Newman Center hosts first on-campus Eucharistic procession

DISCLAIMER: This is a news article contributed by an independent writer currently enrolled in Angelo State University’s News Reporting and Writing class. 

On Thursday, April 25, students, faculty and community members gathered at the Stephens Chapel for Mass and a procession around the west side of campus. 

The idea for the procession was brought up by Newman council members to Bishop Michael Sis, bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo. After receiving approval from the bishop, Jose Zuñiga, the president of the council, moved forward with planning for the procession. Zuñiga said he was proud to put on the procession for the community both in and outside of ASU. He believed the procession was able to display a community that is loving and “on fire” for the faith to students and faculty.

The Rev. Freddy Perez, the director of the Newman Center, believes that, as a nation, the Catholic community is in the midst of a “Eucharistic revival,” and the procession was a way to bring the Eucharist to all spheres, including the campus. 

Angela Rodriguez, the community service chair of the council, said the procession was like stepping into unknown territory. “To get out was both a breath of fresh air and like walking on eggshells,” she said. Joseph Ryals, the vice president of the council, thought that the procession exposed others to the Catholic community and might have given them the opportunity to ask questions they have never thought about. 

Catholics believe that Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist, a wafer that during mass – a Catholic church service – is transformed into the body of Christ. In a Eucharistic procession, the Eucharist is displayed and carried by a priest in a special receptacle called a monstrance.