MIAMI SPRINGS | Despite a rainy day and a gloomy sky, hundreds of Miami Springs residents publicly declared their faith by taking part in a eucharistic procession on the feast of Corpus Christi, June 21.

The rain remained at bay throughout the one-hour procession, which was led by Father Jose Alfaro, Blessed Trinity’s administrator. The procession began at the church and ended nearly a mile and a half away, at the center of Miami Springs near the Circle.

“This is a special event both for the parish and our city,” said William Cueto, parishioner since 2004. “I remember in the World Youth Day in 2000 Pope John Paul II said to ‘center your lives around the Eucharist’ and this is a nice way of doing that.”

The parish council spearheaded the idea of holding a procession and after seeking a permit, the people of the parish made it a reality.  

“You can see the hand of God at work,” said Father Alfaro. “I think this is something that came from the Spirit, and as you can see from the amount of people that took part … it was the Spirit moving the heart.”

“I hope that this is just the beginning and that this eucharistic procession can become an annual tradition,” Father Alfaro added.

Corpus Christi is Latin for Body of Christ. It refers to the feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus, the sacrament of the Eucharist.

“We take one Sunday out of the year to remember and highlight this awesome gift we have in the most precious Body and Blood of the Lord,” said Father Alfaro, who celebrated Mass at a filled-to-capacity church before the start of the procession.

Corpus Christi processions have been taking place in the Church since the feast was created almost eight centuries ago. The processions feature a consecrated Communion host, reposed in a monstrance (which means to show), and carried by the priest underneath a baldacchino (canopy).

“Public professions of faith and processions have been part of the life of the Church for a long time,” said Father Alfaro. “They speak to the heart of people in a special way. Processions are a reminder that we are processing in this life. We know that this is not the end and that the end is heaven, and as we process in this life, processions remind us that we are not alone and that Christ is processing with us and us with him.”

“It was very nice to take Christ into the town that we all love so much and to have Christ both in (the) center of our hearts and city,” said Alejandro Plasencia, who has been a parishioner since 1999. “It was simply great to show our community our faith in action.”

“It was a blessing to follow Jesus,” said Sister Emma Rueda of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. “To walk the streets of Miami Springs was beautiful …In this day and age it is important to show others the power of faith and today the community got a chance to see children, altar servers, choir members and so many display their faith openly and proudly.”

During the procession, the choir led everyone in song and members of the Emmaus ministry led the rosary in both English and Spanish.

“I feel honored to be able to share our faith with our community so openly and freely,” said Maria Teresa Perez, Blessed Trinity School’s principal. “I am so happy with the response and I think that despite the weather conditions people came out regardless, to show their support.”

“I felt very excited and honored to take part in this eucharistic procession,” said Kathy Bustamante, a 1984 alumna of Blessed Trinity School. “I think it was beautiful and hope to take part in many more in the future.”