June 4, 2018
Hundreds attend the 16th annual eucharistic rosary procession
REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath
NORTHAMPTON – On the feast of Corpus Christi, more than 500 people processed through the streets of Northampton witnessing to the real presence, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, in the Eucharist, at the 16th annual Diocesan Wide Eucharistic Rosary Procession.
The event stepped off at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish on King Street, with parochial vicar, Father Barrent Pease, holding the Blessed Sacrament as the group walked through downtown Northampton. The theme for the procession was “To Jesus, through Mary, to console their two hearts.”
“On this day, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, we celebrate the profound reality that the Eucharist literally is our Lord, Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity,” said Father Pease. “It’s important to bring the people of Northampton and western Mass. in literal contact with our resurrected Lord and to witness to the source and summit of our faith, our faith in the Eucharist.”
The event started with a talk by Marian Father Seraphim Michalenko at 1 p.m., which was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregation then joined in prayer, reciting the act of consecration to the Sacred Heart, and the consecration to the Immaculate Heart.
Prayer intentions were offered for sanctification of marriage; for the protection of life from conception to natural death; for soldiers, vocations and those suffering from addiction.
Father Pease said he has attended the procession in past years and was always moved by the respect of people they passed by on the streets. He said one year, a group stopped an outdoor concert, as the procession passed by.
“We went by one of the buildings and a local school, their marching band was playing. As we rounded the corner, and as everyone could see our Lord in the Eucharist, the band stopped. They were performing for a non-Catholic group. All I heard was someone say, ‘We’re going to be silent out of respect,’” Father Pease said.
Upon returning to the church, children placed flowers in front of the Blessed Mother statue. The congregation then joined in the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, led by teens from St. Cecilia’s Children’s Choir.
Priests were available for confession during the event, which was organized by the Children of Mary.
“Our Blessed Mother from Fatima asked for prayers, asked us to pray to the rosary and was very specific about the rosary because the rosary is the way to peace. And if you look at our world, look at our country, we need peace,” said George D’Astous, who organizes the event each year with his wife, Brenda. He said the public witness is critical and works.
“I’ve talked to numerous people in the area who are not Catholic and have had an interest and were inquisitive about what we were doing, and said, ‘You know what I might join you.’ So we never know where our faith is going to take us when we’re not afraid to express in the public arena,” said D’Astous.
A reception was held following the procession at 10 Hawley St. in Northampton.
A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” the Diocese of Springfield’s weekly television news magazine that airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22 NEWS