Catholics are to process in London in a Eucharistic Octave timed to coincide with the the 52nd International Eucharist Congress, to be held this year in Budapest.
The London Eucharistic Octave will begin with a Pontifical Votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated by Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols at noon on Saturday 11 September at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, and culminate in a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Central London on Sunday 19 September, starting at 3.30pm.
According to a press release from the organisers: “As the United Kingdom emerges from Lockdown, in a year that has seen churches closed and processions cancelled, we gather together in the heart of the nation’s capital to honour Our Eucharistic Lord, celebrate the richness of the Catholic Church and take to the streets of London to share the message: Christus Vincit!”
At a time when liturgy has been a source of conflict for the Church, the Octave will represent an uncomplicated celebration of liturgical diversity united in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Each evening during this week of prayer and adoration, Mass in a different form will be celebrated at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane. On Monday 13 September it will be offered in the Usus Antiquior of the Roman Rite. On Tuesday Mass will be offered in the Ordinariate Use of the Roman Rite. On Wednesday in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. On Thursday it will be offered in the form of the Divine Liturgy of Ukrainian Catholic Church and, on Friday, there will be a Solemn Requiem Mass with Absolutions for all those who have died of Covid-19.
On Sunday 19 September a procession through Soho, Mayfair and Marylebone will begin at 3.30pm starting at Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street, and end with Pontifical Benediction at the church of St James’s, Spanish Place.
En route there will be Stations at the Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, and at the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Holy Family, Duke Street. The procession will be jointly led by the Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Eparch of the Ukrainian Eparchy of the Holy Family and by the Mrg Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
The flurry of liturgical festivities was planned after Covid restrictions made it difficult or impossible for many UK-based Catholics to travel to Budapest for the Eucharistic Congress. The Congress itself has been delayed by a year for similar reasons.
Fr Alan Robinson, Rector of Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, said: “Many of us were looking forward to going to Budapest this September, for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress; an event transferred from last September due to the Covid situation. Large numbers travelling from England to Hungary hasn’t really proved possible at the present time, and so we thought we could do something here in London.
“We wish to add our support to the Congress in Budapest, and to give witness to our love for the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a great opportunity for us all to experience different expressions of Catholic liturgy here in this land.
“With the piturgies and the procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament, there is a wonderful opportunity for us to take part in Eucharistic evangelisation with those we encounter. There are many Catholics who have not yet returned to the Church since lockdown; during this Octave we pray especially for them. And we help Our Blessed Lord to reach out to them, and to all those who do not yet know Him. Please pray for the strengthening of the eucharistic heart of the Church in this land and in our own hearts too.”
Fr Christopher Colven, Rector of St James’s Church, Spanish Place, said: “Living in central London one grows used to demonstrators taking over the streets and disrupting the traffic. On this occasion it will be good to see Catholics doing just those things in honour of Jesus Christ the King and Centre of all hearts as in his Eucharistic presence he moves among those he has redeemed.”
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