Corpus Christi in Oxford

The rain held off in Oxford, allowing the annual Corpus Christi procession to take place as planned on Sunday 6 June 2010. This year, Bishop William Kenney CP led the procession, carrying the Blessed Sacrament from St Aloysius (the Oxford Oratory) to Blackfriars. As the procession entered, a schola of friars sang the beautiful sequence hymn Lauda Sion written by their confrere, St Thomas Aquinas. Bishop Kenney preached a sermon on Melchizedek and the relational and ecclesial dimensions of the Eucharist.

The prior of Oxford, fr John O'Connor OP then carried the Blessed Sacrament part of the way to the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy. He was assisted by the deacon, fr David Barrins OP. The final section of the procession, which wound its way down the streets of central Oxford, saw the University chaplain, Fr Simon Bishop SJ carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

Once inside the chaplaincy hall, the heavens opened as we sang the Tantum Ergo, and Bishop Kenney then imparted the Benediction. The event finished with a Salve Regina, a rendition of Faith of our Fathers, and then tea and refreshments courtesy of the chaplaincy. And to add to the blessings of the day, the rain stopped as we emerged from the building!

Below are more photos from the event, and others may be found on this Flickr set