Cathy and Irwin Langhoff joined the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc in 2011, and Cathy’s creative handmade throws have delighted our crowds ever since. Many krewe members know Cathy and have attended throws workshops at Cathy’s home, so we are sharing her obituary and funeral information here for the krewe. She will be much missed! Cathy has served on the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc board in the past, and husband Irwin is our treasurer.
Meet our new krewe member, Dragon 2.0 Tuesday Nov. 15Join us for the krewe social 6-8 p.m. at Wrong Iron beer garden (3532 Toulouse St., map). We’ll enjoy our usual beers in Wrong Iron then move out at 6:30 to the parking lot where the new giant dragon puppet will be walking around and stretching his wings. Note: children are welcome to check out the dragon in the parking lot, but you have to be 21 to go into Wrong Iron.
We’re getting an opt-in text messaging system. Sign up here to start receiving short text messages announcing upcoming events like this one. This is a commercial text message system. You’ll be able to reply to us, but you won’t get texts from anyone else on the list. Of course, we’ll never give your contact information to anyone else or use your number for any other reason, and you can unsubscribe from the texts at any time. We’re adding this as an option because krewe members have said they would like to get text updates.
Joan heard God’s voice through three saint personas: St. Michael the Archangel, God’s warrior, and two virgin martyrs, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret of Antioch. Each of these saints is depicted in the “Voices of Joan” battalion of our parade with a 12-foot tall prop: St. Michael’s cloud and beams of light, St. Catherine’s wheel, and the dragon that failed to eat St. Margaret. St. Margaret, imprisoned for refusing a powerful man’s advances, was sentenced to be eaten by a dragon. The dragon ate Margaret’s cross, which irritated his stomach, killing the dragon and saving Margaret so that she could be martyred more humanely. Margaret’s story dates from around 300 A.D. Today, the Roman Catholic church regards her as apocryphal, but Saint Margaret was a very popular saint in Joan’s time. In ancient art and storytelling, the dragon was a personification of the devil, and depictions of St. Michael also frequently include the defeated beast at his feet.
La Pucelle (la pooh-SEL)
While Joan was leading French troops in battle against the English in the final years of the Hundred Years’ War, she was known as “the Maid.” In French, that’s la Pucelle, a diminuitive/affectionate form of la puceau, which means “virgin.”
Allegiance to Joan goes portable with Carol Lynch’s Joan’s Army Travel Pack! We’re giving these away as a membership drive incentive to new members (and current members who successfully recruit them!) Unroll this useful throw to find a packing list and four handy pockets for toothpaste, hand sanitizer, comb, or anything else you’ll need on the battlefield!
Meet Shannon Steele, our newest Krewe Board Member and Parade Volunteer Coordinator!
Shannon lives in MidCity in the Bayou St John neighborhood.
How did you get involved in Krewe de Jeanne D’Arc?
After watching it my first year, I somehow came across how to volunteer. So, for next 3 years I was a volunteer. Afterward, I was asked to be the Volunteer Coordinator.
What aspect of involvement do you enjoy the most?
It’s such a beautiful parade! I love telling people about it and seeing the excitement of both the volunteers and the crowds watching.
Who is Joan for you? What inspires you most about her?
Her strength and determination. Being single for much of my life, Joan inspires me to keep pushing forward.
Who do you portray when we march?
Myself… but as some kind of knight?? Lol
What are you most looking forward to in 2022-23?
The new and updated props, possible sword fight scenes, and large volunteer participation.