Corpus Christi Procession

The weather was again kind to Conisborough and Denaby Catholics on Sunday for their Corpus Christi procession, the last of the yearly parades, which was conducted amid scenes of glorious pageantry.

About 400 adults and schoolchildren took part and after assembling in St. Alban’s Church, Denaby, where the hymn “0 Salutatis” was sung, they moved from the church, round the Presbytery grounds and through the Convent grounds and the school playground back to the Presbytery lawn, where a beautiful temporary altar had been erected.

The procession was led by the cross-bearer (John Hurley) and altar boys and was followed by white-veiled schoolgirls, the schoolboys, members of the C.Y.M.S., the Men’s Confraternity and the men of the parish, by white-veiled and gowned Children of Mary, who formed the choir and sang unaccompanied hymns throughout the walk, and by the women of the parish.

The Blessed Sacrament was carried by Father J. Holohan, parish priest, with whom was Father C. Lehane, and in the path of the Blessed Sacrament little girls in white dresses and red sashes strewed flowers.

Members of the St. Alban’s Scouts formed a guard of honour at the entrance to the church and Mr. J. Dooney senior was marshal. The various kings and queens walked together and Messrs. J. Finn, A. Reddington, M. O’Neill and L. Littlewood were canopy bearers and Messrs P. Reel and Tom Kelly acolytes.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Father Holohan at the temporary altar with the congregation kneeling on the lawn. The members of the procession afterwards returned to the church where an address was delivered by Father Holohan and Benediction was again given.

The strewers were Ellen O’Neilll, Winnie McGrath, Patricia Beardsley, Maureen Turpin, Agnes Hill, Margaret Whittaker, Mary Hudson, Patricia- Fallon, Kitty Burns, Annie Mullen, Ellen Hanley and Ann Lynch.