By Currents News
On Nov. 10, the Feast Day of Saint Leo, St. Leo the Great Church and Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens, honored their namesake with a vibrant street procession following the 9 a.m. Mass.
The event not only commemorated Saint Leo the Great, the former Bishop of Rome, but also paid tribute to the legacy of the first American pope.
The procession featured the singing of hymns, culminating in a resonant “Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.”
Parochial Vicar Father Ernesto Alonso led the Mass, urging students to emulate Saint Leo by serving as peacemakers and demonstrating their belief in Jesus.
The procession included a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament and a relic of Saint Leo, symbols that underscored the saint’s significance.
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Eighth graders Liliana Rodriguez and Delilah Tolentino shared their reflections, with Rodriguez saying, “I felt very special because it means I can do something for, towards other people and it can help other people get inspired.”
Tolentino added, “I enjoyed that I got to be part of it and kind of spread who Saint Leo was as an individual and how he helped our church and the Catholic community as a whole.”
The procession concluded at the church’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel a few blocks away, where a blessing was offered a blessing. The school planned additional activities throughout the day to further honor their patron saint.