About 1800 Catholics took part in a public display of their faith and devotion to Mary as the 76th annual Marian Procession was held in Adelaide’s CBD on Sunday. Source: The Southern Cross.
Under blue skies on a crisp autumn day, the procession was filled with colour and noise as the faithful recited the Rosary, listened to Gospel readings and sang hymns while they marched behind their parish and community banners.
They processed from Victoria Park along Wakefield Street to the city, with the statue of Our Lady carried by students from Christian Brothers College, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart students holding the Christ the Pantocrator banner.
Javale Morato, 13, and his family had the honour of carrying the Marian banner, just months after he experienced a miraculous recovery from a freak hammer-throwing accident on September 5.
In his liturgy, Archbishop Patrick O’Regan spoke of the importance of celebrating as Pilgrims of Hope beneath the mantle of Mary in the Jubilee Year – and on the day of the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
He said the challenge for the faithful was not just to admire Mary, not only to venerate her, but to “imitate” her.
“The Jubilee Year is not only a time of grace and mercy; it is a time of spiritual reawakening – a time to ask ourselves: do I love as Mary the perfect disciple loved? Do I trust as she trusted? Do I say ‘yes’ to God, not only when it’s easy, but especially when it costs me?” he said.
“In our 76th Marian Procession, this visible sign of our love for the Mother of God, we celebrate her faith, her courage, her obedience. She followed Jesus more closely than anyone else ever has. She followed him into the unknown, into misunderstanding, into exile, and into silence, and into resurrection. And yet, she never turned back.
“The world today, dear friends, tells us to seek power, autonomy, pleasure. But Mary sought none of these. She chose surrender. She chose to receive, to treasure, to ponder – and to give all.”
FULL STORY
Faithful honour Mary at annual procession (By Lindy McNamara, The Southern Cross)
RELATED COVERAGE
Blessed to be leading the Marian Procession (The Southern Cross)
