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Jambalaya, cases of water and other drinks and brotherhood were in large supply Sept. 2 at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Destrehan, just four days after Hurricane Ida pounded the area with wind speeds up to 150 mph and driving rain that damaged houses and businesses not only in St. Charles Parish but in many civil parishes that comprise the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Car after car of hurricane-beaten people drove through a mobile canteen of sorts that was distributing 210 gallons of jambalaya, cases of water and soft drinks to anyone who needed the resources.


The generosity of food was courtesy of the Knights of Columbus Father Placide Dobyns Council 1819 at Annunciation Parish, whose members drove close to 80 miles and more than 1 1/2 hours from Bogalusa, Louisiana.

Father Daniel Brouillette (“Father Bru”), pastor of Annunciation and chaplain of KC Council 1819, had served as parochial vicar of St. Charles Borromeo from 2009-12. That parish was his first priestly assignment, and he said the people there were the “salt of the earth” with Cajun accents.

“If you love the people here, they will love you back,” Father Brouillette said.

Once he learned that the St. Charles Borromeo area had been affected by the storm, he quickly mobilized volunteers at Annunciation to help, letting Father Dominic “Mixie” Arcuri, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church, know that help was on the way from the knights. 

“I just got on the phone and said, ‘I need you,’ and they were there,” Father Brouillette said.