Corpus Christi Procession Program
Washington, D.C.
Catholics, immigrants, refugees, faith leaders, and advocates will gather in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, June 7, 2026, for a public Eucharistic procession in honor of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Hosted in partnership with Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)/USA, the Archdiocese of Washington, and Catholic organizations across the region, the procession is a visible act of prayer, solidarity, and accompaniment for immigrants, refugees, and all people seeking safety and dignity.
Shrine of the Sacred Heart – Santuario del Sagrado Corazón
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle – La Catedral de San Mateo Apóstol
Rabaut Park, Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, Universalist National Memorial Church, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
Prayer, solidarity, accompaniment, and public witness for immigrants and refugees
Mass – Misa
Location: Shrine of the Sacred Heart – Santuario del Sagrado Corazón
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – Exposición del Santísimo Sacramento
Location: Shrine of the Sacred Heart – Santuario del Sagrado Corazón
English
When the priest goes to the tabernacle and opens it, all kneel. Once the celebrant has reached the front of the altar and kneels, O Saving Victim is sung by the congregation. Following the exposition, the faithful follow the presider and acolytes into the street to form the procession.
Español
Cuando el sacerdote se dirige al sagrario y lo abre, todos se arrodillan. Una vez que el celebrante ha llegado al frente del altar y se arrodilla, la asamblea canta “Oh Víctima de salvación”. Tras la exposición, los fieles siguen al celebrante y a los acólitos hacia la calle para formar la procesión.
O Saving Victim
O saving Victim, open wide
The gate of heaven to us below.
Our foes press on from every side;
Your aid supply, your strength bestow.
To your great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead,
One in Three;
O grant us endless length of days
In our true native land with thee. Amen.
O salutaris Hostia
Quae caeli pandis ostium;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxillium.
Uni trinoque
Domino Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria. Amen.
Oh Víctima de salvación
¡Oh Víctima de salvación!,
que abriste el cielo al mortal;
en esta guerra mundanal revístenos de tu valor.
Al Trino Dios, honor y prez,
se le tribute sin cesar,
y que en la patria celestial,
sin fin vivamos junto a él. Amén.
O salutaris Hostia
Quae caeli pandis ostium;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxillium.
Uni trinoque
Domino Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria. Amen.
Stop One: For Peace in the World and for an Increase in Solidarity with Marginalized People | Primera estación: Por la paz en el mundo y por un aumento de la solidaridad con las personas marginadas
Location: Rabaut Park – Parque Rabaut
Altar prepared by: Parishioners of St. Camillus, Silver Spring, MD
Song – Canción
Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo / We Are The Body of Christ
By Jaime Cortez, © 1994 OCP
Chorus/Estribillo
Somos el cuerpo de Cristo. We are the body of Christ.
Hemos oído el llamado; we’ve answered “Yes” to the call of the Lord.
Somos el cuerpo de Cristo. We are the body of Christ.
Traemos su santo mensaje. We come to bring the Good News to the world.
Stanzas/Estrofas
1. Dios viene al mundo a través de nosotros. Somos el cuerpo de Cristo.
God is revealed when we love one another. We are the body of Christ.
Al mundo a cumplir la misión de la iglesia. Somos el cuerpo de Cristo.
Bringing the light of God’s mercy to others, we are the body of Christ.
2. Cada persona es parte del reino; somos el Cuerpo de Cristo.
Putting a stop to all discrimination. We are the body of Christ.
Todas las razas que habitan la tierra. Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo.
All are invited to feast in the banquet. We are the body of Christ.
3. Que nuestras acciones reflejen justicia; somos el cuerpo de Cristo.
Stopping abuse and relieving the hungry. We are the body of Christ.
Vamos al mundo a cuidar su rebaño. Somos el cuerpo de Cristo.
Serving each other we build up the kingdom. We are the body of Christ.
Sign of the Cross – La Señal De La Cruz
The Lord be with you. R. and with your spirit.
Let us be attentive to a reading from the word of God.
Luke 22:14-20 – Lucas 22:14-20
Proclaimed by: Dorothea “Thea” Lay, VP of Advocacy and Policy at Jesuit Refugee Service/USA
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke
When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.
Cuando llegó la hora, Jesús se sentó a la mesa junto con los apóstoles y les dijo: «He deseado mucho comer con ustedes esta cena de Pascua antes de mi pasión, porque les aseguro que no la volveré a comer hasta que se cumpla en el Reino de Dios». Entonces tomó una copa, dio gracias a Dios y dijo: «Tomen esta copa y compártanla entre ustedes. Les digo que a partir de ahora no beberé del fruto de la vid hasta que llegue el Reino de Dios».
Luego, tomó un pan y, después de dar gracias a Dios, lo partió y se lo dio, diciendo: «Esto es mi cuerpo, entregado por ustedes. ¡Hagan esto en memoria mía!». De la misma manera, tomó la copa después de cenar y les dijo: «Esta copa es la nueva alianza sellada con mi sangre, derramada por ustedes.
The Gospel of the Lord. R. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Antiphon – Antífona
Proclaimed by: Linda Bailey Mendoza, a parishioner of St. Camillus
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world.
Reflection – Reflexión: Sister Denise Curry, SNDdeN
I’m going to begin with a poem by Padraig O’Tuama.
“When I was a child
I learned to count to five
One, two, three, four, five
But these days , I’ve been counting lives, so I count
One life
One life
One life
One life
One life
Because each time
Is the first time
That that life
Has been taken.”
What are we to do with the feelings that have been aroused on this Corpus Christi Sunday? Will be fill ourselves with revenge and hate – and pass that on to our children? Let us break up the cycle of hate and retaliation. We can find a way to live well together.
In fact let’s skip the idea of having enemies at all. Don’t we want everyone to breath clean Shouldn’t everyone have family and friends they love, and be treated with respect and receive a living wage?
Don’t we want all children to go to good schools and dream their dreams and receive good medical care?
So on this feast of Corpus Christi, let’s get to work on making sure the entire Body of Christ has all this in abundance. After that we can decide on who is our enemy.
Collect – Colecta
Grant us, O Lord, we pray,
that the course of our world
may be directed by your peaceful rule
and that your Church may rejoice,
untroubled in her devotion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Stop Two: For the Conversion of Hearts of Those Who Persecute the Body of Christ | Segunda estación: Por la conversión de los corazones de quienes persiguen el Cuerpo de Cristo
Location: Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park in between Crescent Pl NW and Belmont St NW – Meridian Hill/Parque Malcolm X entre Crescent Pl NW y Belmont St NW
Altar prepared by: Parishioners of Holy Trinity, Washington, DC
Song – Canción: Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo / We Are The Body of Christ
Sign of the Cross – La Señal De La Cruz
The Lord be with you. R. and with your spirit.
Let us be attentive to a reading from the word of God.
1 Peter 1:17-21 – 1 Pedro 1:17-21
Proclaimed by: Dr. Karen Ganacias, parishioner of The Shrine of the Sacred Heart
A reading from the First Letter of Peter
Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.
He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.
Y si ustedes llaman “Padre” a quien juzga imparcialmente a cada uno según sus obras, procedan con respeto mientras están de paso en este mundo. Sepan que fueron rescatados de su modo vacío de vivir, heredado de sus padres, no con algo caduco, como el oro o la plata, sino con la sangre preciosa de Cristo, Cordero sin defecto ni mancha, previsto desde antes de la creación del mundo y manifestado en los últimos tiempos para el bien de ustedes.
Por él creen en Dios, quien lo resucitó de entre los muertos y le dio la gloria, para que su fe y su esperanza estén en Dios.
Antiphon – Antífona
Proclaimed by: Etienne Mbala, parishioner of Holy Trinity
O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received:
the memory of his Passion is renewed,
the mind is filled with grace,
and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
Reflection – Reflexión: Hugo Castro, Diaconate Candidate
The Gospel passage we have just heard tells us that, at the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus explained his death in terms of a covenant. The Eucharist serves as the banquet of communion and the enduring sign of that covenant—the covenant through which God places us in a familial relationship with Himself and with one another. Through this covenant, God adopts us as His children, making us brothers and sisters to one another.
This should lead us to foster a deep relationship among ourselves that transcends any division. As Saint Paul says in Galatians: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
All of this should help us realize that, through the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ—a covenant whose enduring sign is found in the Eucharist—God desires that we all, without any distinction whatsoever, treat one another as brothers and sisters, for that is precisely what we are. If we were to live in this manner, the world would become a true place of peace—a place where fraternal love would naturally lead us to show greater solidarity with the most needy and marginalized among us.
Collect – Colecta
O God, from whom all good things come,
grant that we, who call on you in our need,
may at your prompting discern what is right,
and by your guidance do it.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Stop Three: For Those Who Face Family Separation | Tercera estación: Por aquellos que enfrentan la separación familiar
Location: Universalist National Memorial Church – Iglesia Conmemorativa Nacional Universalista
Altar prepared by: Parishioners of St. Martin of Tours, Washington, DC
Song – Canción: Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo / We Are The Body of Christ
Sign of the Cross – La Señal De La Cruz
The Lord be with you. R. and with your spirit.
Let us be attentive to a reading from the word of God.
John 6:45-51 – Juan 6:45-51
Proclaimed by: Charlene Howard, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA
A reading from the Gospel according to John
It is written in the prophets: Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
Está escrito en los Profetas: Todos serán instruidos por Dios. Todo el que escucha al Padre y aprende de él, viene a mí. No es que alguien haya visto al Padre; el único que lo ha visto es aquel que viene de Dios. Les aseguro que el que cree tiene vida eterna. Yo soy el pan de la vida. Sus padres comieron el maná en el desierto y murieron. Éste es el pan que baja del cielo, para que quien lo coma, no muera. Yo soy el pan vivo que ha bajado del cielo.
El que coma de este pan vivirá para siempre, y el pan que yo daré es mi carne para la vida del mundo».
The Gospel of the Lord. R. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Antiphon – Antífona
Proclaimed by: Nico Gonzalez, parishioner of St. Martin of Tours
How delightful your spirit, O Lord!
To show your sweetness to your children,
You fill the hungry with good things,
Offering them the sweetest bread from heaven,
And sending the rich and haughty away empty.
Reflection – Reflexión: Sister Eilis McCulloh, HM
Wilmer and Wendy were like any other family in the rural town in which they lived. They lived in an old farmhouse and were caretakers of the farm. Wilmer worked construction and Wendy was the full-time caregiver for her father. They had 3 sons ages 12, 8, and 6 who were born in the States. The boys were excelling in school and played in the local youth football league. During the spring and summer, Wendy helped harvest crops on the farm and made a delicious strawberry pie that she shared with her neighbors. In May 2025, Wilmer was working on a construction site 45 minutes away from home when ICE showed up. Despite having a work permit and living in this country for 20 years, he was detained.
Each Sunday, Wendy packed her boys in the truck and drove the 3 hour round-trip to see Wilmer in detention. She promised Wilmer and the boys that they wouldn’t be separated for much longer. As school started up in the fall, the boys had trouble focusing in class. David, the eldest, blamed himself for his dad’s detention. In late October, Wilmer was deported to Mexico–close to the border of Guatemala. He returned to rural Guatemala – where his mother still lived. Wendy and her sons were devastated. They sought support from a local congregation of Catholic sisters and their parish—through both they relied on the promise that the Bread of Life would sustain them through every hardship.
Because she was the primary caregiver for her father, Wendy couldn’t work outside the home and their living situation was in jeopardy without Wilmer’s income. Even though the boys were US Citizens and Wendy had DACA, they had to decide what to do. They could remain in the States and move closer to relatives across the country or relocate to Guatemala to be with Wilmer. Ultimately, it was too difficult to be separated from Wilmer so, in March 2026, they made the difficult decision to return to Guatemala, a country that they had never been. Throughout the months of uncertainty, they had all been nourished by the Eucharist and sustained by their faith. Trusting in God and comforted by the support of their parish and the Sisters, Wendy and her children moved to Guatemala to reunite with Wilmer.
Collect – Colecta
O God, whose providence never fails in its design,
keep from us, we humbly beseech you,
all that might harm us
and grant all that works for our good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Stop Four: For the Body of Christ As We Continue to Welcome the Stranger | Cuarta estación: Por el Cuerpo de Cristo mientras continuamos acogiendo al extranjero
Location: Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle – La Catedral de San Mateo Apóstol
Song – Canción: Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo / We Are The Body of Christ
Sign of the Cross – La Señal De La Cruz
The Lord be with you. R. and with your spirit.
Let us be attentive to a reading from the word of God.
Acts 2:42-47 – Hechos de los Apóstoles 2:42-47
Proclaimed by: Allison Woolverton, parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Los discípulos asistían con perseverancia a la enseñanza de los apóstoles, tenían sus bienes en común, participaban en la fracción del pan y en las oraciones. Un gran sobrecogimiento se había apoderado de todos, porque los apóstoles realizaban muchos prodigios y señales maravillosas. Todos los creyentes vivían unidos y tenían los bienes en común, vendían sus bienes y posesiones, y distribuían el dinero entre ellos según las necesidades de cada uno.
Muy unidos, todos los días frecuentaban el Templo y partían el pan en las casas, participando en las comidas con alegría y sencillez de corazón. Alababan a Dios y gozaban de la simpatía de todo el pueblo. Cada día el Señor incorporaba a la comunidad a los que se salvaban.
The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.
Antiphon – Antífona
Proclaimed by: Jeanne Rossomme, a parishioner of Holy Trinity
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary,
who truly suffered, was sacrificed on the Cross for us
from whose pierced side flowed water and blood.
Be for us a foretaste of heaven in the final trial of death,
O sweet Jesus, O loving Jesus, O Jesus Son of Mary.
Reflection – Reflexión
Bishop Evelio Menjivar, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
Responsory – Responsorio
I am the living bread come down from heaven, alleluia.
1. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, alleluia.
Collect – Colecta
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Benediction and Repose of the Blessed Sacrament – Bendición y Reposición con el Santísimo Sacramento
Location: Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle – La Catedral de San Mateo Apóstol
All kneel. Todos permanecen arrodillados.
Eucharistic Song
Down in adoration falling,
This great Sacrament we hail;
Over ancient forms of worship
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith will tell us Christ is present,
When our human senses fail.
To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who made us free,
And the Spirit, God proceeding
From them Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen
Himno: Tantum Ergo
Al augusto Sacramento
veneremos con piedad.
Que el Antiguo Testamento
a este rito dé lugar
y la fe nos dé el aumento
que al sentido ha de ayudar.
A Dios Padre y a Dios Hijo
alabemos con ardor.
Alabanza a Dios bendito
le rindamos con honor,
y al Espíritu Divino
ensalcemos con loor. Amén.
You have given them Bread from heaven. R./ Having all sweetness within it.
Prayer – Oración
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Señor nuestro Jesucristo,
que en este admirable sacramento
nos dejaste el memorial de tu pasión,
concédenos venerar de tal modo
los sagrados misterios de tu Cuerpo y de tu Sangre,
que experimentemos continuamente en nosotros
el fruto de tu redención.
Tú que vives y reinas por los siglos de los siglos.
R./ Amen.
The Divine Praises – Las Alabanzas Divinas
Blessing – Bendición
The Divine Praises
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.
Las Alabanzas Divinas
Bendito sea Dios.
Bendito sea su Santo Nombre.
Bendito sea Jesucristo, verdadero Dios y verdadero Hombre.
Bendito sea el Nombre de Jesús.
Bendito sea su Sacratísimo Corazón.
Bendita sea su Preciosísima Sangre.
Bendito sea Jesús en el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar.
Bendito sea el Espíritu Santo, el Paráclito.
Bendita sea la gran Madre de Dios, María Santísima.
Bendita sea su santa e Inmaculada Concepción.
Bendita sea su gloriosa Asunción.
Bendito sea el nombre de María, Virgen y madre.
Bendito sea San José, su castísimo esposo.
Bendito sea Dios en sus ángeles y en sus santos.
Reposition – Reposición del Santísimo Sacramento
English
When the priest has blessed everyone he then replaces the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects, all stand and join in singing.
Español
Cuando el sacerdote ha bendecido a todos, vuelve a colocar el Santísimo Sacramento en el sagrario y se arrodilla; todos se ponen de pie y se unen cantando.
Holy God, we praise thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before thee;
All on earth they scepter claim;
All in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite they vast domain, Everlasting is thy reign!
Hark, the loud celestial hymn;
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord!”
Te alabamos, ¡oh gran Dios!
Tu poder inmenso honramos.
Desde el polvo con fervor
Tus prodigios veneramos,
¡Padre eterno, que jamás
Tu semblante mudarás!
De tu trono en derredor
Cantan santos serafines
A tu majestad loor,
Con benditos querubines:
“¡Santo, Santo,Santo!”; el son
Es de su eternal canción.
**We want to acknowledge the members of the local immigrant community who cannot attend the procession or Mass today out of fear for their safety. We understand the hardships they are enduring and stand with them in solidarity and friendship. We ask for God’s blessing for everyone who has joined us today, through the intercession of Our Lady, Comfort of Migrants.
We extend heartfelt thanks to all who made this celebration possible. We are especially grateful to Bishop Menjivar, Fr. Biosca OFM Cap., the Shrine of the Sacred Heart parish community, Monsignor Jameson, the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle parish community, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington’s Secretariat of Evangelization and Synodal Renewal, Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., Jesuit Refugee Service/USA,Network Lobby,Catholics in Communion, parish choirs and musicians, our dedicated volunteer readers, reflection writers, and procession volunteers. Your prayers, time, and collaboration brought this event to life and filled it with grace.
Please consider contributing to The Shrine of the Sacred Heart and The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostleso that those may continue to serve the needs of their parish communities and those who come to them for assistance and comfort.
