A Dallas Tradition

Monsignor John M. Wiewell explained the history of the procession in his sermon on Christ the King in 1959:

The real beginning of this grand profession of our allegiance to Christ the King can probably be attributed to a Holy Name rally and parade by all the Catholic men of Dallas in the year 1940. Nearly 4,000 men and boys marched in that Holy Name Parade from the grounds of the Sacred Heart Cathedral to the grounds of the former Ursuline Academy on Bryan and Haskell Streets. There, on an outside altar, the present Bishop Nold, of the Galveston Diocese preached the sermon and Bishop Lynch, of happy memory, was the celebrant of Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. This was on the Feast of the Holy Name . . . the Second Sunday in January, a clear but cold wintry day.
The following year it was decided to change the date of this city-wide Catholic observance from the feast of the Holy Name to the Feast of Christ the King because we anticipated better weather on the last Sunday in October than on the second Sunday in January. A Procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Solemn Field Benediction was planned with Catholic men, women and children of all the Catholic parishes and institutions of the city taking part. For many years this ceremony was held on the lower field of the present Jesuit High School. Later the Solemn Field Benediction was held in front of Jesuit High School. Three years ago we used this great Memorial Auditorium for the first time to accommodate the ever-increasing thousands who participate each year on the Feast of Christ the King.

After the procession moved to the city streets, the Eucharist was not carried, but benediction was celebrated at Dallas Memorial Auditorium, now part of the Convention Center.

This year, on the 100th anniversary of the Feast of Christ the King and the 86th year since the first procession, we revive this piece of Dallas Catholic culture.

Photographs, 1940–1965

Auxiliary Bishop Augustine Danglmayr, kneeling in center, gives the benediction with the Blessed Sacrament in the Feast of Christ the King at old Jesuit High School (at Oak Lawn and Blackburn). There are approximately 10,000 Catholics in attendance. Rev. Robert Rehkemper is on the Bishop's left; to the Bishop's right is Fred Moseman.

1940 The procession follows the monstrance across the old Dallas University field on Oak Lawn

1940 Msgr. Augustine Danglmayr holds the monstrance aloft for adoration

1942 A Marine, a sailor and a soldier carry the colors at the head of the procession, Jesuit High School

1943 The procession passes through a crowd of kneeling Dallas Catholics, Jesuit High School

1946 The head of the procession crosses the Jesuit High School athletic field; inset, Bishop Joseph P. Lynch at the field altar

1948 Bishop Joseph P. Lynch carries the Blessed Sacrament to the altar, Jesuit High School

1949 Part of the crowd on the Jesuit High School campus, with chartered buses beyond

1951 Bishop Augustine Danglmayr carries the Blessed Sacrament across the Jesuit High School athletic field

1952 Bishop Thomas K. Gorman joins the procession; 12,000 attended, the largest crowd in Dallas history to that time

1953 Thousands gather at the outdoor altar, Jesuit High School, Dallas

1953 At the outdoor altar, Jesuit High School, Dallas

1954 Thousands fill the grounds of Jesuit High School

1955 The procession on the grounds of Jesuit High School, Dallas

1956 More than 9,000 gather at Jesuit High School, Dallas

1956 Bishop Augustine Danglmayr carries the Blessed Sacrament beneath the canopy before more than 10,000 people

1957 12,000 at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium after the procession

1959 St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Richardson, arrives at the Memorial Auditorium

1959 St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Dallas, arrives at the Memorial Auditorium

1959 Four-year-old Carol Olsovsky stands with rosary in hand during the ceremony

1960 More than 12,000 at the Memorial Auditorium, Dallas

1960 An estimated 12,000 Catholics process through downtown Dallas

1961 Some 14,000 at the Memorial Auditorium after processing through downtown Dallas

1961 Msgr. William O'Brien preaches to the assembly at the Memorial Auditorium

1962 Thousands turn out for the annual Christ the King services

1963 The procession approaches the Memorial Auditorium

1965 The procession on the streets of downtown Dallas

Photographs: The Texas Catholic and The Dallas Morning News. Click a photo to see it full size.