June 2, 2025

Hundreds turn out for 23rd annual Eucharistic Rosary Procession

REGIONAL
By Michael Pedro

NORTHAMPTON – Despite some unexpected showers, hundreds of people processed through the streets of Northampton with great joy and reverence for the 23^nd annual Diocesan Wide Eucharistic Rosary Procession, Sunday, June 1. The event, which had close to 700 people in attendance, is organized each year by the Children of Mary and held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.

This year’s procession was announced as a Jubilee 2025 event. Father Gary Dailey, the rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield, spoke on the jubilee year theme of hope.

“It’s all about hope, and hope does not disappoint,” Father Dailey referring to the words St. Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans.

Pope Francis called people to be “Pilgrims of Hope,” for Jubilee 2025. In the Catholic Church, jubilees are marked every 25 years and are rooted in Jewish tradition.

“We’re dealing with a world where the world has gone crazy out there and a lot of people have lost hope. They’re seeking other ways to deal with that. Trust and hope are really closely combined and Jesus asked us to trust in him,” he said.

Father Dailey spoke at 2 p.m. Following his talk, there was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregation then made an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to St. Joseph. Prayers were offered for Pope Leo XIV; the protection of life; the sanctification of marriage; an increase of vocations; healing for those who have been affected by the sexual abuse scandal; and the protection of those serving in the military.

Following the petitions, the procession stepped off on King Street and wound through downtown Northampton, as people prayed two mysteries of the rosary.

“Jesus really is our hope and bringing him out into the streets and allowing people to witness to that is a great thing. Public witness is just so important and we need more of that,” Father Dailey said.

Once back in the church, children laid flowers before a statue of the Blessed Mother. After the congregation sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Father Dailey processed through the church with the monstrance.

The theme of the procession, was “To Jesus Through Mary to Console Their Two Hearts.” The afternoon also included an opportunity for confession.

Several religious sisters were in attendance including Sister Cecilia Morales Tapia, the new director of Latino Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield. While many present have participated in the past, a few in the crowd were converts to Catholicism.

“I came to the faith just about a year ago because of the rosary,” said Sandy Sessler, who entered the church last year. Sessler was raised in the Jewish faith and converted to Christianity in her late 20’s. She said it ultimately was her granddaughter who led her to the Catholic church.

“I was at (my granddaughter’s) graduation Mass, and I heard the rosary being said, and Mary got to my heart. It was like, that was it. And the Eucharist, it was like all of a sudden God said, ‘I am the true body and true blood, soul and divinity.’ That was it. I came home, on fire,” said Sessler, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

“This is really amazing to me because this is the first I’ve been to this type of event. I go to Mass every day. I pray the rosary every day. But this is like awesome,” she said.

At the conclusion of the event, people gathered for refreshments outside the church.

A video version of this story will be featured on the June 7 edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.