Is it proper for a lay person to walk next to a priest during an outdoor procession?

[jm1122]

I had never given it any thought before but when I saw a lay person in our parish walk next to our priests (rather than behind) during an outdoor procession I thought it was unusual or maybe not appropriate. Following Mass and just before the start of our St Francis of Assisi festival our 2 priests processed a relic of St Francis outside around the parish grounds where we had our festival set up. A lay person joined the procession when it came outside, walking next to one of the priests rather than following in behind. Since it is after Mass has ended and its outdoors is this appropriate?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I had never given it any thought before but when I saw a lay person in our parish walk next to our priests (rather than behind) during an outdoor procession I thought it was unusual or maybe not appropriate. Following Mass and just before the start of our St Francis of Assisi festival our 2 priests processed a relic of St Francis outside around the parish grounds where we had our festival set up. A lay person joined the procession when it came outside, walking next to one of the priests rather than following in behind. Since it is after Mass has ended and its outdoors is this appropriate?

May be there was a reason and the priest(s) arranged this. You’d need to ask them about it.

 

[Anna_Claire]

There are no rules about the order of those processing with a relic like there would be for a liturgical procession at mass. For a Eucharistic celebration the priest presider is always last in the procession.