Ten days of Masses and Eucharistic processions leading to the feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, June 11, which celebrates the Body and Blood of Christ, brought members of several parishes in the Diocese of Columbus together.

For 10 consecutive days, Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrated Mass at parishes throughout the diocese. The Masses were followed by Eucharistic processions, in which the bishop led a procession outside around the church with the Body of Christ displayed in the monstrance.

The processions coincide with a three-year National Eucharistic Revival taking place in the United States from 2022-25. The revival was initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and year one (2022-23) celebrated the “Year of Diocesan Revival.”

Year two (2023-24), the “Year of Parish Revival,” began on Corpus Christi Sunday this year. Bishop Fernandes said the upcoming year will focus on the centrality of the Mass and Christ’s presence in diocesan communities.

Columbus St. Peter Church held the first of 10 days of Eucharistic processions throughout the diocese leading to Corpus Christi Sunday. The procession took place on Friday evening, June 2. Photo courtesy Abigail Pitones 

The novena kicked off on Friday, June 2, at Columbus St. Peter Church with a Mass in Spanish and English. More than 1,000 people from parishes across the diocese gathered to celebrate the Body and Blood of the Lord. Bishop Fernandes emphasized God’s great love for His people.

“He could have saved us without suffering and dying, but to prove His love for us, He chose to be rejected,” the bishop said in his homily. “What could have led God to do such a foolish, preposterous thing? St. Bernard of Clairvaux says, ‘It was love.’”

Bishop Fernandes said God gives Himself in the Eucharist and withholds nothing from His people.

“St. Bernardine of Siena says that people remember more vividly signs of love shown to them,” the bishop said. “For example, when they die, they usually leave their friends a token of affection, a ring, for example, some family heirloom or a painting.

“Well, what did Jesus leave us at Calvary? He left us everything. He left nothing for Himself and gave us everything. He gives us everything once more in the Holy Eucharist, Whom we receive at this Mass, Who we adore upon this altar, Who we will carry in procession. The Eucharist is the sacrament of His love.”

The bishop led members of the congregation outside around the church building after Mass. The procession stopped at two stations, in the parking lot and in front of the church, for a Gospel reading, and Bishop Fernandes offered a brief reflection.

Afterward, there was a Spanish fiesta, or party, in the backyard of St. Peter with food, games and live music for those in attendance.

Christiana Lopez, a parishioner at Powell St. Joan of Arc Church, attended the Eucharistic procession at St. Peter. She said the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is a special day for her.

“The feast of Corpus Christi, we celebrate in my country, Nicaragua, and it was the day that I was born,” she said. “My name is Christiana because of Corpus Christi.”

Manny Reyes, a parishioner at Columbus St. Stephen the Martyr Church, also came to St. Peter for the Mass and procession with the bishop.

“It was the best experience I ever had,” Reyes said of the Eucharistic procession. “It was my first time doing it here. I’ve been to another church (for a Eucharistic procession), but it was way different.”

The Mass and procession were also enjoyed by Kimberly Martinez, a senior at Bowling Green State University, and her family, who are parishioners at St. Peter. Martinez said she most enjoyed “seeing how big our community is.”

“I didn’t realize how many people are here that love God and take the time to know Him and celebrate tonight.”

Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrates Mass on June 3 at Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona Church with Father Jeff Rimelspach (right), the parish pastor. Assisting is Deacon Tom Rowlands (second from left). Photo courtesy Larry Pishitelli
A Eucharistic procession leaves the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption on the third day of the diocese's 10 days of Masses and processions as part of the National Eucharistic Revival. Photo courtesy Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption

The novena of Masses and Eucharistic processions continued on Saturday, June 3, at Columbus St. Margaret of Cortona Church with 250-300 in attendance and on Sunday, June 4, at Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption.

About 400 people attended Mass celebrated by the bishop at the basilica and joined him in an outdoor Eucharistic procession around the block. Relics of St. Padre Pio were also on display at St. Mary from Sunday, June 4, to Wednesday, June 7, as part of a tour sponsored by the Saint Pio Foundation. 

After Mass, several people came forward to kneel in prayer before the relics, which were held in reliquaries on a table by the sanctuary. The relics included a crust of St. Padre Pio’s wounds, a piece of his mantle, gauze with his bloodstains, a piece of his handkerchief and a lock of the saint’s hair.

On June 5, a Eucharistic procession at Gahanna St. Matthew Church makes its way through a neighborhood near the parish. Photo courtesy St. Matthew Church

The novena continued on Monday, June 5, at Gahanna St. Matthew Church. Approximately 200 people joined the bishop in a Eucharistic procession around the church parking lot, past the school building and into the surrounding neighborhood. The procession was followed by fellowship on the playground.

After a noon Mass on June 6 at Portsmouth Holy Redeemer Church, the faithful join a Eucharistic procession down a city street. Photo courtesy Scioto Catholic  

On Tuesday, June 6, Bishop Fernandes celebrated a noon Mass at Portsmouth Holy Redeemer Church that was followed by a Eucharistic procession in the streets around the parish. 

Bishop Fernandes carries the Blessed Sacrament during a  Eucharistic procession at Zanesville St. Thomas Aquinas Church on  June 7.  Photo courtesy St. Thomas Aquinas Church

The bishop traveled to Zanesville on Wednesday, June 7 for a Mass attended by more than 400 people from Muskingum County and beyond, a Eucharistic procession and fellowship afterward at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. The procession included a stop for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on an altar in front of the church’s main door.

With rose petals lining the street and altar servers and priests walking ahead of the Blessed Sacrament, a Eucharistic procession from Columbus St. Leo the Great Oratory on June 8 travels through the Merion Village area before returning to the church.  Photo courtesy Tom Berryhill

A Solemn High Latin Mass was celebrated at Columbus St. Leo the Great Oratory on Thursday, June 8, the traditional feast of Corpus Christi, by Msgr. Gilles Wach, founder and prior general of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, and a Eucharistic procession led through the streets surrounding the parish by Bishop Fernandes.   

Canon David Silvey, rector at St. Leo, was joined by 16 priests from the religious order dedicated to the celebration of the Latin Mass, diocesan priests and 500 people. A reception was held after the procession, which included the recitation of the rosary. 

A Eucharistic procession makes an outdoor stop in Mount Vernon for adoration after leaving St. Vincent de Paul Church on June 9. Photo courtesy Abigail Pitones

The Masses and processions continued on Friday evening, June 9 at Mount Vernon St. Vincent de Paul Church and on Saturday morning, June 10 at Westerville St. Paul Church.

The St. Joseph Cathedral choir and the faithful participate in a Eucharistic procession after Mass on Corpus Christi Sunday. Photo courtesy Abigail Pitones

The Eucharistic Revival Masses and processions concluded on Sunday, June 11 with Bishop Fernandes celebrating Mass and carrying the Blessed Sacrament outside into the area surrounding Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral in the morning and West Jefferson Ss. Peter & Paul Church in the afternoon.

Bishop Earl Fernandes incenses the Blessed Sacrament outdoors at West Jefferson Ss. Simon & Jude Church on Sunday, June 11, to end the 10 days of Eucharistic processions in the diocese. Photo courtesy Abigail Pitones