Yesterday's Eucharistic Procession....

I am still awaiting photo's from yesterday's Corpus Christi Procession in the Parish, but here are a few from the first one held in 2005 when Bishop Andrew was with us and Monsignor Kevin McGinnell was the celebrant - they can be seen together in the last but one photo.

Some readers may be wondering why this Procession was not held on the Sunday when Corpus Christi is celebrated in England and Wales. The answer is simple: the town was holding its annual "Folk on the Green Festival" which some locals affectionately refer to as the "Waccy Baccy Festival." The Procession would be impossible on that day so we celebrate it a week later.

Glorious weather for this year's procession and a good turn-out from the faithful coupled with a good atmosphere from those who observed the Procession made for an excellent day.

Such events are not without their amusing sides and many a smile was raised when we were singing "repentant publicans are drawing near" as we drew level with a local hostelry!

The Liturgy commences in St Mary & St Giles Church with Exposition, and a Liturgy of the Word. As the Procession is marshalled the faithful are singing "Guide me o thou great Redeemer."

The route we take is from the Parish Church around the town to the Catholic Church. During the Procession there are four Stations with Gospel readings and prayers for specific intentions. Having left the Parish Church the Procession wends its way in a westerly direction to the tree in the Market Square where John Wesley once preached and there holds the First Station. From there we proceed south along Silver Street to the War Memorial on Horsefair Green for the second Station. Next comes the longest unbroken stretch of the Procession from the War Memorial eastward along Horsefair Green and then north along the High Street to the Parish Church's Calvary for the third Station. The Procession then continues to wend its way north along the High Street to the ruins of the ancient St Mary Magdalene's Church (only the tower of which remains for the fourth Station. Hymns have been sung throughout the Procession and First Communicants have been scattering rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament.

After the fourth Station we cross the High Street and enter the Catholic Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene's for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Much welcome refreshments then follow in the Parish Hall.