By Mark Christmyer • Posted June 10, 2015

Last Saturday, June 6, was a very busy, prayerful, spiritual and festive day at St. Norbert Parish in Paoli, with the celebration of the feast of its patron saint  and a first-ever Corpus Christi procession through several neighborhoods.

The day started with a special daily Mass honoring St. Norbert followed by a late afternoon Corpus Christi procession and the annual parish picnic after the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass.

The procession originated at Daylesford Abbey at the conclusion of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and 4 p.m. Evening Prayer.  It then proceeded on a two-mile pilgrimage with police escort through Paoli ending at St. Norbert Church.

More than 100 people processed, prayed the Corpus Christi scriptural rosary, walked in silence and sang songs on a glorious sunny Saturday.

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Norbertine Father Carl Braschoss, parochial vicar, said the procession “was very interesting, the different kinds of looks we got. Some cars zoomed by us clearly annoyed, while others opened their windows, waved and shouted encouragement. Families and individuals came out of their houses on the route and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Upon arriving at St. Norbert’s, the procession entered the church and benediction was followed by the vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

Following Mass, the annual St. Norbert Feast Day Picnic was held with close to 300 people enjoying plenty of food, drinks, children’s games, face painting, a moon bounce and fellowship.

“It was a picture perfect day, and with our Norbertine Fathers from Daylesford Abbey, the feast day and the Corpus Christi procession took on an additional festive nature,” said Norbertine Father Michael Lee, St. Norbert’s pastor. “We’re all making plans for next year!”