His Grace the Archbishop leads the Corpus Christi Procession
His Grace the Archbishop came to Oxford to lead the Corpus Christi Procession yesterday, which attracted great crowds in a wonderful witness to our love of the Blessed Sacrament and was a tremendous sign of unity among the different parishes, religious houses and institutions of Oxford.
The participants gather:
The marshals are briefed:
The Franciscans prepare to carry the canopy:
The Procession leaves our church:
The Archbishop carries the Blessed Sacrament through St Giles':
This year we were unable to go into Blackfriars as the church is closed for repairs, so we carried on straight to the University Chaplaincy. The Dean, Fr John Hancock, carried the Monstrance from Blackfriars to Queen Street:
Along St Michael's Street:
The Procession passes through the district of St Ebbe's:
Fr Dushan Croos, S.J., Chaplain to the University, carried the Blessed Sacrament for the last stage of the Procession:
We had a rousing accompaniment from the Witney Town Band:
Fr Dominic played the organ as the Blessed Sacrament was brought into the Newman Rooms:
The Very Rev. Fr John O' Connor, O.P., Prior of Blackfriars, preached powerfully about the abiding presence of the Eucharist, and how we carried our Lord through the streets so that He might bless all the people of our city:
His Grace gave Benediction:
After Benediction we sang the Salve Regina and then concluded with "Faith of our Fathers":
A welcome cup of tea at the Chaplaincy after Benediction:
Photographs courtesy of Hannah Chegwyn and Br Joseph Bailham, O.P.