Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Makes Traditional Procession Through Easton

On Sunday afternoon, June 2, almost 200 parishioners of St Peter and Paul Catholic Church formed a traditional Eucharistic Procession and marched a 2.5-mile course from the church to Idlewild Park in Easton and back.  The procession was led by Father James Nash, pastor of St Peter and Paul, who carried a golden sunburst known as a monstrance, containing a communion wafer, the Blessed Sacrament that Catholics believe is the true Body of Christ.

Four strong parishioners held a red canopy over Fr Nash and the Blessed Sacrament for the entire march.  He was followed by altar servers in red and white robes, and a long column of marchers of all ages.  Then came students from the Saints Peter and Paul School, men and women with canes and walkers, families pushing baby carriages, older children walking and many families of Hispanic heritage.

The Eucharistic Procession is a traditional part of the celebration that occurs on the tenth Sunday after Easter, known as the Feast of Corpus Christi (meaning the Body of Christ), it dates back to 1264 when it was instituted by Pope Urban IV.  Back then, the procession and feast formed a pageant in which kings and nobility participated, as well as local officials and members of guilds. 

Father Nash described the procession as part of Saint Peter and Paul’s participation in a three-year Eucharistic Revival taking place in the Catholic Church: “On the Feast of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we renew our call to bring Jesus to every facet of our lives. Just as crowds followed Christ throughout his earthly life, our parish will follow Christ in procession as a witness to the Eucharist, which is the central part of our community.”

Pope Francis stated at a Mass at the Vatican on Sunday that when Catholics carry the Eucharist through the streets, “We are not doing this to show off or to flaunt our faith” but to invite others to share in the life that Jesus gives by making himself a gift.  “Let’s make the procession in this spirit,” the Pope said, “his Real Presence also invites us to be close to our brothers and sisters wherever love calls us.”