CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION IN HONOR OF THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY
As you may know “Born Again Catholic” is my latest OSM program that will help us rediscover what “makes” us Catholic by Creed, Practice, and Devotion. Being catholic means that we gather as a church to be Catechized, to Worship, to pray, and then ultimately serve in the name of Christ! This program will focus on different aspects of these key elements to foster once again a pride and family identity with the Catholic Faith.
The Holy Rosary is a staple devotion in the church that was taught to us as children, practiced as adults, and revered by the Saints. The Holy Rosary speaks volumes to the saying: “To Jesus through Mary” for the rosary includes the Hail Mary coupled with the meditation on the mysteries of our Faith. To say we pray and meditate with and through the eyes of Mary on the life of her son would be a perfect explanation of why the prayer is so powerful. Those who are taught the mysteries of the Rosary and meditate on them will have a profound understanding of the life of Christ and the promise of our salvation without ever reading a theological book!
To highlight the power of this prayer is to gather as a faith community to pray the rosary and to be a witness to the whole town praying in procession in the streets of Irwin! This is the intention of our gathering on the Feast of the Holy Rosary:
To witness our love of Mary our Mother and the Divine life of her son! This is what it means to be a Catholic witness and a proud member of Living Faith.
WHY A CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION?
Some forty years ago while visiting Lourdes, the place where Mary pronounced to St. Bernadette that she was the “Immaculate Conception”, I discovered that they were going to have a rosary procession by candlelight from the grotto to the shrine church. I was excited to be just a participant when I was asked, I guess because of my height, to lead the procession by carrying the statue of our Lady!
This experience touched me so deeply that I remember desiring to duplicate this event when I became a priest. So this year, after desiring to do so for so long, we will finally have a procession at night with candles to show our devotion and love of Mary and her Son!!!
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE PROCESSION TAKE PLACE?
The procession will take place on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 7 PM at Immaculate Conception Church
HOW WILL THE PROCESSION TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE?
The procession will begin on the alley side of the church. With lit candles, we will walk up behind the church through the alley, down along the church on Oak Street, and the finish on Second Street in front of the Eagles facing the statue of our Lady where we will recite the Rosary. We are seeking permission to block off Second Street during the procession so we can stand on the road and pray together!