Catholic Teens Lead Northern Idaho Community in First Ever Eucharistic Procession

By Lisa Ormond | FāVS News

More than 300 Catholics participated in Northern Idaho’s first youth-led Eucharistic Procession through downtown Coeur d’Alene on May 20, with local teenagers organizing the religious ceremony.

“I feel the youth shared their faith today. It was really good for the youth to lead a procession in front of other people not Catholic,” said 15-year-old Blaze Howard who is a parish member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Coeur d’ Alene (CdA) where the procession began.

“God is doing something amazing in our youth, in this community, and in our families,” said Jason Chavez, founder of Communio CDA which co-hosted the Eucharistic Procession. “I’m excited to see how the Holy Spirit is moving through this generation. There is a revival happening.”

Gathering for Jesus

About 60 Catholic youth from six area parishes participated in the procession. The event marked the first public Eucharistic Procession in the Coeur d’Alene region in more than four years.

“It was powerful to have all the youth here. A lot of devotion was seen today,” said 15-year-old Canadian Isabella Yep who attends Coeur du Christ Academy as an exchange student. “It was definitely worth coming and taking part in this today.” 

How the historic walk came to be

The idea for the procession arose from the heart of Coeur d’ Alene 16-year-old Owen Keith following the completion of a 40-day Lenten experience involving Exodus 90, a spiritual program designed for men. 

“It (Exodus program) inspired me to think about a public proclamation of faith,” Keith said.

With no hesitation in making his holy passion come to life, Keith approached local Catholic youth leaders to help him plan and execute a youth-led Eucharistic Procession.

Chavez, the campus minister at Holy Family Catholic School and Wes Miller, the coordinator of Youth Ministry of St. Piux X Catholic Church in Coeur d’ Alene, were invited by Keith to assist, and they immediately joined forces to support him.

Unspoken shifts of wonder

According to Miller who has served in his church role for seven years, “the Lord is at work within our youth” and the May 20 procession was a sign of His divine’s intervention. “

Once young people encounter Christ, they catch fire and are no longer afraid to bear the torch of faith and bring hope to their generation,” he said.

St. Pius X Catholic Church Deacon Chris Stewart was one of four area deacons who processed with Keith and other youths through downtown with the Eucharist (body of Christ) in a special container called a monstrance, agreed with Miller.

Spiritual strength

Keith led his Catholic community through the streets of his hometown carrying the processional cross in front proudly and with deep devotion. This was his first Eucharistic procession.

“Although carrying the Cross was burdensome, the thought kept coming to my head, ‘My cross is light compared to the Cross Jesus carried on Calvary,’” said Keith.

Joseph Girard, a Coeur d’ Alene High School sophomore and friend of Keith’s, was directly behind him as a candle bearer for the three-mile walk with Jesus.

“Tension entered me as the procession began,” Girard said. “But we knew why we were there and the importance of it. We knew the Lord was physically before us and out for the world to see.”

He trusted and they came

Keith was hoping for 150 Catholics to accompany him on his public faith journey but more than double that amount arrived in strollers, bicycles, and on their feet to walk, pray and sing with him and the youth on the route from St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church to McCuen Park in downtown CdA.

“I was astonished by the number of people who also volunteered their time and talents to help our procession,” he said. “We had signs made for us, relics brought, and plenty of people to help carry them,” said Keith.

“For me personally, the procession was magnificent. It filled me with great pride that our Catholic community came together in such a strong and meaningful way,” he added.

Followers’ reactions

Attendees complimented and praised the youth for their dedication and their holy efforts with the Eucharistic Procession. Believers who participated did so in silent reverence and were touched by the experience.

“It’s so exciting seeing so many youths and to have a youth-led procession with their love for Jesus present,” said Cindy Young, a 73-year-old parishioner of St. Pius X. “This is so beautiful that so many churches of our community of the body of Christ of Kootenai County are here.”

St. Thomas parish member Tami Lasher said this was not her first Eucharistic procession as a Catholic, but it would be a memorable one.

“It was very moving for me to see the amount of youth here tonight. This was amazing,” Lasher said.

Looking ahead

This historic event represented an important, sacred step for the Catholic community in North Idaho, said participants.

“The need for revival is now,” Keith said. “Not only in our world, not only in our nation or state or town, but in every fiber of every human being.”

Chavez, who walked and stood near Keith and the other young men during the entire procession dressed in traditional Catholic altar server vestments, sensed spiritually a true missionary mindset among them. 

“God is moving. The Holy Spirit is stirring. And this is just the beginning.”