AUSTRALIA : 5000 IN EUCHARIST PROCESSION IN RAIN

ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT: Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese, 

The pouring rain and cold conditions did not deter around 5,ooo people last Sunday when they turned out for the annual Walk With Christ Eucharistic Procession in the heart of Sydney.
Held annually on the Feast of Corpus Christi to celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist or the Body and Blood of Christ, the procession not only draws many families, priests and religious but more often than not a good downpour!
This year was no exception.
Crowds representing their parishes, schools, universities, ethnic groups and various organisations and movements gathered outside St Patrick's Church. They were all united in their love of Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament - and even the wet and cold weather was not going to stop them following Bishop Julian Porteous and the two other Auxiliary Bishops, Bishop Terence Brady and Bishop Peter A. Comensoli as they made their way through the streets of the central business district to St Mary's Cathedral.
Bishop Julian carried the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance while the crowd reflected on the prayers being played on the loudspeakers and joined in the hymns.
Winding its way up to and along Macquarie Street the procession morphed into a moving sea of umbrellas but the quiet enthusiasm was contagious.
Many people stopped to watch the dedicated group who seemed impervious to the rain.
An evangelisation team of 12 volunteers spoke with the passers-by, explaining what the procession was all about. They also carried New Testaments, Miraculous Medals, Rosaries and Compendiums of the Catechism so they could answer any questions.

Cathy Kennedy , the Director of CREDO, the archdiocese agency for evangelisation and renewal which hosts the event, said people were grateful to have the procession explained.
"Quite a few people asked us to pray for them or for a special intention in their lives," Cathy said.
"Sometimes we give them a devotional gift, if they want it but we always approach people with politeness and humility. They often comment about our joy in talking about our faith."
Arriving at the Cathedral, the Blessed Sacrament was placed under a canopy at the top of the stairs for adoration.
And still the people stayed and prayed as the rain kept falling.
Bishop Julian thanked the crowds for the great faith they showed by attending the procession and staying for adoration in such difficult conditions.
"The procession was a wonderful testament to the faith of Catholics of the Archdiocese in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist," he said.
Bishop Julian spoke about the history of processions in the Catholic tradition and how they serve as a great witness of faith amongst the community.

Finally he invited everyone to enter into the Year of Grace by encouraging them to take time to contemplate the face of Christ in Eucharistic Adoration.
It may have been one of the wettest Walk With Christ processions but it was also one of the most faith-filled.

SHARED FROM ARDIOCESE OF SYDNEY