The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend held a Eucharistic procession and festival in Warsaw on Sunday, June 19. Organizers estimated that thousands participated. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Thousands of Catholics participated in a procession and festival in Warsaw on Sunday, June 19, as an expression of their faith.

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend had a Eucharistic procession and festival in the city then. Participants started out from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., before traveling to downtown Warsaw and Central Park, where a prayer and Eucharistic blessing were held.

The procession then continued along SR 15 before people headed to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 225 Gilliam Drive, where there was food, music and more.

The event was part of a National Eucharistic Revival in the Catholic Church.

“The Eucharist is really the center of our faith as Catholics, the celebration of Holy Mass where we believe Jesus becomes present under the appearances of bread and wine,” explained Diocese Bishop Kevin Rhoades to InkFreeNews following the procession. “So this is really an opportunity to strengthen or deepen our people’s faith in the presence of Christ … And hopefully it will lead to more participation in the Mass and more people coming to church, people coming to back to church, especially in our culture today, just to kind of have a revival of the faith and have people become more excited about their faith and living their faith.”

He said organizers chose to have the events in Warsaw due to it being a central location for the diocese, which encompasses 14 counties in northern Indiana. Rhoades added he was grateful to Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, local police and others for assisting with the event.

The National Eucharistic Revival is to “end in (a few years) in Indianapolis with a big National Eucharistic Congress,” he said.

Those participating in the procession walk at the intersection of Main and Detroit streets. People walked from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 125 N. Harrison St., to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 225 Gilliam Drive.

Procession participants spread incense.

During the procession, participants paused at Central Park for a prayer and Eucharistic blessing.

Diocese Bishop Kevin Rhoades places the Holy Eucharist on an altar at Central Park.

A choir performs at Central Park.

Rhoades spreads incense at Central Park.

Participants get ready to leave Central Park.

Following the procession, a festival was held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with food, music and more.

Singer Kairy Marquez performs at the festival.