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From: "Jean Rice" <>
Subject: [IGW] "Procession" -- Mary GUCKIAN (b. Kiltoghert, Co. Leitrim 1942) - Recent Participant, Cultural Exchange w/Boston
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 11:43:20 -0700

PROCESSION

On the night before the annual procession
we ironed our pale blue Child of Mary cloaks
and carefully folded the delicate lacey veils,
placing them in a near parcel. Next morning
we awoke excited and looked forward to taking
part in the annual Corpus Christi procession.
Wearing our Child of Mary medals we attended
last mass at St. Mary's Church in Carrick.
On our bicycles, with parcels on the carrier,
we pedalled over the pot holed roads praying
that the tyres would survive the rough stones.
On the footpaths people gathered and waited
to be placed in lines while we donned cloaks
and veils, male helpers wearing right hand
arm bands arranged us in bunches behind a row
of priests who were dressed in long cloaks
covered in heavy embroidery that glistened
in the sun. Four pall bearers carried
a cloth covered in braid ringlets, attached
to four long poles held high over the priest,
sheltering the golden monstrance from rain.
If showers came down, large umbrellas were
carried by the tallest men and the choir
sang hymns that got us marching in slow
motion down the main street as we prayed
out loud, our veils blowing in the breeze.
Feeling part of this religious celebration
we admired altars with large vases full
of lavender lilac, red peony roses and pale
pink thorny stemmed roses. Honeycombs
of lupins in purple and yellow shades
filled shop windows, placed in vases around
Infant of Prague statues and Our Lady wore
a blue veil, other pictures of St. Joseph
and the pierced heart of the Sacred Heart
filled newly painted shiny doorways.
Saying our prayers with enthusiasm,
we circled the town before arriving back
at the Church. We bought ice-cream
in wafers and struggled back to reality
facing the journey back to the farm, where
many jobs were waiting to be completed.

-- Mary Guckian.

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• [IGW] "Procession" -- Mary GUCKIAN (b. Kiltoghert, Co. Leitrim 1942) - Recent Participant, Cultural Exchange w/Boston by "Jean Rice" <>