Parishioners at St. Agnes in West Chester recently honored the Blessed Virgin Mary by praising her assumption into heaven throughout the borough’s streets, writes Dan McCarty for CatholicPhilly.com.

The celebration began with morning Mass at St. Agnes, continued with breakfast at the West Chester Country Club, followed with a street procession, and finished with a benediction back at the church.

The annual event took months of planning. The 14 parishioners began preparing in April by obtaining permits to use the streets of West Chester for the procession. This year, around 130 people participated.

“We keep it going,” said Committee Chairman Anthony Polito. “We’re looking for new people. We decide what to do to make it bigger.”

Some participants are extending a century-long family tradition. This year, the Queen of the Procession was Alena Boyer, the great-granddaughter of Sam Mobile, one of the original organizers of the event.

“It’s such an honor,” she said. “My great-grandfather started this. It means the world to me.”

Read more about the celebration from CatholicPhilly.com here.

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