Local

Corpus Christi celebrations

Dave Borowski | Catholic Herald

St. John the Beloved parishioners brave the inclement weather for the annual Corpus Christi procession May 29.

1464791375_a922.jpg

The Corpus Christi procession May 29 moved from St. John the Beloved Church in McLean to a temporary altar in the lower church parking lot for adoration.

1464791384_b58b.jpg

Fr. Pollard carries the monstrance.

1464791386_8356.jpg

Girls with roses prepare to line the path of the St. John the Beloved Corpus Christi procession.

1464791388_5e83.jpg

Fr. Christopher J. Pollard holds the monstrance following the Corpus Christi procession at St. John the Beloved Church in McLean May 29.

1464791391_6a4d.jpg

Fr. Pollard leads the Corpus Christi procession at St. John the Beloved Church in McLean.

1464791394_3dbc.jpg

The moveable feast of Corpus Christi, officially known as the
solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, was
instituted by Pope Urban IV in 1264 and is a public
acknowledgement of the real presence of Christ in the
Eucharist.

The official day of the feast is the Thursday after Trinity
Sunday, most dioceses transfer the celebration to the
following Sunday. The eucharistic procession usually occurs
after Mass, with a return to the church for Benediction.

The Corpus Christi procession is popular in the Arlington
Diocese, with nearly 15 parishes – including St. Michael
Church in Annandale, St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, St.
Veronica in Chantilly, St. John the Baptist in Front Royal,
St. John the Apostle in Leesburg and St. John the Beloved in
McLean – holding the event May 29.

It’s been an annual event for St. John the Beloved for years,
but it was held for the first time in 10 years at St.
Michael, where Father Richard T. Carr, parochial vicar, led
the procession.

Most parishes held their procession in the early afternoon.
St. John the Beloved waited until after the 5 p.m. Mass – and
it rained. Even with the inclement weather, the church was
packed with worshippers.

After Mass, Father Christopher J. Pollard, pastor, led by a
Knights of Columbus honor guard, was joined by first
communicants, students of St. John Academy and the
congregation as he processed with the Blessed Sacrament to a
temporary altar erected in the lower church parking lot.

Young girls, each holding a single red rose lined, the path
from the church to the temporary altar. There were small
baskets of rose petals that were to be scattered along the
path in front of the monstrance held by Father Pollard, but
the rain made that part impractical.

During adoration at the altar, the faithful, many with
umbrellas opened, stood solemnly as Father Pollard raised the
monstrance and everyone bowed their heads in reverence.

After adoration, Father Pollard processed back to the church
for Benediction.

In his homily, Father Pollard said that adoration focuses our
attention on God and that His presence is the reason we are
in church at Mass.

The presence of so many people willing to process in the rain
was no surprise to parishioner Michelle Holoubek, who said
that it’s a testament to the parishioners and the pastor.

“Father Pollard has made it his mission to bring the
community together,” she said.

Related Articles