The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) is a tradition that dates backs centuries and is often marked by a unique expression, a Eucharistic Procession. It is a celebration of the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.
The Eucharist is central to the Church and is fundamental to our Catholic belief and life.
Occurring at Parishes within the Diocese of Venice and throughout the world, these Eucharistic Processions included hymns, prayers, and Scripture readings. The Blessed Sacrament is carried outdoors to show that the Lord is not confined merely to within the four walls of Church.
During his Apostolic visit to Spain, Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass, a procession, and Eucharistic blessing for the solemnity of Corpus Christi in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles on June 7, 2026 before a crowd of 1.2 million.
“As I begin my visit to Spain, it is with a heart filled with joy that I preside over this celebration on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi,” the Holy Father said.
Pope Leo said Corpus Christi is “more than just another celebration on the liturgical calendar… It is a way of returning to the heart of the faith to renew our love and fidelity to God.”
The Pope said the Corpus Christi procession is not “an exhibition, a remnant of folklore or a simple display of beauty… It is a profession of faith in the presence of the risen Lord, who is alive and continues to walk among us, who becomes bread to satiate our hunger for life, and visits the recesses of our hearts and history, even those shrouded in darkness.”
Bishop Frank J. Dewane said, “when Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, leaving His disciples behind, He promised that He would be with them (and us) always, even until the end of the world. This promise was kept not as a symbol but with the True Presence of His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.”
The Corpus Christi procession at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice occurred following the Vigil Mass on June 6. The procession in Venice with Msgr. Patrick Dubois, Cathedral Rector, included placing a consecrated host in the monstrance (a sacred vessel that displays the sacred host to the faithful). After a series of prayers before the Most Holy Eucharist the procession, led by altar servers carrying candles and an incensor, began.
Msgr. Dubois carried the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, proceeding out of the church under a canopy, to three temporary altars set up in the parking lot of the Cathedral. Participating in the procession were priests and deacons of the Cathedral, musicians and members of the choir, as well as hundreds of the faithful.
Larger processions took place at many Parishes throughout the Diocese, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Immokalee, St. Joseph in Bradenton and St. William in Naples.
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is observed two weeks after Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost, which took place on May 31 this year, is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. Pentecost is recognized as the introduction to the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the Church.
Information from Our Sunday Visitor was used in this article.
The Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus summer program continues to inspire young people to grow in faith. The week-long program is visiting different Parishes each week and offering day camp for students entering grades 1 – 6, as well as evening camp for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. Three missionary teams are leading the campers. In the first two weeks, the program has taken place at five Parishes, with the most recent at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, St. Paul parish in Arcadia, and Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria. Upcoming host Parishes include the following: St. Agnes Parish, Naples, San Pedro Parish, North Port, St. Michael Parish, Wauchula, and St. Leo the Great Parish, Bonita Springs (June 14-19); St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Cape Coral, and Sacred Heart Parish, Bradenton (June 21-26); St. James Parish, Lake Placid, St. Catherine Parish, Sebring, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Avon Park, and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, LaBelle (July 5-10); St. Joseph Parish, Bradenton, and Our Lady of Light Parish (Day Session)/ St. John XXIII Parish, Fort Myers (Evening Session) (July 12-17); Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Lakewood Ranch, and St. Jude Parish, Sarasota (July 19-24). Youth are welcome to attend any of the Totus Tuus camps, but registration is requested ahead of time. To register, please contact the hosting Parish directly. Parish contact information can be found at 
St. Jude Parish in Sarasota celebrated its 20th anniversary with a Mass and reception on May 28, 2026. The Parish was established as a Mission of St. Martha Parish in 2003, and a building campaign resulted in the construction of the Blessed Carlos Manuel Hispanic-American Center multipurpose building which service as a sanctuary for Masses, classrooms for religious instruction, and conference room and offices which were blessed and dedicated on May 28, 2006. Father Celstino Gutierrez, the founding Pastor, led the Parish through tremendous growth. Now there are more than 4,000 registered families. The Parish hosts a large Hispanic Festival each fall and has its own food pantry and a large religious education program. Upon Father Gutierrez’s retirement in 2024, Father Jiobani Batista was appointed Pastor. During the Mass, symbols of the Parish history were brought forward and included a bouquet of flags representing the multicultural Parish. A capital campaign is taking place to raise funds for a permanent Parish church.
Board members of the Catholic Medical Association of Southwest Florida gathered for a meeting with Bishop Frank J. Dewane on June 1, 2026, at the Catholic Center in Venice. Members discussed a variety of issues. Dr. Joseph Guernsey and other Board members also wished Bishop Dewane well in his coming retirement.
Teen pilgrims from St. Patrick Parish in Sarasota traveled on May 24, 2026, to St. Augustine to join the beginning of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage for the 250th Anniversary of the United States, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The pilgrims from St. Patrick’s, among two groups from the Diocese of Venice, attended the opening Mass at the location of the First Mass on American soil in 1565. The pilgrims then watched a performance group reenact the story of many priests and laypeople who died for their faith as Martyrs in the 1700s in La Florida. The day ended with a Eucharistic Procession, Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, through the streets of St. Augustine to the Cathedral. The Eucharistic Pilgrims will travel through all 13 colonies in the next six weeks, concluding in Philadelphia on 4th of July where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago in 1776.
The May Crowning for the students at St. Ann Catholic School in Naples took place during Mass on May 8. Mary was crowned by an eighth grader while second grade students, those who would receive their First Holy Communion the next day, presented flowers in Our Lady’s honor.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for students at St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral on May 7, 2026. During the Mass, Bishop Dewane prayed that were making the most of their Catholic education by growing closer to the Lord. The Bishop also encouraged the students to finish the school year strong, noting how it will propel them into success going forward. Following the Mass, Bishop Dewane took time to speak with the eighth graders, who were encouraged to ask questions. Most of the questions revolved around what it is like to be a Bishop. Afterward, the Bishop and the eighth graders stood together for a group photo.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the main celebrant for the Ave Maria University Baccalaureate Mass on May 8, 2026, in Ave Maria. The homilist was Most Rev. Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah, who also serves as a Board Member for the University. The Ave Maria University commencement exercises took place May 9. Gov. Ron DeSantis was the commencement speaker and received an honorary degree from the university.
Father Garrett Braun, a 2010 graduate of St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples, visited his alma mater on May 11, 2026. Father Braun, an Air Force Priest/Chaplain, is stationed at Aviano Air Force base in Italy. He spent time with the St. John Neumann theology classes and honors peer ministry. The students had great questions and Father Braun left them with great advice: “Continue to build your prayer life – your relationship with God.”
