Sydney’s Walk with Christ procession yesterday drew an unprecedented crowd of an estimated 20,000 Catholics celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Thousands began gathering in Martin Place for the pre-procession festivities at 1pm yesterday, creating an atmosphere of jubilation and pride as musicians and singers sang well-known hymns and the sacred sounds of Gregorian chant echoed throughout the CBD.
They filed out of train stations and filled nearly 40 buses from parishes across the Sydney Archdiocese to arrive in the city centre for the event.
Students from numerous schools carried vibrant banners, their excitement a testament to the booming revival of faith among younger Catholics.
Before long, the enormous crowd was ready to witness to Christ present in the Eucharist.
At 2.30pm, the atmosphere became reverent when Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, accompanied by auxiliary bishops and other clergy, entered Martin Place with the Eucharistic Lord in a monstrance.
In their thousands, people began processing behind the Lord down Elizabeth Street, eventually winding their way to St Mary’s Cathedral.
Passersby paused, captivated by the sight of so many people unified in devotion. A sea of believers of all ages and representing all nations, sang hymns, recited the rosary and other prayers as they walked together.
Sebastian Condon, Deputy Chief Operating Officer from the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 Committee said the boom in numbers attending this year’s Walk with Christ serves as a prelude to the transformative blessings anticipated at the congress.
“Joining together for great events like Walk with Christ or the IEC in 2028 is crucial because they serve to highlight the fundamentally shared nature of our faith,” Mr Condon said.
Meanwhile, the Corpus Christi procession in Melbourne yesterday for the first time ventured into the heart of the city, Melbourne Catholic reports.
Beginning at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne then making its way towards Flinders Street and Federation Square in the CBD, stopping traffic as thousands of pilgrims sang hymns of praise and walked with Christ present in the Eucharist.
FULL STORY
Record numbers make Walk with Christ an awe-inspiring display of faith and unity (By Darren Ally, The Catholic Weekly)
Love, urgency and longing: Thousands gather for Corpus Christi (Melbourne Catholic)
