PROCESSION OF FAITH

Feast of Corpus Christi celebrated

Along the streets of downtown San Antonio, a large procession of devout Catholics walked in unity Saturday evening as part of San Fernando Cathedral’s third annual Feast of Corpus Christi.

The throng had poured out of San Fernando Cathedral after Mass to acknowledge the Eucharist, the sacrament of Holy Communion, commemorating the Lord’s Supper.

“It’s nice to celebrate his love,” said Andres Mandujano, 24, who attended the 5 p.m. Mass before the procession with his friend Oscar Rodriguez, 18.

The two are part of the Young Covenant Warriors, one of the cathedral’s youth groups.

Archbishop Gustavo GarcíaSiller led the celebration of Mass and took the lead in the procession, which started at the door of the historic cathedral and wound its way around the block before ending at the cathedral. As he walked at the head of the group that numbered several hundred, García-Siller was carrying the Eucharist.

As the faithful of all ages walked through the streets, they sang hymns of praise and recited passages from the Bible.

Ana Flores, 63, whose home church is Holy Trinity Church in the Stone Oak area, said she was at the event with fellow church members. They carried their church’s banner in the procession.

“It feels good,” Flores said, referring to joining other Catholics in a public profession of their faith.

The group stopped at several places along the route. At one point on North St. Mary’s Street, church volunteers showered the participants in the procession with yellow, white, pink and red flower petals.

Richard and Celia Acosta,

who are parishioners at San Fernando Cathedral, are members of the fellowship Messengers of the Real Presence.

“Seventy percent of Catholics aren’t fully aware of the Christ (living) in them,” said Richard Acosta, 74.

His wife was enjoying the event.

“We have a loving God. At these times, you can feel it,” Celia Acosta, 71, said.

Not everyone who participated in the procession attended the earlier Mass; several tourists joined in the festivities.

Colette Armstrong, 9, and her younger sister, Jeanette Armstrong, 4, were given paper bags filled with fresh pink flower petals to toss at the archbishop’s feet as he walked past.

“We just stumbled on this,” said Cristina Armstrong, the girl’s mother. The Armstrong family, who hails from south Florida, was in the Alamo City visiting Cristina Armstrong’s hometown.

While she was raised a Catholic, Cristina and her husband, a Presbyterian, have opted to let their daughters choose their faith for themselves.

At the end of the procession, García-Siller stood in front of the cathedral and gave the crowd his blessing.

Photos by Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller carries the monstrance with the Eucharist during the Feast of Corpus Christi procession.

A child tosses rose petals during the procession near San Fernando Cathedral.

Photos by Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News Bella Cathey reaches for rose petals falling from the sky during the procession celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi after Mass at San Fernando Cathedral.

Catholic clergy and faithful exit after Mass at San Fernando Cathedral for the procession, when Catholics acknowledge the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.