Eucharistic Procession - “One Nation under God.”

Last week this column mentioned St. Peter and the popes who have succeeded him. One of their primary roles has always been to unify the Church in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph. 4:5). This unity is expressed and strengthened in the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ that we share as Communion each Sunday. We know that often unity can be hard to achieve, and even harder to maintain, but it is Christ’s command and prayer for us: that we may all be one, so that the world may believe that Jesus Christ is the one sent by the Father. (John 17:20-23).

This spirit of unity is something we are joyfully embracing in our own collaborative parishes. On behalf of Deacon Tom Hines and the rest of the Eucharistic Procession Planning team, I am happy to formally announce that on Sunday, June 7, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we will celebrate our faith with our next PWC Collaborative Eucharistic Procession. Building on the enthusiasm and reverence of last year’s combined procession for both of our parishes, we will again celebrate the unity the Eucharist strengthens among our parishioners and beyond. In light of our nation’s 250th birthday, this year our PWC procession has chosen the same theme as many other Eucharistic Processions around the country: “One Nation under God.” With faith and trust in God, this theme serves as an invitation to intercede for unity, healing, and renewal in our country through our Eucharistic faith.

Together we will step out into the public square. Thanks to permission granted by the Town of Wrentham and Alliance at Maples, our route can include a visit outside their residence to share our love and joy with them, also. This year’s route will be only slightly longer than last year, as our parishes process prayerfully with the Blessed Sacrament from St. Mary church down the access road to Maples, then up Taunton Street to the Wrentham Town Common, resuming last year’s route back to the church for solemn Benediction. We will conclude with a shared social & lunch.

This public act of love and adoration is a witness to what unites us: the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, who walks with us and strengthens us as pilgrims of hope. In order to symbolize that unity more fully, we encourage everyone from both parishes, who is able, to come together for the 9:30am Mass that Sunday at St. Mary, followed immediately by the Eucharistic Procession. Therefore, for both spiritual and practical reasons, we will have an 8:00am Mass at St. Martha and the 9:30am at St. Mary; however, both the 10am and Noon Masses will be merged into the 9:30 Mass for June 7 only - please plan accordingly as you make plans for that weekend. This allows us to pool our resources, ministers, and music and provide the best quality Mass and procession possible in worship of the Lord on this feast of the Eucharist. (The Saturday Masses and Sunday 8am Mass will happen as usual that weekend).

Over the twelve years that I have been a part of these parishes of St. Mary & St. Martha, I have been amazed and touched by the openness of the people of both parishes to sharing in this journey together, helping each other to strengthen both parishes while progressing in our appreciation of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. This isn’t always easy, but praying and serving together, we belong to Christ and to the Church that is truly “catholic,” that is, universal.