Under the weight of the wood:
FOREST CITY — Immaculate Conception Parish held its 11th annual “Cross-a-thon” and Eucharistic Procession Sept. 30.
Parishioners bore large wooden crosses on their shoulders as they walked and prayed on the two-mile route through Forest City. Pastor Father Herbert Burke and Deacon Andy Cilone, along with Father Aaron Huber of St. Mark Parish, led the procession, carrying the Blessed Sacrament through Main Street.
The parish had the honor of hosting three seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary – Gabriel Lugo, Jeremy Smith, and Elija Buerkle – who helped to lead the procession as servers. Parishioners took turns carrying the giant and extremely heavy lead cross.
During the procession, the Lay Carmelites led parishioners who were unable to walk the distance in the Carmelite Stations of the Cross in the church. The stations were written by the cloistered Carmelite Nuns in Ravenna, Italy.
This year, attendees were also able to venerate a relic of the Holy Cross at special moments throughout the procession.
The event was dedicated for the conversion of souls and reparations with a devotion to the Holy Face, which included 24-hour adoration and a Reparations Novena. The Cross-a-thon is cosponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Third Order Carmelites. This year, the event raised funds for Father Paul Kersey’s mission in Honduras.
— Photos by Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald
