Episode 2: Faith — The Root That Holds Us

Bella Creole Life: The Podcast

In Episode 2 of Bella Creole Life: The Podcast, we begin at the root — Faith — and explore the deep role the Catholic Church has played in shaping Creole families, communities, and identity across generations.

From childhood memories of church life in Cloutierville to catechism classes, church fairs, cemetery cleanups, and All Saints and All Souls Day traditions, this episode reflects on how faith was not just practiced, but lived — as a rhythm of everyday life.

Cici shares heartfelt and humorous stories, including an unforgettable childhood moment that sparked her first real prayer, memories of Midnight Mass and family rosaries, and the powerful influence of Creole women, elders, and religious leaders who modeled devotion through action and love.

The episode also journeys to Southwest Louisiana — Oberlin, Lake Charles, Prairie Ronde, and sacred places of pilgrimage — where faith deepened through community, Cursillo, prayer, and time spent at the Ave Maria Shrine with beloved family members. We also honor the legacy of Henriette Delille and the Sisters of the Holy Family, whose presence affirmed the place of Creole people of color within the Catholic faith.

As always, the episode weaves together Faith, Family, Food, and Fun, reminding us that our cultural memories are inseparable from the traditions that shaped us.

This episode is not just about one family’s story — it’s an invitation to our big ol’ Louisiana Creole family, wherever you may be in the world, to reflect, remember, and reconnect.

✨ Join the conversation:
Visit www.BellaCreoleLife.com to share your faith stories, family traditions, photos, events, and memories. Let’s keep our culture, history, and traditions alive — together — on this big ol’ virtual front porch.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and come on in, cousin… you’re home

Episode 1: Welcome to Bella Creole Life — A Celebration of Faith, Family, Food & Fun

In this very first episode of Bella Creole Life: The Podcast, host Christie Rachal opens the doors to the virtual front porch and welcomes you into the heart of Louisiana Creole culture. This episode sets the tone for the entire series—warm, nostalgic, rooted in history, and full of the joy that defines what it means to be Creole.

Christie shares the story behind Bella Creole Life: a vision twelve years in the making, inspired by her family, her community, and her desire to preserve the culture she loves. She talks about growing up Creole in Cloutierville, Louisiana; the traditions that shaped her; and the powerful memories of her grandparents, elders, and community that made Creole culture feel alive, vibrant, and full of love.

Through storytelling and heartfelt reflection, Christie explains the four pillars that guide every episode:

A look into the churches, spiritual traditions, and cultural practices that kept Louisiana Creole families grounded. Christie shares early memories of novenas, church fairs, Sunday mornings, and the community leaders who shaped the spiritual soul of the Creole world.

Christie reflects on the unique beauty and complexity of Creole identity—what it means to navigate race, ethnicity, language, and heritage in a world that often asks, “What are you?” She introduces the “Did You Know They Were Creole?” segment, which will spotlight notable Creole figures, beginning with Pope Leo XIII.

If you grew up Creole, you grew up eating good. Christie shares the tastes and smells of home: gumbo simmering on the stove, sweet dough pies, meat pies at church fundraisers, and family recipes carried across generations. Food is memory, culture, and history—and she brings all three to life.

Christie explores the joy of Creole culture—the music, the festivals, the dancing, the front-porch storytelling, the laughter, and all the small moments that made growing up Creole so special. From zydeco to trail rides to family reunions, this section celebrates the happiness woven into everyday life.

This episode is both a welcome and a homecoming, an introduction to the journey ahead. Christie shares why this podcast matters, why preserving Creole culture is so important to her, and how listeners can participate by sharing their stories, memories, recipes, traditions, and family histories.

With warmth, humor, and authenticity, Episode 1 invites listeners to reconnect with their roots, discover more about Creole heritage, and become part of a growing community that honors the past while celebrating the future.

Whether you’re Louisiana Creole, Creole from another part of the world, or simply someone who loves culture, history, and good storytelling, this episode will make you feel right at home.

Pull up a chair on the virtual front porch—let’s celebrate who we are and where we come from. 💛

🌿 FAITH🏡 FAMILY🍲 FOOD🎶 FUN