How to Organize a Eucharistic Procession

1.     Obtain the permission and cooperation of the pastor.

2.     Appoint a Procession Chairman and Procession Committee.

a.      The pastor should not be burdened with the position of Chairman (unless he insists).  Pick someone else who loves the Eucharist and can lead others into action along with them for this sacred event.  They could be the head of the Pastoral Council, Religious Education Director, parish Elementary School Principle, head of the PTA, Grand Knight of the local Knights of Columbus Council or some other leader.

b.     The Procession Chairman should immediately form a Procession Committee.  The committee should consist of representation from as many of the major groups of the parish as possible, including Church staff, the school, catechetical programs, pastoral council, ethnic communities, service groups, prayers groups, small faith communities and local religious communities.  Remember that the Knights of Columbus have pledged their support and can be a great help in various aspects of the Procession planning and participation.

c.     Have the Procession Chairman contact the Confraternity of Eucharistic Devotion, Diocese of Oakland (ceddo@oakdiocese.org) to obtain the Eucharistic Devotions Packet with helpful suggestions for the event.  (Materials are also available for downloading on the Diocesan website at

     www.oakdiocese.org/congress/Adoration.htm)

3.     Begin to plan the Procession, in consultation with the pastor.

a.      Plan the route, date and time.  The route can be around the church, around the church property or on public roads. After a Sunday Mass is usually most convenient.

b.     Call your neighboring parish (if conveniently located) and see if they would like to combine with your procession. If desired, it can start at one church and end at the other.

c.     Have your Community Relations Liaison get all necessary permits from the civil authorities as soon as possible, if the procession will be on public property.  It is usually easy for local churches to deal with city police departments (usual place to obtain permits), since they want to stay on the good side of local voters.  In case of non-cooperation, the diocesan chaplain for police can be contacted for assistance.

d.     Have your Community Relations Liaison contact the local police department to advise them of the event.  If there is any plan to be on public streets, ask them to provide patrol officers to help with traffic.  Even if the parish is only going to cross the street in front of the church to get to another part of church property, or if there will be so many people that they may spill out in front of the church onto the street, the police may be willing to help with traffic flow.  Their presence adds to a sense of professionalism and is a deterrent to potential problems.

e.      Arrange for funding of any expenses.

4.     Decide how to get the word out to parishioners and other interested parties.  Publicity is critical to good attendance.  The basic information about date, time, location and officiator(s) must be available in order to publicize.  Flyers, posters, bulletin announcements, pulpit announcements and school newsletters are all good means.  Public service announcements on IHM radio as well as secular and religious newspapers (religion editor) may also be helpful. Do not fail to invite the school children, their families and teachers, if there is a parish school.

5.     Have the Procession Committee ascertain the main jobs that need to be done and staff those positions with individuals suited to them.

a)     Publicizing: Layout and printing of flyers, posters and programs/song sheets and ads if used; distribution of same (see #4 above.)

b)    Liturgy: Benediction after procession; prayers and hymns for Benediction and for the procession, music.

c)     Refreshments/fellowship after reposing of the Blessed Sacrament is worthwhile.  A parish group(s) can sponsor this. Have a sign-up of attendees and future volunteers; start a master volunteer list with contact information.

d)    Minimum necessary personnel: Priest officiator, sacristan, altar servers bearing candles (at least 4), song leader(s), volunteer coordinator.

e)     Other personnel:  Knights of Columbus Color Corps Guard; Community Relations Liaison (if needed); Parking/traffic Coordinator(s) (if called for); volunteers to do decorating of the church, set up and tear down of altars at outside prayer stations, if used

6.     Materials needed: 1) a monstrance, 2) portable audio system (karaoke) with one speaker for the priest officiator and one for the song leader (Two units would be better, one for the front, the other for the rear of the procession.), 3) a canopy (if available); optional truck mounted sound amplifier with speakers.

7.     Order of the Procession:  At the head is the altar server carrying the processional cross followed by 2candle bearers and two servers, one carrying the censor, the other the incense bowl. Next in order would come an honor guard, such as the K.O.C. (if present), banner bearers (if present); dignitaries (if present) and deacons and additional priests (if present).  The priest/bishop bearing the Blessed Sacrament, surrounded by four canopy bearers, is followed by the song leader(s) and faithful.

8.     Banners:  Invite parish groups to bring their banners.  Reserve seating

          in the church for groups with banners.

9.     The volunteer coordinator or another appointed individual should be on site at the procession with the master plan and volunteer assignment list to exercise oversight.  They should have any necessary keys and see to it that all is in order when the event is finished.

BD 10/09