Many Mokenians glimpsed the incredible faith of St. Mary parishioners during the parish’s ninth annual Corpus Christ procession on Sunday, June 2nd. Glaring sunlight and swarming cicadas couldn’t deter roughly 100 participants from publicly adoring the Blessed Sacrament in a tradition that dates back to the 13th century.
Immediately following the 11 am Mass, Father Dindo Billote placed the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance and carried it outside under a canopy, escorted by priests, deacons, servers, the Knights of Columbus, and Mokena Police and Emergency Services.
After stopping at three decorated altars on the parish grounds for prayer and Adoration, the procession continued down 195th Street to the old St. Mary Church on Wolf Road. Girls who had recently made their first Holy Communion scattered fresh rose petals along the way, while parishioner Joe Hartl rang the bells.
Officials halted Wolf Road traffic as drivers gazed upon the line of faithful and heard St. Mary Choir members, led by Sacred Music Director Joseph Berardi, sing traditional Eucharistic hymns.
“Sacred music played a very integral role in the procession, helping lift the hearts and minds of all present,” says Berardi. “It also helps evangelize people on the street when they see us processing and singing with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”
Indeed, the purpose of Corpus Christi is not only for the faithful to adore the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the form of the Blessed Sacrament but also to share that faith with others in the community.
Megan Murray, the Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Mary, spoke to a woman who saw the procession from her window. “She was deeply moved and decided to come down and join us,” explains Murray.
“This woman told me she had been away from the faith for 25 years. I pray that the Lord continues to knock on her heart to bring her back to one day receive Our Lord in the Eucharist and be a part of St. Mary’s community.”
Along the way, many other people witnessed the faith of those marching in the procession on display, from pedestrians, to a man mowing his lawn, to the drivers on Wolf Road.
After reaching the old Church, the procession concluded with sacred music and Benediction. “It was very moving to sing Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus with the choir in the historic church,” reflects Berardi.
Following the event, Father Dindo invited everyone to enjoy complimentary tacos from a food truck parked near the Church Hall.
“We had a great turnout, great weather, talented ministries, and beautiful songs that made this Corpus Christi procession one of the best since I arrived at the parish 10 years ago,” says Father Dindo. “This is one of our flagship events in spreading public devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in this Year of the Eucharist.”
The Mokena Marian 