CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION AT VILLA MARIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 430, 8 July 1881, Page 19

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION AT VILLA MARIA.

(From a Correspondent of the Sydney Telegraph.) At Villa Maria, Parramatta, where the Marist Fathers have been so long established, the imposing Catholic ceremony of the Corpus Christi procession took place on Sunday. High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father Jollie, the Provincial of the Order, assisted by the Revs. Father Cone and Soyer, as deacon and sub-deacon ; and the Rev. Father Genissey, as master of ceremonies. The choir performed some very sweet and devotional music during the service. After mass, Father Jollie briefly explained the import of the beautiful ceremony of the procession as being an act of faith in the holiest of the mysteries of the Catholic Church, and exhorted all to maintain that high order and respect fitted for so solemn an occasion. The procession then began to move from the church — boys with banners, and students of the Marist School with white sashes (about 100), two abreast ; girls of the Convent Schools (about 100), dressad in white, with veils and wreaths of flowers, and carrying large banners ; ladies (about 300) with banners at intervals ; gentlemen (about 300), some from the various colonies of Australia and New Zealand ; theti the Marist Brothers, followed by the prießts— the Rev. Fathers Jollie, Muraire, Cone, Tresillet, Soyer, Genissey, Pichi and the Rev. Father Donovan (of Mudgee) carrying on high the sacred Host, under a gorgeous gold-fringed canopy, borne by the Brothers, while a guard of gentlemen formed the rear. The procession, which occupied a length of about 400 yards, and included about \OOO persons in all, wended its way along the tortuous and zig-zag well laid- off roads on the extensive estate, past gardens of flowers from many lands, through orange groves, the trees bearing ripe fruit, and all presenting delicious perfumes ; while now and again the smoke from the incense would rise high up, curling in the calm air — for the day was truly clear and beautiful. Now would be heard the chanting of solemn hymns by the stentorian voices of the men, and again by the clear musical voices of the girls in their white dresses — all adding.a religious solemnity to the pageant. The higher ground was at last approached, and the procession having passed a triumphal gateway of four white pillars supporting an arch, prettily designed of flowers and ornamental hangings, halted, when all went down on their knees, while the priests, with the sacred Host, proceeded about 300 feet further on to a high altar, where solemn benediction in the open air was given to the prostrate crowd. The high altar was most artistically arranged, with a richly decorated massive canopy over the tabernacle rising to a height of 30 feet, surmounted by a cross resting on arched ribs spreading from columns representing blue marble with golden capitals ; on either side were colossal vases overflowing with flowers and sweet-scented shrubs, while side altars, dedicated to the blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, completed a tableau of surpassing gracefulness. After the Benediction the procession reformed, and resumed the march in the same order as before, and went back to the beautiful church, when solemn Benediction was again given, the church being literally crowded to the very door. Shortly afterwards the large congregation dispersed, and the people went back to their various homes highly delighted at witnessing so imposing a spectacle, and one that will be long remembered by all who were present.