VIDEO: Faithful pray for vocations in Cork at Corpus Christi Procession

Hundreds of people turned out on the streets of Cork for the city’s 90th Eucharistic procession in beautiful sunshine yesterday.

The strong attendance was welcomed by Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross John Buckley, who earlier asked the crowds gathered to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Three seminarians from the diocese took part in the procession from the North Cathedral, along the quays and on to St Patrick’s St to the altar erected at Daunt Square.

In his homily, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel referred to the contribution of men and women of religious orders to the life of Cork. He also spoke about the missionaries who left Cork to bring the gospel to faraway places.

The crowd included members of the city’s Asian, African, and eastern European communities, and the Polish and Indian communities in Cork were accompanied by their chaplains.

Members of Cork City Council, including Lord Mayor Mary Shields, took part along with representatives of Catholic charitable organisation and city schools. The event was instigated in 1926 by businessmen who approached then bishop Daniel Cohalan about having a Eucharistic procession in the city to mark the feast of Corpus Christi that might heal division and bitterness in the city at the time.

As prayers for vocations were sought in Cork, Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore said two Nigerian priests will arrive to take up duty this autumn. Their services are needed because of a shortage of Irish priests in the diocese that includes parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Sligo and Meath.