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Corpus Christi
Nearly 600 gather for procession bringing Jesus Christ to the neighborhood
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published June 19, 2009
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Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic
Archbishop Vigneron carries a monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrement beneath a canopy held aloft by ushers. |
Detroit - Residents of the neighborhood around the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament witnessed a sight last Sunday that hadn't been seen in at least a half a century, as nearly 600 people took to the sidewalks for a Corpus Christi procession.
The feast of Corpus Christi - Latin for "Body of Christ" - has been celebrated since the 13th century. Combined with the formerly separate feast of the Blood of Christ since the Second Vatican Council, it is now the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
Led by a cross-bearer and with Archbishop Allen Vigneron holding a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament as he walked under a canopy near the end of the procession, the event revived a tradition from years past.
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Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic
Members of the Vietnamese Catholic community take part in last Sunday's Corpus Christi procession. |
But unlike days gone by, it also reflected the cultural diversity of the Archdiocese of Detroit today, with some participants wearing clothing reflecting their ethnic heritage or walking behind banners that proclaimed their affiliation. Catholics of Mexican, Filipino, Vietnamese, Nigerian and Polish heritage were in evidence.
Some others wore the regalia of Catholic chivalric orders or fraternal organizations, such as the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, the Knights of Malta, Knights of Columbus and Knights of Peter Claver.
And there was a sizable contingent from the archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women.
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Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic
Besides organized groups, many other lay people and religious took part in the procession. |
But the great majority were just individuals, couples and families who came to take part in the procession, the Holy Hour that preceded it, and then to return to the cathedral for Benediction.
The procession headed north on Woodward from the cathedral to Trowbridge, then east to John R, south two blocks to Arden Park, west back to Woodward, and north back to the cathedral.
Participants sang or recited the rosary as they walked, and carried bread to share with those they encountered along the way. A few people emerged from their houses along the route to see what was going on.
Lolita Williams, a resident of Trowbridge Street, was among those who watched the procession - and received a bag of bread. "I thought it was fascinating and beautiful, and I'm proud it is happening on my block. I'm thinking how lucky I am to have a front-row seat for this," she said.
Barbara Conti, who is of Polish descent, was among those who wore traditional ethnic garb for the procession. "I took me right back to the third grade at Corpus Christi School in Detroit," she said, explaining that the school was on Nevada at Charest.
She said she read about the procession the previous Sunday in the bulletin at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Waterford Township, and started calling friends.
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Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic
A contingent of Filipino Catholics walk behind banner with their organization's name. |
Constance DeVrille, a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, said she was happy the cathedral was able to host the event.
"I thought it was beautiful, and it shows how many people want to be holy and walk with the Lord," Conti said.
Among members of the local Igbo community (from Nigeria in West Africa) were Allison Ehiemere and his wife, Margaret, members of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit's Eastern Market area. "We have processions all the time in Nigeria, so this takes us back home," Margaret Ehiemere said.
A historical note
During last Sunday's Corpus Christi procession, Archbishop Allen Vigneron carried the Blessed Sacrament in what is known as the Fisher monstrance, given to the cathedral by Edward Fisher - one of the seven Fisher brothers who built the Fisher Building after selling Fisher Body Co. to General Motors - in memory of his wife, Adeline.
It was made about 1957 by Louis Eugene Noel Feron, who was born in 1901 in Rouen, France. He trained as a sculptor and gold- and silversmith in France and moved to Costa Rica in 1934. In 1945 he relocated to New York where he worked with some of the leading jewelers of the time. He died in New Hampshire in 1998.
- Heidi Christein, archivist, Archdiocese of Detroit |
But there will be a larger turnout by Igbo Catholics if Uche Onwudiwe is successful. The 15-year-old from St. Suzanne Parish on Detroit's west side, who came to the procession with her mother, Maria, and brother, Nkwa, 5, said she was going to use the photos she took to prepare a Power Point (computer slide show) presentation about it.
"I want to show my Ibo community/family what they missed here. I enjoyed the celebration very much, so I want to show them and encourage them to come next year," she said.
Apryl Voner, a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, said,
"I'm glad the archbishop is doing this to emphasize Corpus Christi, because the center of what we do as Catholics is the Eucharist," said Voner, who belongs to St. Cecilia Parish on Detroit's west side.
Carol Patis, a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, said she e-mailed fellow parishioner Kathy Kakish about the procession as soon as she read about it in The Michigan Catholic.
Patis said she was grateful to Archbishop Vigneron for re-institution the Corpus Christi procession. "I think he's a wonderful man, and he's going to do wonderful things for the diocese," she said.
Kakish added, "What a blessing it was to celebrate Corpus Christi this way. I believe this will serve to strengthen our faith and get us closer to God."
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