The Solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ) was celebrated in a slightly different way this year in the Sudbury area.  In anticipation of the 49^th International Eucharistic Congress which will take place in Quebec City next month, Catholics from the city of Greater Sudbury and surrounding areas were invited to participate in a special Mass and a procession which wound through the streets of downtown Sudbury.

At the beginning of the Mass which took place at the Church of Christ the King, His Excellency, Jean-Louis Plouffe thanked the organizing committee who were responsible for the details of this unique celebration:

• Mr. Normand Blanchard, Diocesan Coordinator of Liturgical Music and Diocesan Delegate to the 49th International Eucharistic Congress as well as the members of the Sudbury Region Diocesan Choir who provided the music for this celebration;
• Rev. Anthony Man-Son-Hing, pastor of Christ the King and parishioners who opened their doors, and provided the space for the celebration of the Mass as well as various activities which were held throughout the day;
• Rev. Ronald Perron, SJ, pastor of Ste-Anne-des-Pins and parishioners who also opened the doors of their church for a portion of the Eucharistic procession, and their parish grounds for the barbeque which followed;
• Mrs. Donna Cortolezzis and her family who designed the 'float' which transported the Bishop and provided the staging area for the Eucharistic procession;
• Mrs. Brenda Cavalin, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Saint Patrick's parish (Sudbury) who organized a retreat for youth in conjunction with this celebration;
• Mrs. Stephanie Manarin, Coordinator of Sacramental Preparation at Saint Patrick's parish and Mrs. Brenda Stankiewicz, Coordinator of Children's Liturgy at Christ the King (Sudbury) who organized a day of activities for children;
• Mr. John Lundrigan, Mr. Pierre Beaumier and members of the Knights of Columbus from local Councils who organized the barbeque which followed the procession;
• Deacon Marcel Lefebvre from Ste-Anne-des-Pins parish who coordinated the 'entertainment' portion of the afternoon festivities during the barbeque;
• All the priests, deacons and religious who were present for the celebration.

We would like to thank Ethel Fraser from the Whitefish First Nation who conducted the smudging ceremony at the beginning of the liturgy and Karleen Lachance who sang and drummed during the smudging.  We are also grateful to Marianna Do and Alexandra Stankiewicz, Grade 6 students at Saint Theresa's school in Sudbury who proclaimed the readings and the Prayers of the Faithful during the Mass.

This was the first time in recent memory that a Corpus Christi procession was held in the Sudbury area.  More than 500 people filled the church for the Mass and then spilled out onto the front lawn and the neighbouring streets for the procession which included dramatized accounts of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Mt 14:13-21), The Last Supper (Lk 22:14-20) and the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) performed at various places along the route by Kenny Burns, Evan Urso, and Kaitlynd Burns, parishioners from Saint Patrick's parish as well as Kaitlin Bruley and Caitlin Frappier, students at Sacre-Coeur Secondary School.

The liturgy concluded with benediction inside Ste-Anne-des-Pins church, and participants then mingled freely outside the church where the barbeque and musical entertainment of various sorts continued well into the evening hours.

• Pictures from the celebration

Our sincere thanks to all those participated in this special celebration.  Your presence is a continued testimony to your belief that Jesus in the Eucharist is indeed God's gift for the life of the world.