Forest City parish holds 10th annual Cross-a-Thon and Eucharistic procession
FOREST CITY — Members of Immaculate Conception Parish trekked two miles through downtown Forest City Sept. 24 praying, carrying heavy crosses on their shoulders, and following the Blessed Sacrament – an annual devotion they have dubbed a “Cross-a-Thon.”
This year marked the Cross-a-Thon’s 10th anniversary. The event, which included a Eucharistic Procession, was sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus.
Immaculate Conception’s pastor, Father Herbert Burke, led the procession with the Blessed Sacrament.
This year, the event raised funds for St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, and several seminarians were in attendance to help lead the procession – carrying a massive, heavy lead cross. Father Matthew Buettner, spiritual director of the seminary, joined Father Burke in the procession, carrying the monstrance down Main Street in Forest City.
Meanwhile during the procession, the Lay Carmelites offered parishioners who were unable to walk the distance the opportunity to join in the experience spiritually by praying a Carmelite version of the Stations of the Cross, written by the cloistered Carmelite Nuns in Ravenna, Italy.
The prayers included quotes from Sister Mary of Saint Peter, and from St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. In revelations to the Carmelite Sister Mary of Saint Peter, Jesus told her: “By offering My Face to My Eternal Father, nothing will be refused, and the conversion of many will be obtained.” Jesus also told her: “I can no longer remain in the midst of a people that will continue to be so heedless and so ungrateful. Look at the torrents of tears that stream from My eyes! Can I find no one to wipe away these tears by making reparation to My Father, and imploring forgiveness for the guilty?”
In honor of its 10th year, the Cross-a-Thon was dedicated for the conversion of souls and in reparation for sin, with a devotion to the Holy Face that included 24-hour adoration and a special Reparations Novena.
— Penny Watkins and Michael Daigle. Photos by Giuliana Polinari Riley
