FOREST CITY — The Knights of Columbus of Immaculate Conception Parish held their seventh annual Cross-a-Thon Aug. 3.
Approximately 90 parishioners marched, bearing crosses of various sizes, in a Eucharistic procession from Immaculate Conception Church down Main Street to Grace of God Rescue Mission and back.
Father Herbert Burke, Deacon Andy Cilone and Deacon Steve Puscas, along with altar servers, led the procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
The purpose of this annual event is to offer public witness to the Catholic faith, and to raise funds for the Knights of Columbus charities. The donations collected this year will go to a relief fund for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
Previous walks have raised a total of almost $30,000, which went to support a Catholic mission in Honduras, MiraVia, Regnum Day Retreat Center, L.A.M.B. Foundation of North
Carolina, persecuted Christians in the Middle East, and the Warrior to Lourdes program.
“It is a beautiful sight to see all of these folks willing to bear witness to their Catholic faith in solemn, prayerful and worshipful reverence as we march down Main Street USA,” said parishioner Michael Daigle.
After the walk, participants gathered inside the church for Eucharistic Adoration, a bilingual homily by Father Burke, and Benediction.
The event ended with a grilled meal and fellowship in the parish hall.
— Photos by Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald
