Adoration in motion

A hundred people, young and old, snaked their way along the sidewalk of a busy Lethbridge street on June 22, 2025. Some were singing, some praying, some simply walking in silence. They drew curious stares and the occasional honk of support. When the group reached an intersection, marshals in reflective vests scurried around the perimeter to hasten the crossing. The traffic signal changed and a young man in a pickup truck leaned on his horn. A marshal waved to him. “God bless you,” she called. Nonplused, the driver waited more patiently, craning his neck to look at the golden, sunburst vessel being carried on a pedestal. In previous years, similar encounters led to people pulling over or walking up to ask what was happening. They were told it’s a centuries-old Catholic tradition - a Corpus Christi procession.    
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During a Corpus Christi procession the Eucharist is carried in a monstrance along an outdoor route, accompanied by parishioners. Often the route winds around a church but at All Saints Parish in Lethbridge, two simultaneous processions embark from St. Basil’s Church in the north and Our Lady of Assumption Church in the south. They meet in the middle at Catholic Central High School where Benediction takes place, followed by a communal meal. The reasons for the procession are equally wide-ranging.

Fr. Kevin Tumback, Pastor of All Saints says, “The Corpus Christi procession reminds all of us of our calling to, not just take Jesus to the world, but to be ‘another Christ’ in the world. As we walk along we bear witness to that which we profess to believe in, that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.” 

Procession coordinator, Julie Rose says, “It’s important to express our faith in public, as Catholics we don’t do it enough.”

Volunteer Shelley Thom echoes that, “It’s a time now when people need faith. We can help show that faith and not be afraid to announce it.”

All Saints began this tradition in 2010 instigated by Fr. Tim Boyle. According to founding facilitator, Ann Morgan, it was an initiative to unite three parishes which had recently been amalgamated into one. Back then, the two processions met downtown outside St. Patrick’s Church. Morgan (and her successor, Rose) gave some insight into the many components of the undertaking. Permission is required from the City and Holy Spirit School Division. A phlanx of altar servers, music leaders and liturgy coordinators are recruited. The latter assist with mid-procession prayer stops. In addition, Martin Brothers and Cornerstone Funeral Homes provide limousines to act as buffers between people and traffic, as well as ferrying participants back to their vehicles afterwards. St. Paul’s Elementary youth choir sings at Benediction, Catholic Central football players act as marshals and sometimes Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League members attend in their regalia. Many other volunteers pray from their homes or assisted living facilities so that it becomes a truly inclusive event. Even seemingly unrelated businesses contribute, e.g. Hostess and Rays No Frills who provided food to supplement that made by volunteers.

Morgan said, “The involvement of so many parishioners, both as participants and volunteers, was a huge contribution to my personal spiritual growth.” She articulated what many others feel.  Since the procession is essentially Adoration-in-Motion, it has the potential to deeply affect believers and their attitudes reflect this. Volunteer Helen Manzara mused, “There’s a reverence, though it’s different closer and further from the monstrance.” This sense of communion, with Jesus and with each other, has become the legacy of All Saints’ Corpus Christi processions.        

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Written by Alice Matisz, All Saints Parish, Lethbridge. Photos courtesy of All Saints Parish.