903 vintage meetinghouse was completely destroyed in 1948 by a fire. The current façade soon rose to replace the church lost to the flames.
Observance of the ancient Carnival season begins with Epiphany (Three Kings Day) on Jan. 6 and continues until “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday. “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” a day designed to provide one last chance to indulge one’s senses before launching the 47-day Lenten Season of fasting leading up to Easter.
Juanita Currie, left, and Nola Harrison are long-time members of St. Peter Altar and Rosary Society and organizers in the annual Mardi Gras celebration. (Special to The Commercial/Brenda Baker)
This year’s St. Peter Mardi Gras Queen Helen Barajas, left, and King Alfonzo Perez make their royal walk with second line dancers joining the procession. (Special to The Commercial/Brenda Baker)