The Rev. Michael Monette, pastor of Saint Kathryn Parish in Hudson, raises the Eucharistic at Library Park during a procession last week.

The Rev. Michael Monette, pastor of Saint Kathryn Parish in Hudson, brought the Eucharistic Lord through the streets and neighborhoods of Hudson on Mother’s Day to bless and strengthen the faithful and to be a powerful witness of Christ’s healing presence to the community during these unsettling days of COVID19.

During the hour-long procession in an open-air Jeep and led by a police escort, Monette reverently held the consecrated Host in a holy vessel called a monstrance. He was accompanied by Deacon Ray Marcotte, who led prayers of the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Litany of the Eucharist and the Litany of the Precious Blood. Parishioners and residents were able to follow the journey via the Glimpse App or live stream on the parish’s Facebook page. People gathered along the route to receive Jesus’ blessing, many wearing their protective masks.  

“It was a lot more emotional for me than I expected. I even teared up a bit. It made me realize how much I miss receiving the Eucharist,” shared Maria Keller, a parishioner who gathered with others at Library Park during one of the procession’s three brief stops to impart a blessing.

“We have a great treasure as Catholics, the very person of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist is not a symbol of Jesus, it is Jesus! In carrying Him throughout the neighborhoods of our community, He Himself is blessing and healing all those who are in need, especially during this time of the pandemic and the suffering it has caused, to have the Lord go among our homes and neighborhoods is so important. It is important that we ask Him to protect our communities and to bring an end to this time of sickness that has weighed down our society in so many ways,” Monette said.

Parishioners have been unable to attend Mass in person due to gathering restrictions related to the pandemic, but remain connected to St. Kathryn’s via livestream of 10:30 a.m. Mass every Sunday morning.

The Church has remained open for private prayer each day and Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday until 7 p.m., following necessary self-distancing precautions.

Monette recognized, however, that not everyone has been able to sit before the Lord in the Eucharist.  

“This opportunity, for those who have been physically separated from the Eucharist, to receive Jesus’ blessing and to be reassured of His nearness to them in this difficult time, moved me to tears several times, seeing the love and devotion of the people for our Lord. As I carried Him, I was overwhelmed by how much He loves His people,” Monette said.

The custom of carrying the Blessed Sacrament after Mass through town dates to the early 14th century. In the mid-1500s, the Council of Trent recommended the procession occur on the Feast of Corpus Christi as a public profession of the Catholic faith.

The tradition, although no longer widely observed, has seen a revival throughout the country during the coronavirus pandemic. Since 1994, St. Kathryn Parish has held a Corpus Christi procession on the Church grounds.

Longtime parishioners may recall the only other Eucharistic procession on the town streets was in May 2000, when the Blessed Sacrament was transferred from the old St. Kathryn Church on Wason Road to the new Church on Dracut Road.

“I would like to thank the Hudson Police Department for making this procession possible and for their active support in providing an escort for our Lord.  It meant so much to the people of St. Kathryn Parish to have them present. My prayer and hope for the community are to stay strong in faith and to remain well, knowing that we will be back together again to celebrate the Mass and to reconnect with one another. I cannot wait to have everyone back together again at Church,” Monette said.

For more information visit www.stkathryns.org.

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