Bringing peace, prayer, and healing to the nation

MINOT, N.D. – Billed as a Citywide Eucharistic Procession to help bring peace, prayer, and healing to the nation, the Sunday event in Minot was extraordinary by any estimation, employing all four Minot Catholic pastors leading their parishioners and others on a trek through Minot. It generated hearts beating anew to fresh life in contrast to the mindless vermin and violence spewing out of marches and protests across the land, casting a pall over American life and clogging television screens.

It was Priesthood Sunday. And each pastor-Rev. David Richter, St. John the Apostle, Rev. Kenneth Phillips, St. Therese of Little Flower, Rev. Justin Waltz, St. Leo the Great, and Rev. Bruce Krebs, Our Lady of Grace-presided over his parish as the procession moved, starting from St. John the Apostle and proceeding to the other parishes.

It was estimated the procession covered one and a half miles from parish to parish. In addition to marchers, there were carts and other vehicles carrying people. Those who did not march participated through Eucharistic Adoration at each of the churches.

Leading off with Mass at St. John the Apostle, marchers moved outdoors where Father Richter offered prayers of minor exorcism, a ritual to drive out evil spirits wherever they dwell. Then, lining up behind Richter carrying the Blessed Sacrament inside the monstrance, the procession took off behind the American flag and the flag of the Vatican carried by members of the Knights of Columbus. A trumpet fanfare announced their arrival and departure. Juniors and seniors from Bishop Ryan Catholic School, organized by Rev. Gregory Crane, school chaplain, served for Mass and the procession. Father Crane also was the official master of ceremonies for the event.

The procedure followed at each parish with its pastor assuming the lead role of prayers of exorcism and carrying the Blessed Sacrament to the next destination.

The procession concluded with Benediction at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church.

The event had its origins in a men’s group at Our Lady of Grace Church. Jeff Case, a member of the group, said they had not been able to meet since the pandemic began. Normally they meet monthly, he said, and they were missing the connection with one another.

“We approached our pastor, Father Bruce Krebs, and told him we needed to do something. Finally, on August 21, we sat down and brainstormed about what we might do to combat the problems we are facing. We felt that we should demonstrate some leadership. Eventually, we started talking about a procession. We contacted the pastors of the other Catholic parishes in Minot and got positive responses from all of them.”

They formed a committee with representatives from each parish: Beverly Brintnell of St. Leo’s, Lucas DeMers of St. John’s, Hans Gayzur, a deacon at Little Flower, and Case.

“Our main purpose,” Case said, “is that we believe we need to return to the Lord in prayer. We’d like to cultivate a community of prayer in Minot, asking everyone to recognize we need to respond to the Lord. We have so many problems in the country. The politicians aren’t solving them. How about someone more powerful? How about the Lord?”

The committee started meeting September 2. “There were so many logistics to deal with,” DeMers noted. He served as official videographer. “I walked or ran the whole way in order to capture this historic event” he said.

Case noted the procession was a block long with people dropping off at various points and others joining in. He estimates at least one thousand people participated in the event.

At its conclusion, all of the priests in the Minot region were guests at a dinner arranged by the Serra Club of North Central North Dakota in observance of Priesthood Sunday.

Bringing peace, prayer, and healing to the nation

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Trending Slider

North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracks 20 outdoors-related bills during 2025 legislative session

North Dakota Highway Patrol wraps up successful 2025 Summit for Women in Law Enforcement

City of Bismarck reminds residents about advertising restrictions in the public right of way for safety and accessibility

Watermain work to impact traffic at Washington St & Broadway Ave, causing lane reductions and overnight closure

Child was indcently assauIted, beginning when he was just 12, by his schooIteacher, who confirmed the reIationship occurred while the child was enrolled at the middIe schooI: police

Husband went to confront his spouse’s parent after the highly lntoxicated woman showed him sweIIing on her head following an argument with the elderly man, only to kiII him at his home: DA

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Bringing peace, prayer, and healing to the nation

Related posts

Public input meeting will be held on March 30 to discuss the proposed replacement of the bridge over Heart River on County Road 137 southeast of Almont

Mandan Parks and Recreation Settles ADA Violations at Starion Sports Complex

City officials are cautioning local residents to be on the lookout for notes on their doors stating house numbers will be painted on curbs in exchange for a $20 fee

Fargo state senator victim of catalytic converter theft

Governor Burgum has signed legislation allowing tribal nations to enter into agreements with the State of North Dakota to share revenue from alcohol taxes on tribal lands, resolving a longstanding issue

Madison group plans to challenge North Dakota’s Ten Commandments law

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

North Dakota Game and Fish Department tracks 20 outdoors-related bills during 2025 legislative session

North Dakota Highway Patrol wraps up successful 2025 Summit for Women in Law Enforcement

City of Bismarck reminds residents about advertising restrictions in the public right of way for safety and accessibility

Watermain work to impact traffic at Washington St & Broadway Ave, causing lane reductions and overnight closure

Child was indcently assauIted, beginning when he was just 12, by his schooIteacher, who confirmed the reIationship occurred while the child was enrolled at the middIe schooI: police

Husband went to confront his spouse’s parent after the highly lntoxicated woman showed him sweIIing on her head following an argument with the elderly man, only to kiII him at his home: DA