NEWTOWN—St. Rose of Lima School and the community of faithful celebrated the gift of the Eucharist at a Mass with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano at the beginning of the second day of the Greater Danbury Eucharistic Procession.
During his homily at the Mass, Bishop Caggiano asked the children about their favorite foods. Their responses included ice cream, barbecue chicken wings and hamburgers. The bishop said he enjoys fudge-covered Oreos, but it is not his favorite food. Instead, he said, the food that he wants most comes from God.
“We come here (to Mass) because God wants to feed us a very special type of food,” Bishop Caggiano said to the students and family gathered for the morning Mass. “It’s like a food, different from any other food in the world,” he said. “It is truly Jesus, the Lord … Jesus comes to us as the Eucharist so that we might receive him in our life,” Bishop Caggiano said.
The Greater Danbury Eucharistic Procession was born from the overwhelmingly positive response to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in May that passed through a portion of the Diocese of Bridgeport. This five-day procession includes Newtown, Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury and New Fairfield. The Blessed Sacrament will visit all 12 parishes, all six Catholic schools, one university and one Catholic cemetery.
Bishop Caggiano acknowledged that it is not always easy to follow Christ, but it is important to do our best and try every day.
“Sometimes it is easy. Many times, it is not. Sometimes it demands doing what is right even when others aren’t doing what is right,” he said.
The bishop told the students he plans to visit the school again later in the school year and will ask the same question about favorite foods.
“I hope you will answer that question with two words: Holy Communion,” he said.
Following the Mass, the students processed around the school and parish campus reciting the Rosary and singing religious songs. A portion of the public procession was along Church Hill Road where passersby took notice of the hundreds of faithful during their public display of their Catholic faith.
The procession of the Blessed Sacrament paused for silent prayer and Adoration on the school field, where red and white roses were placed in vases by kindergartners and first and second graders.
Parishioner Peter Tokarczyk wanted to be there for his fifth-grade daughter Olivia.
“It’s nice to see her participate and to be a part of it with her,” Tokarczyk said. “It’s a beautiful ceremony, and it reaffirms one’s faith and what’s important in our faith.”
Tokarczyk said he was reminded of his own childhood when he too, took part in a Eucharistic Procession.
For some students the Eucharistic procession, which celebrates a journey towards Eucharistic Renewal, was a memorable opportunity to put their faith in action.
“All of us are one community. We all love one another and share our faith,” said 13-year-old eighth-grader Ethan Clerveau.
His friend and fellow classmate, Sheppard Austett, agreed.
“We are all different and different ages,” Austett said referencing the school community from kindergarteners to eighth graders, “but we share the same faith.”
Austett and Clerveau took part in carrying the canopy over the monstrance during the Eucharistic procession.
“I expressed my faith through action,” Clerveau said of processing with his schoolmates while supporting the canopy. “It was heavy, but it was for a good purpose.”
“It’s a beautiful event,” Austett said, adding, “Expressing my faith through action is very special. It’s a holy and beautiful moment.”
Sixth-grader Ava Gordon agreed.
“Everyone coming together and being with the bishop is so special,” she said.
By Kathy-Ann Gobin