Another Marian procession after centuries in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

VATICAN CITY (AP) July 14, 2010 - There will be a procession of the statue of Our Lady of Leeuwarden, the first in 500 years, in early October in the Frisian capital. The procession with the statue is the culmination of the Month of Mary, organized by the Titus Brandsma Parish in Leeuwarden. This was announced today by the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden in a story in the Fries Dagblad.

500 years ago
This year, five hundred years ago, a solemn procession was held through the city. Around 1510 there was a cult dedicated to the image.

October
The procession starts in October at the St. Boniface Church and ends at the Saint Dominic Church. The route will also pass through part of the medieval procession, the Oldehoofsekerkhof. This cemetery was formerly the location of the parish church of St Vitus, which the statue of Our Lady of Leeuwarden once adorned.

De Korte
Bishop Gerard de Korte of the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden will make a so-called Marialof, a prayer in honor of Mary.

Exhibition
Also during the Month of Mary, the Leeuwarden parish church of St Dominic will be holding an exhibition of other Marian images and statues from the other parishes in Friesland.