The Sacrament Procession: A Living Piece of History
The yearly Sacrament Procession, which my shooting club has consistently attended for decades, started our day.
This is a very cultural celebration reflecting the rich history and customs of our village, so you see it is not only a religious one.
The club carries a special ornament affectionately called “the Heaven.”
This is a beautiful, richly decorated canopy that accompanies the procession.
The parade itself is rather magnificent.
One carries a monstrance, in which the Blessed Sacrament is shown.
Local band music follows the procession and echoes across the streets.
Many young children who had their First Communion in the past year gladly participate, usually dressed festively.
After that comes our shooting club.
Guarding the monstrance and following the priest falls on us honorally and responsibly.
Knowing that we are a part of a centuries-old legacy that unites the society, we gladly play this duty.
There is always a unique environment combining respect, community, and shared history.
The entire town stops to think back on its beginnings as the air smells incense.
A Tropical Parade and a Challenging Shooting Competition
After the serene and ceremonial Sacrament Procession, my boys and I got ready for a very different kind of event: a shooting competition.
This was also preceded by a procession, a spectacular parade of shooting clubs from across the region.
I have added some videos (14 of them sorry, haha) below to give you an impression of the enormous scale of this parade, with hundreds, if not thousands, of shooters taking part.
And here comes the challenge: while temperatures were already well above 30 degrees Celsius, most participants marched in their thick, woolen uniforms.
Imagine how hot that must have been!
Though the procession was just 1,600 meters long, given these tropical conditions it was a real test of endurance and a great physical exertion.
It was admirable how proud everyone marched despite the heat.
You could see the beads of perspiration, but also the will on their features.
It was time to shed the bulky costumes and concentrate just on the shooting competition following the procession.
Moreover, this is not a competition with a standard handgun or rifle.
We use a hefty rifle, which weights several kilos and strains the shoulder greatly.
One wants to shoot a little wooden block one and a half centimeters by one and a half centimeters by one and a half centimeters.
To further complicate matters, this block is set on a pole no less than sixteen meters above ground!
Teams of six persons complete the shooting, and then their skill level separates them into several groups.
Five teams from my shooting club were dispersed over five divisions.
Everyone wanted to present their best foot forward, of course, so there was obvious tension.
The outcomes came in following hours of focus, accuracy, and cooperation.
And I can honestly report that our teams played so brilliantly that at the end of the tournament we could bring the sought-after cup home!
Starting with custom and concluding with success, this was an amazing day.
Which summer cultural events are your favorites?
Have you ever taken part in an event that presented a significant physical challenge?
Hearing your tales intrigues me!
Wishing you all the best in life and much health.
📝 Original Dutch translated to English : Using DeepL
📷 Photos and videos: Owned and shot by me with a Samsung S25 Ultra & Edited with Canva Pro & CapCut
📷 Banners & dividers: Created with Canva Pro