Essay: Corpus Christi Catholics in Communion New York City Procession
Jesus was there with us! Not physically, not in the tangible Eucharist, but in each of us who went to Mass and received the Eucharist that morning. We were the body of Christ who dwelled in our hearts and souls.
As we gathered on the steps of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, words of welcome were spoken by Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate; Mary Beth Powers, President and CEO of CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board), and Chairperson for this event, explained what Catholics in Communion represent. Then, Fr. James Martin, S.J., remarked on the meaning of Corpus Christi Sunday, and Fr. Michael Hilbert, S.J., gave a sending blessing and sprinkled the participants with holy water.
Committed volunteers from Catholic Medical Mission Board, (Mary Beth Powers/Holy Name of Mary-Croton), St. Ignatius Loyola (Jean Santopatre, Dolores Quinn), St. Francis de Sales (Christine Vaccari, Sr. Kathleen Kanet, Pat Latona, and Sr. Virginia Dorgan), IVC/JRS/Blessed Sacrament (Mitch Wood), Chi Chi Ampil (Annunciation/Our Lady of Fatima), Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement (Nancy Lorence/Xavier, Terry Michaud/Blessed Sacrament), Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood (Cristian Murphy), Carolyn Wright (Fordham Prep), Rita Houlihan (Ascension Church), and Ed Walsh (St. Joseph/Bronxville) spent four months planning this Corpus Christi Procession for the Season of Faithful Witness.
Finally, Sunday, June 7th arrived with sunshine and blue skies. The NYPD 19th precinct escorted us along Park Avenue and 84th Street up to 96th Street and Third Avenue. Students from Cristo Rey School carried a banner and the cross throughout the procession. One of our undaunted leaders, Sr. Kathleen Kanet, RSHM, who is 88 years old, accompanied us via wheelchair!
We turned off Park Avenue toward Third Avenue at 96th Street where the 23rd precinct escorted the walkers to 101st Street, Cherry Park. Speakers, John Gonzalez from Catholic Charities of Brooklyn Parish and Community Outreach, Fr. James Di Luzio, from St. Paul the Apostle and Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement, along with representatives from Pax Christi, Sisters of Charity, the Dorothy Day Guild, and the Cabrini Immigration Center gave testimony for the dignity of humanity.
The sky darkened, the wind kicked up, and rain started to fall upon us. This did not dampen our spirits; it felt as though the Holy Spirit was there with us! The rain stopped, and the sun came out to greet us for the last leg of our walk to St. Francis de Sales.
Two hundred people represented many Catholic Churches in New York City and beyond: St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis de Sales, St. Francis Xavier, Blessed Sacrament, Ascension, St. Monica’s, St. Paul the Apostle, and the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, Holy Name of Mary, Croton, to name a few. We are grateful for all those who came out in solidarity for human dignity as the body of Christ.
The procession culminated at St. Francis de Sales with their hospitality of lunch and fellowship.
— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate