The 97th annual Cork Eucharistic Procession took place yesterday, Sunday the 11th of June 2023 on the feast of Corpus Christi as thousands took to the streets of Cork to walk in a public expression of faith.
The Procession has been an important moment on the religious and community calendar since 1926, and it was the first Procession since 2019.
Led by Most Reverend Fintan Gavin, the Bishop of Cork and Ross, the Procession followed a new route, crossing Christy Ring Bridge concluding at Ss Peter and Pauls Church where the Bishop celebrated a Homily and Benediction.
People from parishes throughout the city and county, priests and religious, representatives of youth and scouting groups, choir members and musicians from many parishes and communities were in attendance.
The Eucharistic Procession has been a milestone in religious and community life since the first one too place in 1926. Before this, each parish held its own Eucharistic Procession, but it was felt that it was needed to unite the people of Cork city in prayer after the divisions of the Civil War. This worked, and the first Procession was attended by 40,000 people who took to the streets to worship as a community of parishes.
Speaking about the Eucharistic Procession Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin said:
“The Eucharistic Procession has been an important milestone on religious and community life for the city and we are delighted to be able to return after three years. This year, we not only had people from every parish join us, but from every continent walk with us in prayer and public worship.”
The first Procession for all the parishes of Cork City took place in 1926 to help unite the people of Cork City in prayer after the divisions of the Civil War and was attended by 40,000 people.
The 2023 Procession was revised to gather the Catholic community together as a Diocesan Community of Faith, walking together as one family of parishes.