By Marion Hausmann and Renata Steffens
Two major Eucharistic processions took place last weekend in Ireland, with one in Cork City continuing a 99-year tradition, and one in Clonmel taking place for the first time in 35 years.
The procession in Cork saw thousands of people line the streets. The first one took place after the Irish Civil War in order to celebrate unity and faith and bring people from both sides together again.
This year, the procession was led by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Bishop Fintan Gavin, and the Butter Exchange Band.
Bishop Gavin said: “As we stand here on the threshold of the 100th year, let us be the generation that not only keeps the tradition, but rekindles the fire of faith in our time.”
Ethnic communities like the Indian Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Brazilian, African, Polish, Croatian, Ukrainian all took part.
In Clonmel, the faithful gathered for their first Corpus Christi procession in 35 years. The procession was part of the Jubilee Year and was a collaboration between “the three parishes, St Mary’s, St Oliver’s and St Peter and Paul’s,” according to Fr John Treacy PP St Peter and Paul’s.
The crowd of around 300 people, including local councillors and the mayor, gathered in St Mary’s Church Irishtown and processed to St Peter and Paul’s Church, Gladstone St singing hymns and saying the rosary.
Fr Tracy said the event was very international, with members or the Polish community, who decorated the altar with their traditional colours, and member of the Indian and African communities as well as Irish.
