By: By Jennifer Willems

BLOOMINGTON — Corpus Christi processions held at Historic St. Patrick Church and Holy Trinity Church last Sunday demonstrated that parishioners were prepared to follow Jesus anywhere.

The processions were also a sign of unity as Bloomington-area families prepare for the transition from Holy Trinity School to Corpus Christi School this fall. The change of name was announced during Catholic Schools Week in January and better reflects the school community, which draws students from St. Patrick Church of Merna in Bloomington and St. Mary in Downs, as well as Historic St. Patrick and Holy Trinity.

“We’re going to continue to be the same school family that we have been, continue our traditions that we have. But Corpus Christi allows us to be all inclusive,” principal Gwenn Roche told The Catholic Post after the procession at Holy Trinity Church.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” she said. “We’re all one in the body of Christ, so we’re all one at Corpus Christi.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Holy Trinity Parish in Bloomington hosted its first Corpus Christi procession in 30 years on June 7. Father Jeff Windy, parochial vicar, carries the Blessed Sacrament as he leads the procession around the church block. — The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems

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Storms that rolled through central Illinois June 7, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or Corpus Christi, made it necessary for the annual procession at Historic St. Patrick to take place inside the church.

“The angels must be assisting somewhere else,” Father Jeff Windy said before carrying the monstrance that contained the Blessed Sacrament through the church, while parishioners knelt and prayed.

Later that morning the clouds parted long enough for the first Corpus Christi procession in 30 years to take place at Holy Trinity Church. The sun was shining as Father Windy led parishioners from church and the procession traveled around the block as motorists and passersby looked on.

After returning to church, Father Windy placed the monstrance back on the altar and offered the prayers for Benediction.

In his homily, Father Windy reminded parishioners that humans have a hunger that cannot be satisfied by ordinary food. This is a hunger for life, for love and for that which is eternal, he said.

“If we look around we realize in our world there are so many offers of ‘food’ having nothing to do with the Lord. They seem to satisfy us more. Many will choose them,” he said. Among them are money, success, power and pride.

“However, the food that really nourishes us, really satiates us, is the food that only he, the Lord, can give us,” Father Windy said. “What do we want to nourish ourselves with?”