Scottish Catholic Observer

Glasgow University Catholic chaplaincy hosted a Corpus Christi procession last Sunday, in association with two parishes, that was attended by more than 200 people.

University students and staff joined parishioners from different parts of Glasgow along with First Communicants to celebrate this Solemnity, which began with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Patrick’s, Anderston, and ended with Mass with Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow at St Paul’s, Whiteinch.

In the second year of what is hoped is an annual event, the procession encouraged Catholics to proclaim their faith in a quiet and reverent manner by walking with the Lord through the streets of Glasgow.

The celebrations began with a very prayerful holy hour held in St Patrick’s Church as participants knelt or sat  respectfully praying before the Blessed Sacrament as they were led in prayer and listened to a homily by Fr Ross Campbell, Glasgow University Catholic Chaplain and led in prayerful song by a music group from the chaplaincy and St Mirin’s Cathedral choir, Paisley.

Many participants said it was a most holy and prayerful experience with Our Blessed Lord enhanced by the wonderful singing and prayers.  One older participant said this reminded them of days gone by in the church seeing such reverence for the Blessed Sacrament by so many people.

Fr Campbell said a real mix of people participated in the Mass and the procession.

“Given the incredibly secular climate in which we live in, often our culture and to an extent our media would have you believe that religion has all but disappeared,” he said.

Following Fr Campbell’s blessing of the people in the Church with the Blessed Sacrament, the large crowd of more than 200 people gathered outside as several priests respectfully led the procession along the three mile walk to St Paul’s Church in Whiteinch. Four priests took it in turn to carry the Blessed Sacrament.

People looked out of windows from their high-rise flats, came out of shops, cafes and pubs to see what was going on. Several elderly people walking at the end of the procession, their ages ranged from 70-90 years, strived to finish the walk.

The procession ended two hours later at St Paul’s Church with Mass at 6.30pm concelebrated by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow.

Archbishop Tartaglia said: “It was so wonderful that many of the participants, men, women and children, young and old, including a group of First Communicants, had accompanied the Blessed Sacrament in procession from St Patrick’s, Anderston, to St Paul’s. This event had all the hallmarks of an authentic festival of faith: adoration, prayer, joy, witness and service.

“I was so thankful for such a visible and public witness to our faith in Jesus Christ.”

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PIC: Paul McSherry

– Read the full version of this story in June 27 edition of the SCO.