People from the Four Pillars in Faith Area Catholic Community are taking to the streets June 6 to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Corpus Christi Sunday. This is a day the Catholic Church honors the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
“We want to bring Jesus into the streets as a sign of our faith,” said Vicky Gruba, one of the event’s organizers. “With everything that is happening in our world right now, we want to show our belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We hope to restore, renew and revive our own beliefs as well as to bless the whole community as we walk through the town.”
Father Derek Wiechmann, pastor of Four Pillars, will lead the procession, which begins at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s in Milaca. The route is about two miles and includes prayer stations along the way. Stops include the public school, Life Choices (a pregnancy-support center) and the homes of two parishioners. Those who aren’t able to walk the full route are encouraged to join at the parish, Life Choices or the school to pray.
“At the prayer stations, we will stop and pray for our schools, the dignity of human life, our government, police and our community,” Gruba said.
The Four Pillars in Faith ACC includes the parishes of St. Mary, Milaca; St. Kathryn, Ogilvie; St. Mary, Mora; and St. Louis, Foreston.
Photo: The canopy that will be used as part of the eucharistic procession (submitted photo).
What is a eucharistic procession?
A eucharistic procession is a public witness of the veneration toward the most Holy Eucharist, carried through public streets. It takes place in this way: a consecrated host — the real and substantial presence of Jesus Christ: body, blood, soul and divinity — is placed within a monstrance, which is then lifted and carried by a priest who leads the faithful in procession. This earthly journey reminds the Catholic faithful of their spiritual journey toward eternal life with God. The public procession on the feast of Corpus Christi (which means the Body and Blood of Christ) is one time when our Lord, in the Blessed Sacrament, is exposed not just to faithful Catholics, but to all the world.