The ACLU Would Pitch A Fit

Well, the grand Finale of a three day pastoral visit of the bishop (and his team)to a nearby parish ended with a marvelous procession, right down the main boulevard, central artery of the metropolis. We met at a small chapel where I heard an almost unique testimony to the good relations the folks in the chapel have with the protestant brothers who have a church around the corner. Most unusual,here.
We had prayers and reports there, and benediction, then headed out with the Blessed Sacrament held high by four youths. The procession grew and grew as we moved toward the first of 8 stations along the way. Each station was decorated with flowers and holy pictures, and a new team waited to carry the Blessed Sacrament to the next station. Teams were composed of youths, men, women and little old ladies. One of the two priests, the bishop, and the deacon (MY deacon) took turns praying and leading a short blessing for the folks gathered there.

A lowly volkswagon was actually a police car which went ahead of us, stopped traffic, channeled it into the other side of the boulevard, and waited until we were ready to move on. Another police car protected us at the end of the ever growing procession. (Note from the Housekeeper: it takes an effort of will to ignore the clergy kneeling in the muddy streets in their white albs. I mean to ignore the mud collecting on the just-washed garments.)

All along the way folks of all ages and kinds watched respectfully, affectionately, seriously, hopefully. I began to have a real sense of Jesus walking among His people, and the looks on the faces must have mirrored looks often directed His way. In some doorways an elderly or ill person in a wheelchair would be brought forward, to pray and receive a blessing. Proprietors of small businesses watched, waved, prayed.

We arrived at the baseball stadium where more people were waiting, reorganized and began a Solemn Mass. These are usually 2 hours. Finally at 9:00 pm, we thought all was successfully finished, but then this very active parish announced a dramatic presentation of the Life of Christ. In the field behind the raised stage were children, teens, men and women, all carefully costumed, waiting to participate in the 2 hour presentation. Knowing our limitations, we bowed out and went home to bed. But the memory of those loving faces will long be with us. Pooh on the ACLU.