Mission Statement;
My mission is to bear witness to my Cajun Christian Faith in the awesomeness of God, who created us, Jesus, who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who nourishes our soul with everlasting LOVE. The meaning of La Petite Voie - The Little Way means that one's way of Life must choose to follow the Heart of Jesus which is Love.
I am a direct descendant of the original Acadian people. My ancestors were deported from Nova Scotia to France. The Spanish government transported Acadian exiles from France to Louisiana on the ship 'Le Saint Remi,' and arriving in Louisiana on September 9, 1785. I was raised in a family of seven children. As the oldest daughter, I helped my parents with the younger children, and in the family business. In high school I was a cheerleader, a band member, and in 1960 I was crowned the 1st Crawfish Queen in my hometown of Breaux Bridge. I love Cajun music, singing (Acadiana French Choir for twenty years) cooking, gardening, and flower arranging. I have five beautiful children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. I enjoy speaking Cajun French and love meeting people.
It is with true devotion that I invite you to 'La Petite Voie de St. Thérèse' knowing full well that you will feel the Spirit of Peace, Love, Serenity and Tranquility.
'La Petite Voie de St. Thérèse' is a unique and peaceful Cajun Country getaway in a fully restored Acadian built house in a pastoral setting not far from Breaux Bridge (3.5 miles to downtown), Lafayette and St. Martinville (7.5 miles to Tourist Center). A perfect place to experience the food, music, culture, faith and "Joie de Vivre - Joy of Living" of the Cajun People. 'La Petite Voie de St. Thérèse' is unique to this area as it captures the heart and soul of the Acadians that struggled to bring families to a land of milk and honey – where they could pray, work and live together in harmony. 'La Petite Voie de St. Thérèse' is situated on 2.5 acres of ancestral farm land near Bayou Teche in the heart of Acadiana. It is located on Highway 31, near Pont Breaux (Breaux Bridge), a quaint downtown area with antique shops and great food. Then to the charming town of Parks, next to the historic city of St. Martinville, the birthplace of Acadiana. Take the gateway to Southwest Louisiana to see for yourself why so many visitors say, “Joie de Vivre – Joy of Living” lives in Acadiana.
In June 1985, my mother gave me two and a half acres of property that belonged to her grandfather, Renee Chauffe, Sr. It was through the grace of God that I stumbled onto an old house built by Andre' Boudreaux in 1935. I was taken by surprise when in the house there was a picture of Sacred Heart of Jesus. It captured the beauty of my Christian Faith, it said “Christ Wants Your Heart”. I knew instantly that this house was very special. In 1989, I began remodeling it with the understanding that one day I would love to tell the story of how the Lord played such an important role in my life. I bought the house for three thousand dollars and moved it to “La Campagne”. My uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and family, including the main carpenters Kip Cormier, Stuart Green and Ray Theriot helped me find peace in my simple Cajun House.
'La Petite Voie de St. Thérèse' is a fully restored Acadian Home with three bedrooms, two full baths, a modern kitchen, dining room, parlor/sitting room, and a music/entertainment room. The home accommodates six people comfortably with a full kitchen, and a dining area The 'St. Therese' bedroom features an antique full-size bed with matching vanity and a Birdseye Maple armoire. It has a connecting bathroom with an antique tub and a separate full-sized shower. The 'St. Mary' bedroom has a Mahogany queen size bed with a Mahogany Armoire and vanity with a connecting full bath with an antique tub/shower. The 'Evangeline' bedroom features a white iron single bed with a vanity and armoire. A small box of Coty powder is placed on each bedroom vanity like I remember it in the Chauffe Family House. The foyer and the living area are really quite charming and there you will enjoy TV, Wi-Fi, music, videos, and Acadian books (Deportation of Acadians from Nova Scotia).
A large wrap-around porch with a swing and rocking chairs provides the ideal setting for enjoying outdoor pleasures, such as a large outdoor patio with a grill, Azaleas, Sugar Cane fields, Pecan, Oak, Cypress, Golden Rain, Bradford Pear and Magnolia trees. There is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that comes from the Convent in Grand Coteau and a statue of St. Therese, my patron saint, given by my Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults students.
I am so proud of my Acadian heritage and so thankful that my mother and father gave me a piece of history. Come to experience Cajun Country hospitality and a retreat away from home.
