Corpus Christi processes along the bayous

Three years ago, St. Elizabeth Church in Paincourtville and St. Jules Church in Belle Rose began under the direction of Father Tomi Thomas, what has since become an annual tradition, a Corpus Christi procession to celebrate the solemnity of the most holy body and blood of Christ.

Father Thomas’ vision was to bring the Lord to the people where they live with the primary purpose being to focus our attention on the Eucharist.

In the first two years, the Blessed Sacrament went to homes and neighborhoods in the church by caravan where many gathered to experience the presence of our Lord. The locations were predetermined and advertised so that as many people could have the opportunity to take part in adoration and benediction at each site.

The first two years there were seven and nine locations respectively. Neighborhoods and families prepared for the anticipated arrival of the Blessed Sacrament; altars were prepared, flowers were placed, people assembled, musicians sang and those who attended experienced the solemn arrival of the body and blood of Christ along with adoration and benediction.

This year’s procession took on a much different look as the Blessed Sacrament was transported by vehicle to every church in Assumption Civil Parish and ended at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Donaldsonville. The route this year began in Pierre Part at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Pierre Part at 3 p.m.

From there, the procession traveled to St. Elizabeth, then on to the churches of St. Benedict the Moor Church in Bertrandville, St. Anne in Napoleonville, St. Philomena in Labadieville, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Plattenville, St. Augustine in Klotzville, St. Jules in Belle Rose, and finally, the last stop, St. Catherine of Siena. The priests from the churches who took part in the procession include Father Al Davidson (St. Joseph), Father Eddie Martin (St. Philomena), Father Andrew Toyinbo, Father Raphael Asika, and Father Thomas and  Deacons Ehren Oschwald  and Ed Gauthreaux.

At each stop, the rosary was recited 20 minutes prior to the arrival of the Blessed Sacrament followed by adoration and then benediction. Each priest from the church to where the Eucharist was to travel met at the previous church, then processed to his church embracing the monstrance in an open Jeep with a police escort followed by a caravan of ten vehicles that made their way to the next location. Many who took part this year were new to this experience of having the Lord brought to the churches throughout the civil parish. Some took part at only one church, but several of the participants traveled to multiple churches to partake in the celebration.

Those who took part in the procession, whether it was at one location or multiple, all agreed that it was a wonderful experience and felt the true presence of our Lord.

Anna Mabile, who lives in Pierre Part, took part at St. Joseph the Worker said, “The Corpus Christi procession was truly a faith-filled experience. What a blessing it was to honor our Lord with prayer and then witness him traveling to each church in our deanery! I believe it was a day of spiritual unity for our Catholic communities.” As the procession passed through the parish, residents could be seen kneeling in their yards to honor our Lord.
 

Jerilyn Williams, who traveled to various locations of the route had this to say, “Initially, I had only planned to travel from St. Benedict the Moor to St. Anne, but I felt like I had to follow him further. The presence of the Lord was so strongly felt at each church I entered that I had to continue to the next stop. Before I knew it, I was at the end of the procession and the whole procession seemed like only minutes had passed. It was truly a blessed spiritual experience. One I cherish deep in my heart.”

For Charlie Bailey, a parishioner of St. Anne, the procession had a profound effect.

“For me this procession was the literal taking out of the walls of the Church our God and our faith and bringing him out into the world!” Bailey said. “This is what we are called to do after each, and every eucharistic feast and we did it not in an invisible way but in a visible way. I hope that the hearts that encountered Jesus in this way can be impacted. That is my prayer and takeaway.”

Father Raphael Asika, pastor of St. Catherine of Siena, processed with the Blessed Lord from St. Jules to the end of the procession. Having participated in the procession for the first time, he stated, “For my parishioners, procession and benediction was a way of giving public witness to their faith and a source of unity among all parishes.”