Rush hour traffic through Midtown moved a bit slower on Tuesday evening as a Eucharistic procession moved through the city, with thousands of Catholics — laity, priests, deacons, religious, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Malta, and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre — joyfully walking with the Blessed Sacrament.
This annual procession, organized by the Napa Institute, has become a staple in the city for witnessing to the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and bringing His healing presence to a world that doesn’t know His love.
Father John Burns opened this year’s event with one of the opening reflections, along with Dominican Father Gregory Pine. Father Burns stated:
"The Eucharist is a quiet presence that holds back the power of darkness. The buildings can grow as tall as they might, but nothing can overshadow God."
Father Burns continued:
"The gift of procession is to take that power and that conviction quietly into the streets, into the searching, into the shadows, into the fear."
During a passionate homily at the opening Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Bishop Joseph Espaillat, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, said:
"No law on this earth can fully remove the pride and selfishness that makes us look past each other. Only charity, only genuine love, the kind of love that sees a brother or a sister where the world sees a problem."
The procession departed St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with countless curious tourists and commuters stopping in their tracks, many with tilted heads and phones out recording. Napa Institute volunteers passed out cards to onlookers with information about the Eucharist and how they can find a Catholic Church near them.
Content poured in on social media and TV networks from content creators, media outlets, and attendees sharing the experience with thousands of people at home.
There is clearly something happening in New York City.
Over the last year, mainstream media has been calling attention to groups like Pizza to Pews and parishes such as St. Joseph’s in Greenwich Village for their large gatherings of young Catholics. More people are seemingly seeking community, transcendence, and identity. Eucharistic processions such as this are beautiful ways to introduce people to the source of everything they seek.
Evangelization doesn’t always need to be verbal. Many times, the best witness is to stop talking and let those who would never usually enter a church or partake in the sacraments look upon our Eucharistic Lord.
Father Gregory Pine reminded procession attendees:
"We're here for love."
This Eucharistic procession is one way we, as Catholics, show not only our love for the Lord but also our love for our neighbors, known and unknown.
Beauty, joy, and reverence for the sacred evangelize a broken world. And what better place to do this than New York City, or, as St. John Paul II called it, the “capital of the world”?
If you missed the event, you can re-watch the EWTN Livestream HERE.