Members of the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus, The Knights of Columbus and Bishop Chad W. Zielinski led the procession from Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm down State Street to 2nd North. The route continued from 2nd North to Minnesota Street and proceeded through New Ulm’s downtown, concluding at the Church of St. Mary, recently designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairie

During the procession, the Blessed Sacrament were carried by members of the Church through the streets of New Ulm, providing a public witness of faith and devotion while inviting prayer for the Church, the community and the nation.

Gary Neubauer, a past Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus said they were very pleased with the turnout for the procession.

Neubauer said it was a very warm day and it was wonderful to see so many walk the mile from Cathedral of the Holy Trinity to Church of St. Mary.

Members of the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus and The Knights of Columbus led the Corpus Christi Eucharist Procession Sunday. During the procession, the Blessed Sacrament were carried through the streets of New Ulm, providing a public witness of faith and devotion while inviting prayer for the Church, the New Ulm Community. Photo by Clay Schuldt

For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. A Eucharistic procession is a public witness of the veneration of the Most Holy Eucharist, conducted through the public streets.

Neubauer said the idea is to show the New Ulm community the presence of Jesus Christ through the Sacrament. Neubauer said Corpus Christi, is Latin for Jesus’ Body.

Eucharistic processions first became a widespread practice in the life of the Church during the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi which occurred this year on Thursday, June 4. The New Ulm Diocese chose to celebrate on the feast day on Sunday.

This year, the procession also included a light lunch organized by members of the Knights of Columbus. Current, Grand Knight Vince Sloot and past Grand Knight Tim Rahe coordinated the meal service follow the procession.

Initially it was planned to hold the procession meal outside the Church of St. Mary’s, but shortly after the procession arrived at the Church, a rainstorm hit.

Sunday’s Corpus Christi Eucharist Procession traveled through downtown New Ulm in route to The Church of St. Mary. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Neubaurer said the rain held off long enough for procession to conclude and none of the Sacrament got wet.

The food was grilled outdoors under a tent, but the food was served indoors. Neubauer estimates they serve around 175 parishioners.

The New Ulm Diocese began celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi with a process five years ago.

Neubaurer said the idea came from the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus. He said five years ago, the Handmaids asked the Knights of Columbus to help with the procession. For the first four years, the procession traveled from the New Ulm Catholic Pastoral Center and concluded at Cathedral of Holy Trinity. This year the Handmaids decided to change the procession route to travel through New Ulm downtown to involve more of the community.

Neubauer said this approach work as many people asked him Monday about the procession. He said it was great opportunity to share the faith with the community.

The Corpus Christi Eucharist Procession reaches the Church of St. Mary’s minutes before a rainstorm. The storm held off long enough for the procession to travel the mile from Cathedral of the Holy Trinity to Church of St. Mary. Photo by Clay Schuldt