Hundreds participate in Fort Kent Pentecost Sunday eucharistic procession
In a public display of their faith, around 200 people participated in a eucharistic procession down Route One in Fort Kent on Pentecost Sunday, June 8.
The procession, which was organized by St. John Vianney Parish, began at the Fort Kent Municipal Center, continued to the historic Fort Kent Blockhouse, and then concluded at St. Louis Church. As they processed, Father Antony Alexander Maria Doss, HGN, parochial vicar of the parish, carried the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, while participants recited the Rosary and prayed for various intentions.
“We wanted the public witnessing of the Holy Eucharist and also to show the respect and reverence we have as Catholics for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist,” said Father Antony Alexander Maria Doss, HGN, parochial vicar of St. John Vianney Parish. “We wanted to do this from the town office in honor of blessing the government and all the businesses in town. We walked through Main Street, and we came to the blockhouse as a sign of God’s protection for our town. And where the St. John and Fish Rivers meet, we wanted to have God’s blessing on our source of water, the rivers, and also for all the farmers.”
Father Maria Doss and parish staff originally planned to hold the procession last year as part of the Catholic Church's National Eucharistic Revival, but when that didn't work out, they were committed to making it happen this year.
“The procession has been something that I’ve dreamed of. To see it come to fruition was amazing," said Barb Pelletier, St. John Vianney parish catechetical leader.
“For me, this was an opportunity to be in the community and to grow in my walk with Jesus,” said Donna Sturzl, a member of the Parish of the Precious Blood in Caribou, who traveled nearly an hour to participate.
“I think it’s wonderful that it’s being done in the community so that the whole community gets to see what the Catholic Church is all about and to see how important the Eucharist is to us, how important the Holy Spirit and Christ are to us,” said Tim Sturzl, Donna's husband.
“The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of our faith, so this is really special. This is the first time I’ve come to one of these. I loved it,” said Rena Jandreau from Fort Kent.
Participants in the procession included members of the Knights of Columbus, the Ladies of Ste. Anne, the Columbiettes, and 20 altar servers, some of whom came from other parishes to attend.
The procession lasted one hour and 15 minutes, which included a pause for prayer at the Fort Kent Blockhouse. At the conclusion of the procession, the faithful gathered at St. Louis Church to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
