CINCINNATI (LifeSiteNews) — More than 1,000 men and boys took part in the ninth annual Eucharistic procession hosted by the St. Antoninus Holy Name Men’s Society in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 21.
The day’s events began at 8 a.m. with Holy Mass celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains by Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, an outspoken pro-life advocate, along with five priests.
After the Mass, the participants took part in a two-mile Eucharistic procession through downtown Cincinnati, ending at Old St. Mary’s Church in Over-the-Rhine for an 11 a.m. Benediction, according to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s official magazine, The Catholic Telegraph.
Video of the event shared on social media shows men and boys clad in white and black cassocks processing through the streets singing hymns and carrying incense and the Blessed Sacrament.
READ: Massive NYC Eucharistic procession shows that God’s beauty can heal our broken world
Awesome
Men’s Eucharistic procession through Downtown Cincinnati
The shepherd of Cincinnati is doing something right to nurture vocations. pic.twitter.com/ulGWw07FUq
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) October 22, 2023
David Willig of the St. Antoninus Men’s Holy Name Society leadership team told LifeSiteNews on Tuesday the procession was “our best ever.”
He said many of the participants came with their sons, and some fathers even came carrying their infant boys.
“Over 100 seminarians from Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary joined the Eucharistic procession this year,” Willig told LifeSite, adding that the men “prayed the rosary and sang hymns” while processing through downtown.
“Many men remarked this is a life-changing experience,” he said. “The Catholic Men’s Eucharistic Procession provides men the [opportunity] to stand up and witness [publicly] with other men to their Catholic faith. It further challenges men to take leadership in their family, church, community, and world.”
Social media users reacted enthusiastically to footage of the event, calling it “beautiful,” “awesome,” and calling for “more of this.”
READ: Founder of Catholic fraternal organization calls on men to be ‘warriors,’ fight evil
Nationwide, processions are helping Catholics reconnect with their faith in the Real Presence of Christ.
Last year, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a National Eucharistic Revival “to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”
Parishes nationwide have responded with Eucharistic processions, adoration, and conferences. Many Catholics have also called for more reverent liturgies to renew faith in the Real Presence.
Just this month in New York, a Eucharistic procession led by popular podcasting priest Fr. Mike Schmitz drew thousands of attendees who processed through Manhattan and packed into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in a public demonstration of Catholic belief.