Parish council members carry the canopy during Holy Spirit Parish’s Corpus Christi procession on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
Traditional Eucharistic procession held at Holy Spirit on Corpus Christi
BY HOLY SPIRIT PARISH STAFF, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green had a great Eucharistic procession around the whole church campus on June 2, 2024, right after 9 a.m. Mass for Corpus Christi.
Holy Spirit Parish had hosted the 10th Karenni-American Catholic Association (with participants from across the nation) for retreat and worship at our parish that weekend. They joined the procession as well.
Along with the Knights of Columbus, many people, from the children of the parish to the elderly faithful, could join the procession. Some parishioners said it was their first time to go on a procession outside of the church. Others said that whenever they had arranged it in the past, the rain stopped it. This time, the weather was perfect even though there was a chance of rain.
Over 500 parishioners participated. There were four stations for the procession: African Catholic station, Hispanic/Latino Catholic station, Myanmar Catholic station and Anglo (white/American station) because our parish is made of the international communities. All the stations were decorated according to their traditional symbols and clothing. The four parish council members carried the canopy.
The monstrance is placed on an altar during Holy Spirit Parish’s Corpus Christi procession on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling, parochial vicar, first carried the monstrance from the altar and proceeded with the procession followed by the faithful parishioners. He paused at the first station of African Catholics and incensed the monstrance. During it, the African Catholics sang a Communion song their native language.
From then, they proceeded again and paused at the station of Hispanic/Latino Catholics and the monstrance was incensed there by Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling. During it, the Hispanic/Latino Catholics sang a Communion song in their language. Then, Fr. Randy Howard, pastor, continued on the procession while holding the monstrance until they arrived at the station of Myanmar Catholics. He set the monstrance on the altar and incensed it while the Myanmar Catholics sang a Communion song in a Myanmar language.
Then, he continued the procession with the faithful to the front of the main church where the last station was set up by Anglo (American) parishioners. There we had Benediction for all the participants and Fr. Randy Howard gave the solemn blessing with Eucharist.
Holy Spirit Parish is located in Bowling Green, Ky.
Knights of Columbus march in the the Corpus Christi procession at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
Parishioners of Myanmar heritage sing at a station during the Corpus Christi procession at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
Altar servers walk in Holy Spirit Parish’s Corpus Christi procession on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
Parishioners of many cultures kneel during the conclusion of the Corpus Christi procession at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green on June 2, 2024. COURTESY OF ANDREW MUNG
