CAMDEN – Wearing a pencil skirt and women’s blazer, Arelis Soto held an umbrella to shield herself from the 90-degree sun as she walked the City of Camden in a pair of well-worn dress flats.
Soto’s purse hung from the bend in her elbow as she walked quietly in thought, hints of spiritual music from the front of the Eucharistic procession in which she was taking part finding its way to her in the back of the crowd.
“This inspires me and brings me peace,” the public school teacher said. “A peace I hope that I can bring to the children I teach.”
As she walked along Federal Street, women and children poked their heads out of their homes and men sat on stoops – curious eyes following the hundreds of pilgrims and the priests holding high a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament.
An inner-city teacher for 33 years, Soto explained that she was praying for the spiritual strength to endeavor in her field.
“You know I can’t mention faith or the Bible in school. I always pray for God’s protection and also his forgiveness for not being able to do that,” she said. “But I hope if my students see me walking out here today, that somehow it will manifest in their hearts to follow the Lord’s path. I hope they see in me what I can’t speak about in the classroom.”
CORPUS CHRISTI PHOTO GALLERIES: Camden parishes; Saint Gabriel the Archangel, Carneys Point; Saint Brendan the Navigator, Stone Harbor
Soto was among the hundreds of people who gathered June 11, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, to process with the Eucharist from Sacred Heart Church to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and then on to Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral. The procession was among thousands held in the Diocese of Camden and across the United States to kick off the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival, which is now entering the parish phase.
“I’m just thrilled with the joy of bringing Jesus to the City of Camden,” said Father Vincent Guest, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish. “I was touched by every place we stopped or passed. There were no negative reactions, whether people were Catholic or not. Some bowed their heads, some blessed themselves. I saw a few homeless people I know and prayed with them.”
As the day began, about two dozen people set off from Sacred Heart Church, proceeding along Broadway as Father Guest held high the Blessed Sacrament. He paused at intersections, making the Sign of the Cross with the monstrance, and approached stopped cars to offer blessings through rolled-down windows.
Some of the faithful handed out Miraculous Medals of Mary along the nearly 4-mile walk, a conversation starter that ended up encouraging some passers-by to join the procession to Camden’s Cathedral.
“Can I walk with you?” one young man said as he approached the group, an image of a cross and heart
tattooed on his chest. “I don’t have a shirt on; I don’t want to be disrespectful.”
“It’s OK, walk with us,” said a young woman named Indie, who had joined the procession a few blocks prior. “We’re going to church to see Jesus.”
He eventually pulled a white T-shirt out of his backpack and slipped it over his head. He looked around at those walking, worry crossing his face. “I don’t want to be judged. I don’t want people to laugh at me.”
“Nobody is laughing. And God won’t judge. Just come with us,” a woman in the procession said.
Upon arrival at the Cathedral, the two young people nestled into pews alongside parishioners, all lifting their voices in song and kneeling during benediction.
The procession grew to more than 100 after leaving the Cathedral, with the Camden priests and clergy leading the way and taking turns carrying the monstrance. Joining Father Guest were Father Adam Cichoski and Father Stephen Robbins, Cathedral rector and parochial vicar, respectively; Father Jaime Hostios, pastor of Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, and Deacon José René Zayas, who serves the Cathedral parish.
“Many people were asking, ‘What is that?’” the deacon said of the Blessed Sacrament being carried through the streets. “We can answer, ‘This is Jesus.’ I think even if they don’t know what it is, they are touched.”
Wayne Bowman, who was born and raised in Saint Bartholomew Church, now a worship site of Sacred Heart Parish, said there a lot of people who don’t know about the Catholic Church, don’t want to know or are Catholic but don’t practice. “I’m hoping they have a change of heart. Maybe they’ll accept God in their lives a little bit more.”
Sister Malgorzata (Margaret) Kamien, LSIC, agreed. “I’m sure people are surprised and asking, ‘Why are they following Jesus. Why is Jesus there?’ … This is one reason why this feast [Corpus Christi] is so important. He is waiting for us. We have to come back to him in spite of our weaknesses, losses. Sometimes we judge ourselves too strongly. But he loves us in spite of any mistakes we make.”
At the Pro-Cathedral, more than 350 faithful joined together again in song and benediction. All recited a prayer written by Father Michael Doyle, Sacred Heart Parish’s former pastor who was known around the world as an advocate for life and justice.
“Come, Holy Creator, and rebuild the City of Camden so that we do not labor in vain without you. Come, Holy Savior, and heal all that is broken in our lives and in our streets,” they prayed.
That resonated with seventh-grader Liliana Diaz, a student of Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral School. She said even though she sees Camden every day through the car window, processing along the streets was different.
“Walking, you get to see the city for real. It was surprising,” she said. “I was also surprised that a lot of people wanted to join in [the procession] instead of pushing us away.”
She had one hope for all those who witnessed the Blessed Sacrament during the Eucharistic procession: “That they learn to love, be happy and how going to church and knowing Jesus can help.”
Added Father Guest, “I think that’s what we need to do as a Church is reach out to folks and encounter them – and this was an amazing opportunity to do that.”
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