Eucharistic Procession | myParish Blog Content

What is a Eucharistic Procession?
When the Eucharist is carried solemnly and with singing through the streets, and the Christian people give public witness to their belief in the sacrament of the Eucharist and to their devotion…. (Ceremonial of Bishops, 386)

Will there be security along the procession route?
Yes, the city of Lansing is providing police and undercover security for the whole procession route.

Where should I park if I want to participate in the Eucharistic Procession?
If you plan to walk in the Eucharistic Procession that begins at St. Mary Cathedral and you are driving your own vehicle to the Assembly, we encourage you to park in one of the Breslin Center parking lots ($10 per car, $40 per bus) and to use the free shuttle bus service as there is very limited parking in the immediate area of the Cathedral and because you will have convenient access to your vehicle when the Assembly concludes.
Map and lots to park in around Breslin.

**Parish buses must drop off all attendees at the Breslin Center. Those wishing to participate in the procession must take a shuttle from the Breslin Center to the Cathedral or to the Church of the Resurrection. There will be no space at the Cathedral for parish buses to drop off attendees.

Is public transportation available to/from Saint Mary Cathedral and the Breslin Center?
Yes. Please refer to the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) online route schedule for bus routes on Saturday, September 22. Click here to access the site.

My parish will travel to the Assembly by bus. Should we go directly to St. Mary Cathedral? Where should we park?
Parish buses arriving before 10:30 and parking on the MSU campus will unload in Parking Lot 79 (refer to map). From there, passengers may walk directly to the Breslin Center or to the designated area for shuttle buses to the Eucharistic Procession (refer to map). For passengers with limited mobility, there will be courtesy van transportation from Parking Lot 79 to the shuttle-bus departure site.

Parish buses that arrive at 10:30 or later should drop off passengers on Birch Road next to the Breslin Center, entering by way of Kalamazoo Street. (refer to map).

When it’s time for your parish group to return home and your group is gathered together, phone your bus driver to pick you up by the Breslin Center, entering by way of Kalamazoo Street. (refer to map). We recommend that each parish bus designate a captain on board who will have a list of all the passengers and their cell phone numbers. By contacting the bus driver to meet your group only after it is fully assembled, traffic congestion on Birch Road by the Breslin Center will be minimized.

I want to walk in a portion of the Eucharistic Procession. Is that possible?
You are welcome to participate in a segment of the procession, joining at the mid-point (which is the Church of the Resurrection) or other locations. If you plan to make use of the free shuttle service, keep in mind that shuttle busses begin at 7:00 a.m. from the Breslin Center and will drop people off at the start of the procession (which is St. Mary Cathedral) until 9:30 a.m. After that (from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.), the shuttle busses will drop people off at the Church of the Resurrection (the midpoint of the procession). If you wish to walk one mile or less, you may find it convenient to join the procession as it approaches the Breslin Center (likely between 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.). You are also welcome to use the public busing system to get from the Breslin Center to your desired starting point in the Eucharistic Procession. There are public bus stops all along the procession route.

Where can I join in the Eucharistic Procession, if I don’t wish to participate in the full procession?
Shuttle busses will begin dropping people off at the Church of the Resurrection (the half-way point of the procession) beginning at 9:30 a.m. from the Breslin Center. It is possible to join the Eucharistic Procession at nearly any intersection along Michigan Avenue. Simply wait until the end of the Eucharistic Procession approaches and signal to the Knights of Columbus that you wish to join in. Use of the public transit system is also possible. Please note: groups that wish to carry a banner may join the Eucharistic Procession ONLY at St. Mary Cathedral or the Church of the Resurrection, as banners must be reviewed by Assembly team volunteers prior to joining the procession.

What if I want to participate in the Eucharistic Procession but don’t know if I can make it the whole way?
There will be several chase busses following the procession to pick up people who can’t go any further.

Can I view the Eucharistic Procession remotely at the Breslin Center instead of walking in the procession?
YES! Those who chose not to walk in the procession can join in spirit at the Breslin Center where they will be able to follow along with the prayers and view it live-streamed to the jumbotron.

What banners can be carried in the Eucharistic Procession?
We encourage all parishes, schools, inter-parish organizations and Catholic ministries to make and carry a banner in the procession. Many more details about banners are provided under the Eucharistic Procession page on this website as well. This pdf provides a convenient summary of banner sizes and tips for construction.

I’m not with a group, but want to carry a banner. Is that permitted?
Due to the expected size of the group and the width of the procession roadway, only groups (parishes, schools, ministries) will be permitted to carry a banner.

What if the weather is inclement?
There is no rain date for the Eucharistic Procession. In the event that weather poses a hazard (e.g., lightning), we will begin prayers before the Blessed Sacrament at 10:00 a.m. on the main stage in the Breslin Center.

What should I wear?
For the Eucharistic Procession, plan to wear comfortable walking shoes. Casual clothing is acceptable. Because we will be walking with our Eucharistic King, we ask processors to use good judgement. Parishes and groups are encouraged to design and wear T-shirts with their parish/ministry name and the Made for Happiness logo.

Are strollers allowed in the procession?
Yes! Encouraged, in fact.