It’s no secret (because I will stop to tell just about anyone who stands still for two seconds) that I am a big fan of Eucharistic processions. I always have a plan to get one instituted in the places where I’m stationed, both as a priest and back when I was still a seminarian. I even gerrymandered the liturgical schedule when I was in seminary to make sure that I got the chance to be the deacon who carried the monstrance with Our Lord during the Eucharistic procession that we do at the beginning of every academic year. With all of that in mind, I am glad that the tradition has been established here in the Winton Wyoming Region, and I can just enjoy the ride and not worry about organizing anything myself.

I think the main reason why I am a big fan is because it is a microcosm of what we are called to do as Catholics. The word “Mass” comes from the final sending forth at the conclusion of the sacrifice: “Ite, Missa est,” or “Go, the Mass is ended.” The things we do in Church on Sunday morning and the gifts we receive therein are
supposed to change us as we return to our lives, to our work, to the world. We are supposed to carry Jesus with us into the world, and then return again to grow closer to him week in and week out, or better yet, day in and day out.

When we participate in Eucharistic processions we literally carry Jesus with us out into the world, and without shame or embarrassment we worship Him in public and invite the world to do the same. There are places in the world where Corpus Christi processions head from the Church to the center of the city, and then all those assembled pray that from there, from the very heart of their city, Jesus may go out to the world and transform the lives of His people. I know it’s not the geographical center of our region (but someone should look up where that is and get back to me
on it, because I’d like to know), but OLR is at least in between St. Matthias and St. James.

As we celebrate this great feast of Corpus Christi, and as we head out into the world with Christ in our midst, may our prayer be the same. May we always pray that we may put Jesus at the very center of our hearts, and that He may radiate outward into our lives, our families, our parishes, and our world, and transform the
hearts of His faithful to be like His Most Sacred Heart, burning with love.

Prayers Always,
Fr. McCullough