RIDGEFIELD—On the beautiful evening of the Feast of the Visitation and the last day of the month of May devoted to our Blessed Mother, parishioners from St. Elizabeth Seton in Ridgefield held their first annual procession to the devotion of Mary.
Gathering inside the church, parishioners were given a candle and booklet designed with prayers and hymns specific to the event. The statue to lead the procession was blessed by Father Alphonse who also offered an introductory reflection on our devotion to Mary. The statue was generously loaned by a parishioner who realized we did not have an appropriate statue to use for this occasion. 
Candles on either side of Mary were used by parishioners to light their individual candles. Once all the candles were lit, Father Alphonse led the parishioners outside to the entrance of the church to commence with the procession.
Another parishioner, in her new blue SUV, waited for Mary to be lifted through the sunroof facing the parade of followers. Parishioners recited the Holy Rosary and sang hymns of praise to the Blessed Mother.
Upon arriving back at the church entrance, parishioners recited the Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary. The statue was brought inside as Father led the attendees into the church, followed by final prayers and hymns. The culmination of this event in honor of Mary and in thanks for all she does and means to us, was in the form of a brief speech by Mary Young, a parishioner and mother of nine. Mary told of many trials and tribulations in her personal life and family where prayers for Mary’s intercession were answered. Her inspirational and honest accounts of how and why her devotion to Our Blessed Mother is woven into the fabric of her life and the lives of her family were appreciated and well received.
After the ceremony concluded, everyone gathered in McKeon Hall for an ice cream treat provided by the Prime Timers of the parish. Thank you to Father Alphonse and the dedicated parishioners who planned, executed and attended this lovely event. We are looking forward to next year’s procession—everyone will be welcome!
