Tura, Nov 10: A sea of humanity descended on Tura from across Garo Hills on Sunday as thousands of Catholic faithful marched alongside the Holy Eucharistic singing hymns and offering prayers in a procession that takes place once a year across Catholic parishes all over the world.
The Eucharistic procession is a holy parade that carries the Blessed Sacrament out of a church and into the world. It’s a way to publicly proclaim faith in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and to invite others to encounter him.
Auxiliary Bishop of Tura, Jose Chirackal, led the faithful in the religious parade atop a vehicle with the Blessed Sacrament sealed in a monstrance, accompanied by the new Deacon Benjamin Arengh, altar servers and little children dressed in angelic white. Many Catholic devotees stood by the roadside to venerate while others placed items of worship from their homes on the route that the blessed Eucharistic passed through.
“This Holy Eucharistic procession in which thousands of faithful took part was not only a manifestation of deep faith in Jesus Christ, but also an occasion to offer intense and ardent prayers for world peace, end of war and conflict in the Middle East, Ukraine and Manipur, and also for the progress of all the people of Meghalaya in particular Garo Hills,” said Bishop Jose Chirackal.
Catholics from as far as Rongara- Siju in South Garo Hills, Mangsang in the east, Chapahati in the border region of Salmanpara in South West Garo Hills, Purakhasia border region in the West and Damra in the North, came to take part in this annual pilgrimage that began from the Sacred Heart Shrine and winded its way through Sampalgre, R C Road and Chandmari before returning to the church.
For many devotees, the Eucharistic procession serves as a reminder of their spiritual journey toward eternal life with God. Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma also took part in the procession at Tura.
On the same day, Shillong bore witness to one of the largest gatherings of people for a religious event as the Shillong Diocese also held its Eucharistic procession from the Cathedral church and through the thoroughfares of Laitumkrah locality.
