"The first Corpus Christi Procession in the Meade-Hardin County district of our Archdiocese, was held on the grounds of St. Martin’s Church, Flaherty, Ky on June 15, 1952, and Archbishop John A. Floersh was the celebrant. The two reasons why St. Martin’s Church was chosen are because of its central location: It is in Meade County and close to the Hardin County line. Another reason is because its extensive grounds seem well adapted to a public procession. Besides St. Martin’s parishes in Meade County are St. Teresa’s, Andyville, St. Mary Magdalene’s, Payneville, St. John the Apostle, Brandenburg. The parishes of Hardin County which participate are St. Brigid’s, Vine Grove; St. Ambrose, Cecilia; St. John’s Rineyville; St. Christopher, Radcliff. Moreover, the Catholic Chaplains at Fort Knox come and encourage the Catholic soldiers to take part in the procession. The attendance has been growing steadily. The number at the first procession was about 1,500. Now there are about 3,000 in attendance. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, 30 to 40 from Louisville and Vine Grove councils, have been faithful in coming every year to form the guard of honor to Christ, our Eucharist Lord."

St. Martin’s Church

Flaherty, Ky.

May 29, 1952

To the Rev. Pastors of Hardin and Meade Counties:

The committee of three priests appointed by Msgr. Timoney at our meeting here on April 30^th has met several times to make plans for the first Corpus Christi Procession in this part of the archdiocese. In spite of our best efforts to foresee all the details, we realize that there may be many that we have overlooked. However, we ask you to help us to make our first procession run as smoothly as possible, by reading this letter to your people on Sunday, June 8^th, and by making any explanations that you may think will be helpful.

The date for the procession is Sunday, June 15^th. The place will be the church grounds here at Flaherty.. The time will be 3:30 P.M., daylight saving time. The procession will not last more than an hour. As the addition of a sermon has been found helpful at the processions both at Nazareth and Loretto, we too, plan to have a short sermon before the final benediction. We have invited Father Francis Flaherty, C.P., a veteran Chinese missionary, recently expelled from that country to speak to our people

We ask you to urge your people to come for the primary purpose of giving a public demonstration of their faith and love of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and to receive His special blessings, we should remind our people that this is their own procession and that its continuance as an annual event will depend largely upon their interest and attendance.

Briefly, our plan is as follows: The first altar will be located in front of the new gymnasium, under the little roof extension. The second altar will be located in front of the mound marking the site of altar of the first church. The third altar will be located in front of the back-stop of the ball diamond. The men and boys of each parish will assemble in lines (four abreast) parallel to the concrete walk which lies between the church and grade school building. Each parish is asked to bring its Holy Name Banner (if they have one) and an American flag. The servers will march with their pastor at the head of their parish group. The women and children are asked to assemble on the terrace at the side of the church facing the gym, where the first altar will be located. Then, after the Celebrant carrying the Blessed Sacrament, leaves the first altar, the women and children are asked to follow behind the Celebrant. However, as the Celebrant approaches the second altar, the women and children are asked to assemble along the sides of the little road through the cemetery, or to go directly to the infield of the ball diamond, where they will be able to see both the second and the third altars.

We ask the cooperation of every car-driver, with our local parking committee. Our plan is this: Let every car-driver stop in front of the church to let all his passengers get out. Then the driver is asked to park his car on the back half of the ball diamond, (picnic parking lot). There is a culvert at the back end of this lot, and the cars will be headed toward this exit. Hence, there should be little delay in leaving after the procession. Ask the drivers to please park their cars bumper to bumper, and as close (side by side) as possible. When this lot is filled, the parking committee will help you to park on the other roads through and around the picnic grounds. But they are asked not park in front of the church nor on either side of the road which leads to the cemetery as this would obstruct the view of the procession. As it will take some time to park these cars and to assemble the marchers, we ask you to urge your people to come an hour or at least half an hour before the procession is due to begin. The Flaherty School Band will give a short concert before the procession

We are happy to announce that His Excellency, our Most Rev. Archbishop, has graciously consented to be the Celebrant in our procession. Likewise, two native citizens of Meade County have accepted our invitation to be Deacon and Sub-deacon. They are Father Thomas Buren, Assistant at the Cathedral in Louisville, and Father Vessels, assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Church, St. Matthews. Father Joseph Diemert, St. Brigid’s Church, Vine Grove, will be the official director of the procession itself. Father Charles Kelty, St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, Payneville, will be in charge of the public address system, to make the necessary announcements and to lead in recitation of public prayers. Everybody, both marchers and spectators, are urged to answer vocally in the recitation of the rosary, litanies, ejaculations, etc. The honor of carrying the canopy over the Blessed Sacrament will be shared by four men, one from each of the following parishes: St. James, Elizabethtown; St. Teresa’s, Rhodelia; St. Ambrose, Cecilia; St. John the Apostle, Brandenburg. The pastor of each of these churches will please notify the central committee of the name of the man whom the pastor has appointed for this honor. The cross-bearer, censer-bearers, candle-bearers, etc., will be selected from the servers at St. Martin’s Church. The parking committee will consist of members of the Holy Name Society from the same parish. Father Paul Russell, St. Martin’s Church, Flaherty, will be the master of ceremonies, and custodian of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

At 3:25 P.M. the church bell will ring which will be the signal to keep silence, for then the Blessed Sacrament will be brought to the first altar and publicly exposed for adoration. It goes without saying that the very purpose of such a public procession is to give reverence and adoration to God who has so loved us that He wills to live among us. After the final Benediction, everyone is asked to remain quietly in their places until the Blessed Sacrament has been taken away from the third altar.

To defray the expenses of the procession, we (the committee) decided that it would be more satisfactory and respectful to pass the collection a second time on either June 8^th or 15^th. The money collected would be put into a Corpus Christi Procession Fund at a local bank to pay for present and future expenses. Among the more necessary and expensive items are a canopy ($150.00) loud speakers ($150), altar decorations, etc. (It is requested that no solicitations for money, i.e. selling picnic books, etc., be made on this occasion.) It is the wish of our Most Rev. Archbishop that every man, woman and child receive Holy Communion that morning as the best proof of our faith and love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Finally, every family in this district is urged to call upon our Blessed Mother in their daily family rosary, that this religious event may be one worthy of her Divine Son, and that it may also be the occasion of many graces for everyone, both those who march and those who watch the procession, with all possible reverence and devotion.

Committee: Rev. J.J. Diemert; C.C. Kelty, and P.M. Russell.

"In spite of the weather, 98^o in Louisville, the hottest since 1890, there was a good crowd. According to Sgt. Dobbs, our official counter, there were 603 men in the procession, 821 women and children spectators, 350 cars parked. The procession actually started at 3:35 and ended at 4:35, including a ten minute sermon. The Archbishop seemed well pleased, and made the remark that he thought it the part of prudence for the Fourth Degree K of C’s, to dispense with some of the warmer parts of their uniforms. (I suggest that they wear their broad ribbon and swords over a white shirt, and their chapeaux. One K of C fainted. The medical attendants or someone should carry aromatic spirits, as first aid.)

. . .

"The choir sang well, but should have gone to the third altar after they sang the hymn after the first Benediction. The band concert before the procession, seemed to add to the spirit of the occasion. . . ."

The above comments and memo were taken from a notebook entitled "Corpus Processions" located at the Archives of St. Martin of Tours, Flaherty, Kentucky.