At the invitation of the little servants of Christ The King prayer community, Father Fernando Suarez and Father Jeffrey Shannon, priests of the Companions of the Cross based in Ottawa, were in Sudbury to celebrate the Eucharist followed by prayer for healing on the evening of Thursday, May 8th and again on the morning of Friday, May 9th. Visitors from as far away as North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Manitoulin Island, Quebec, Kapuskasing, Timmins, Haileybury, Elliot Lake, Massey, Verner, Espanola, Alban and some newcomers to Canada who were originally from the Philippines and had been in Canada for just one month, were among hundreds who filled Our Lady of Hope Church on Thursday evening.

Father Suarez and Father Shannon, mandated by their Order for this ministry, have been travelling throughout the world for the past two years celebrating Masses followed by prayers for healing. 

In his introductory remarks Father Shannon stated that the Eucharist is the greatest prayer of our Church. Both Father Suarez and Father Shannon made it clear that they consider themselves only as God’s instruments and it is the Lord who does the healing.  Father Suarez told the congregation, “What Jesus is offering is more than healing. He is going to save us because He is our salvation.” He continued, "I hope you are here, not only because you want to feel better, want to be cured, but I hope you are here because you want to experience God.“

Following the celebration of the Eucharist on Thursday evening, which was presided by Father Fernando, he prayed for each individual who desired him to minister to them.

On Friday morning several hundred were in attendance for the Mass, which was celebrated by Father Jeff, and once again Father Fernando prayed with all who came forward to be ministered to.

With all praise and honour to the Lord who is our healer, many came forward to publicly witness to how the Lord had touched and healed them through Father Fernando’s prayers.

The free-will offering received was for ‘Mary, Mother of the Poor‘, the foundation founded by Father Fernando to assist the poor through their feeding , livelihood and scholarship programmes, among others.