| BACK
The Light in a field of faith By Michael D. Wamble Fireworks may burst into the afternoon sky above Comiskey Park on June 24, but their glow might not compare with that of the tens of thousands expected to spend their Saturday in fellowship, singing hymns of celebration of a different type of illumination: the Light of the World. At Soldier Field, for the feast of Corpus Christi, Catholics will come together to let their light shine. Employing the 1926 International Eucharistic Congress as its catalyst, the call to the entire Archdiocese of Chicago to return to a field of faith is nonetheless an historic undertaking. By radio announcements and through letters, Cardinal George has invited every parish, mission and shrine of the archdiocese to join him in this eucharistic celebration. In his statement, the cardinal wrote: “It is fitting that, during this great jubilee year, we return to the same ‘Field of Faith’ where—in the same month nearly 75 years ago—more than 500,000 Catholics came together to celebrate their faith at liturgies in Soldier Field.” With the notable exception of the two large Jumbotron screens to beam images throughout the stadium, this millennium event will mirror closely the 1926 congress. The 2000 celebration will also feature a 400-voice children’s choir especially assembled for the event, a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and utilize the gifts and volunteer help of numerous Catholics. Over 40,000 tickets have been distributed for the June 24 affair, in addition to several thousand volunteer packages to assist attendees onto the field and into the stands. “This celebration is a unique experience for contemporary Catholics and a wonderful opportunity to showcase what a rich and diverse church the Archdiocese of Chicago is,” said Sheila McLaughlin, director of the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship (ODW). ODW, along with the archdiocesan Millennium Office, has been instrumental in organizing the celebration. “The liturgy will be different from what one would find in their parish on Saturday or Sunday because of the scale of it and the number of processions. There will be a pre-liturgical procession, a Mass procession and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament, something that is specific to the date of the celebration: the feast day of Corpus Christi,” said McLaughlin. Plans that began with “broad strokes” have colored in with “more specific detail.” There’s no devil to be found in these details, but one will discover an 18-foot-high cross, with an 8-foot crossbeam, comprised of “a rainbow and beyond” of cut glass, said Father Philip Horrigan, director of art and environment for ODW. “One of the things the cardinal wanted on the sanctuary was a large cross since this event is about calling us to the message of Christ and sending us out to carry forth that message,” said Horrigan, who chairs the event’s committee for liturgical environment. “The cross is designed to have a striking presence so that it wouldn’t get lost, especially in Soldier Field,” said the priest, of the multi-colored, multi-pieced glass cross that will be suspended above the sanctuary. “The glass, all different shapes and sizes, set in a random pattern, catches the light, reflects the light, and sifts the light that is Christ, through all of the colors that we are as a people.” Soldier Field’s gates will officially open at 2 p.m. A half-hour later, the Archdiocesan Children’s Choir, first of eight archdiocesan ensembles, will shower celebration attendees with musical selections. Each of the choirs scheduled to perform reflect the varied styles and cultures represented within the archdiocese. Those choirs will include: Las Estudiantinas of Immaculate Conception Parish, Waukegan; At 4:30 p.m. Catholics will participate in a procession of banners representing the numerous Catholic parishes and institutions in Cook and Lake counties. Catholics interested in attending the event are encouraged to make the drive or ride (via public transportation) to Soldier Field at least by 4:15 p.m. in preparation of 5 p.m. Mass. And don’t worry about the eucharistic celebration running out of hosts used for Communion during the Mass. Over 60,000 have been donated for this special event. Only those seated on the field will be offered the Eucharist in both forms, said McLaughlin. At 6:45 p.m. Cardinal George will lead the procession of the Blessed Sacrament. In his letter in advance of the event, the cardinal reminded Catholics, just like the 1926 event, there will be one sole shining star at the June 24 celebration: the Eucharist. “As we prepare to celebrate together the Solemnity of the Body
and Blood of our Lord during this Jubilee Year, I pray that the
whole Church of Chicago will continue to accept the call to a
new evangelization, working to transform our culture through the
power of Jesus Christ present among us in the Blessed Sacrament.”
|