The Corpus Christi Procession in Bunclody
The Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus
Christi was a big event in Bunclody, with crowds of people from
the surrounding districts coming into the town. The procession
took place in the grounds of St Mary’s Convent, moving from the
parish church of St Mary Magdalene and proceeding up the convent
avenue. St Cecilia’s Brass and Reed Band played the music of the
hymns which were sung by the choirs, ‘Lauda Sion Salvatorem’
being one of the marching hymns.
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was imparted
at an altar erected at a point about half-way along the main
school building, and then the procession continued as far as the
veranda (—the buildings and veranda have been removed and
replaced by the present school and convent buildings—) where a
second Benediction was given. Returning to the church, the third
and final Benediction was given, and the exercise usually
concluded with a spirited rendering of the hymn ‘Faith of Our
Fathers’. During the procession the Rosary was recited.
In the girls’ school where the pupils would be
preparing to take part, they would be led by the late Mother
Veronica, the principal of the Girls’ National School, in
continually reciting a prayer: ‘0 Sacred Heart, 0 Heart divine,
keep off the rain and make it fine!’
Taking part in the procession were the nuns and
the lay sisters from the convent. There was a large number in
the community those years. Also taking part were the Children of
Mary in their blue cloaks and white veils, members of the Mens’
and Womens’ Confraternities, the boarders from the convent
school, school children from the various schools and the general
public. Children with baskets of flower petals walked in front
of the Blessed Sacrament strewing the petals. All the sections
carried banners. The members of the Mens’ Confraternity all wore
red sashes. In the town beforehand, there would be one or two
selling badges and rosettes which people would wear. Procession
Day was an occasion for the ladies of the locality to display
their new hats and outfits. One non- Catholic lady remarked
sarcastically that it was ‘the Newtownbarry Ascot’!
Afterwards the streets of the town would be
crowded. All the sweet shops opened on Procession Day and hired
extra staff. No child or adult went home without getting an
ice-cream. Ice-cream shops in particular would be crowded with
customers. Some shopkeepers would have got in a supply of
‘lucky-bags’ and trinkets that would be brought by the children.
The people from the surrounding districts did not go home
immediately but would remain in the town all evening meeting and
chatting with their friends.
In more recent years the procession was held
through the streets of the town, varying the route from one year
to the next, with Benediction being given in the grounds of Our
Lady of Lourdes National School, but at present the procession
is confined to the grounds of Holy Trinity Church and the
priest’s garden, with Benediction given at the end in front of
the entrance to the church.