British Catholics take to the streets for Corpus Christi processions

Churches around Britain held Blessed Sacrament processions yesterday for the transferred Feast of Corpus Christi.

In London, a procession was led by Archbishop Mennini, the apostolic nuncio. It started at Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick Street and ended at St James’s, Spanish Place.

This is the third consecutive year that the procession has taken place. Last year, Cardinal Vincent Nichols was present.

An international procession took place from St Patrick’s, Soho, to St Giles-in-the-fields where Benediction was given. Along the way, volunteers handed out leaflets explaining to passers-by what the procession was about.

Bishop Ralph Heskett of of Hallam led the procession from St Marie’s Cathedral, Sheffield, while Bishop-Elect Paul Mason, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, led a procession from St John the Baptist, Westerham.

A procession also took place at Neath Abbey in South Wales, led by Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia.

In Oxford, a Pontifical High Mass for Corpus Christi, celebrated by Bishop Robert Byrne, was followed by a procession through the streets. The procession stopped at Blackfriars, where Fr Robert Ombres OP preached a sermon, and finished at the Catholic Chaplaincy.

In Ramsgate, a procession attracted more than 350 people. Fr Marcus Holden, the parish priest of Ramsgate and Minster, said the turnout was “amazing”. He tweeted: “a great witness and act of loving devotion. Deo Gratias!”