Brisbane faithful gathered in their thousands with flags and prayers around the Blessed Sacrament and witnessed to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist as they walked the streets of Brisbane’s CBD this month, reports The Catholic Leader.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge held the monstrance at the heart of the procession and he was joined by people from across dozens of parishes, ministries, multicultural communities and orders.
Sisters of St Paul de Chartres at the procession, including Sr Theresa Maria Dao (front right). PHOTO: Catholic Leader.
St Paul de Chartres Sister Theresa Maria Dao said she had tears in her eyes seeing so many people gathered to worship the Lord.
“As soon as we get out on Elizabeth Street, my tears just come out,” she said.
“It is always a really touching experience for me.
“I just feel this overflowing love and such a great witness.”
She said there were a lot of people flocking to the procession.
“I don’t know how many thousands were there but when we walked to Queen Street, I could still see the line at Elizabeth Street,” she said.
“I just feel like such a blessing overflowed onto Brisbane’s streets, we were meeting in peace, praying and singing.
“Jesus Christ is present here and now, and he is present for each of us, that’s why it’s a powerful witness to see the love of God draw the community and the people together.”
Thousands walked the streets of Brisbane witnessing to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. PHOTO: Catholic Leader.
She said there were many multicultural communities represented at the procession.
“It’s a great feeling to see all the children of God gathering together in Brisbane,” she said.
Organisers had projected that it would be the largest Corpus Christi procession to date, with estimates at about 5000 people.
Speaking ahead of the event, Evangelisation Brisbane inclusion team officer Liliana Ortiz said attendance had grown every year.
“It is a beautiful illustration of the diversity and richness of our Catholic Church,” she said.
“The Corpus Christi Procession is a magnificent spectacle … that reminds us that Jesus is truly present among us.”
Across the weekend, the exhibition on Eucharistic Miracles was held in the Hanly Room with a relic of Blessed Carlos Acutis available for reverencing.
In Rome, Pope Francis led the Corpus Christi procession for the first time since the pandemic.
He was prevented from participating in 2022 and 2023 due to health issues.
“The Eucharistic bread is the real presence,” Pope Francis said in his homily.
“This speaks to us of a God who is not distant and jealous, but close and in solidarity with humanity; a God who does not abandon us but always seeks, waits for, and accompanies us, even to the point of placing himself, helpless, into our hands, subjecting himself to our acceptance or rejection.
“Dear brothers and sisters, how much need there is in our world for this bread.
“It is urgent to bring back to the world the good and fresh aroma of the bread of love, to continue to hope and rebuild without ever growing weary of what hatred destroys.”
This article by Joe Higgins was published in The Catholic Leader.