In the glaring hot sun, nearly 5,000 filled the streets of downtown Denver in a Eucharistic procession on Sunday, June 9, in what was likely the largest Eucharistic procession in the city’s history.

The most recent stop in the Junipero Serra Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, the attendees of the procession increased the population of downtown Denver, which is about 16,000, by nearly a third for the day.

Led by Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, the procession began with a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Colfax Avenue and Logan Street, where attendees were lining the walls, cramming the aisles, and filling even the baptistry area around the baptismal font. Voices boomed across the cathedral as participants prayed the Mass in unison.

As the archbishop, bishop, priests, seminarians, and altar servers processed out with the Eucharist, attendees filtered out the side doors to make room for Jesus to pass through.

Four Knights of Columbus carried a canopy over the monstrance, while the many priests leading took turns carrying the monstrance. Two security guards manned the front of the parade while police blocked the flow of traffic, allowing participants to flood into Denver’s normally crowded streets.

More than halfway through, the procession stopped in front of the Colorado state capitol building, over which hung a pride flag. The archbishop raised the monstrance in Benediction as attendees stopped to watch and pray.

Finally, the pilgrimage reached Holy Ghost Church, a church of mosaic and marble. The original parish building was dedicated in 1924. One hundred years later, the parish, now a Spanish and Italian Renaissance-inspired building, stands firm, guarded by sentinel skyscrapers as it faces the buzz of daily traffic.

Jack Krebs, a “Perpetual Pilgrim” who has spent his summer so far in a van with Jesus and several other Perpetual Pilgrims, said the National Eucharistic Revival inspired him to draw nearer to Christ in the Eucharist.

“I’ve been coming to know the gift that the Eucharist is a lot deeper,” he told CNA.

Read more: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257962/nearly-5000-brave-heat-for-largest-eucharistic-procession-in-denver-history

You can read more Catholic news at https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/

Catholic News Agency (CNA) provides free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church, giving particular emphasis to the words of Pope Francis and happenings of the Vatican, to any person with access to the internet. CNA closely covers the Catholic Church in the United States and news related to the creation of a culture of life.

Get Free Catholic News by Email:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/subscribe

Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicNewsAgency
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnalive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catholicnewsagency

Listen to our Podcasts:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/podcasts

Find our Catholic news in your smart speaker:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/smartspeakers

CNA offers free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites.
More information:
https://editors.catholicnewsagency.com

Support our Mission: https://bit.ly/3h6S7rl

#CatholicChurch #Catholicism #CatholicNews