Boże Ciało-Corpus Christi
The Feast of Corpus Christi or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday. In Poland it is a public holiday. There are processions though the streets of the cities, villages, and towns with colorful folk costumes and banners. Many people set up small shrines or altars and put holy pictures in their windows. This tradition has endured many centuries and continues in Poland to this day.
In Erie’s Polonia, Saint Stanislaus began their procession in 1902. According to Msgr. Bernard Urbaniak, “Upon leaving the Church, the procession went left on Wallace Street then left on 13th street to the first altar in front of the Sacred Heart Statue. After benediction, the procession proceeded East on Thirteenth Street, crossing Ash Street, to the second altar (which for the last several decades) was located at the Hansen home in the six hundred block. After benediction, the procession continued east on 13th Street and then turned right onto Reed Street proceeding for one block then turning West onto 14th Street stopping (for the last several years) at the home of Jeff and Marian Husted, in the six hundred block. After Benediction, the procession continued east on 14th Street to Wallace Street turning right and going north to the home of M/M Edward Garr, for the location of the fourth outdoor benediction. Following the benediction, the procession continued in returning to the Church where the final prayers, service and benediction took place. During the entire outdoor part of the procession, all of the Church bells in the tower rung continually only to stop when the procession reached an outdoor altar for each benediction.” Today due to changing neighborhoods and aging parishioners, the procession is held inside the church building.
( Click on each photo to enlarge).
In Erie’s Polonia, Saint Stanislaus began their procession in 1902. According to Msgr. Bernard Urbaniak, “Upon leaving the Church, the procession went left on Wallace Street then left on 13th street to the first altar in front of the Sacred Heart Statue. After benediction, the procession proceeded East on Thirteenth Street, crossing Ash Street, to the second altar (which for the last several decades) was located at the Hansen home in the six hundred block. After benediction, the procession continued east on 13th Street and then turned right onto Reed Street proceeding for one block then turning West onto 14th Street stopping (for the last several years) at the home of Jeff and Marian Husted, in the six hundred block. After Benediction, the procession continued east on 14th Street to Wallace Street turning right and going north to the home of M/M Edward Garr, for the location of the fourth outdoor benediction. Following the benediction, the procession continued in returning to the Church where the final prayers, service and benediction took place. During the entire outdoor part of the procession, all of the Church bells in the tower rung continually only to stop when the procession reached an outdoor altar for each benediction.” Today due to changing neighborhoods and aging parishioners, the procession is held inside the church building.
( Click on each photo to enlarge).
Saint Stanislaus
Saint Stanislaus 1938
Tabernacle at St. Stanislaus Church.
Inside the tabernacle is the image of a mother pelican striking her breast till it bleeds to feed her young. This symbolizes our Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and continues to feed us with his body and blood.
