The Solemnity of the Most Holy and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) marked across Sydney last weekend with Eucharistic processions that brought Christ in the Blessed Sacrament into local streets as a public witness of faith.
The largest was the annual procession between St Jerome’s and St Charbel’s Maronite parishes, where more than 60 men carried a specially constructed paso bearing a 1.8-metre monstrance, sourced from Mexico, through the streets after almost a year of planning and preparation.
Organiser Norman Bejjani said the event was inspired by Sydney’s successful bid to host the International Eucharistic Congress in 2028.
“We are taking Christ back to the streets,” he told The Catholic Weekly. “We want him to be the centre of our families, our homes and our communities.”
Catholics from Maronite, Roman, Melkite, Ukrainian, Croatian and Chaldean communities joined hundreds of faithful in prayer, song and adoration.
Bejjani said the procession was intended not only as a local event but as an encouragement to other parishes.
“Hope is not found in the world. Hope has a name, and his name is Jesus Christ,” he said.
Similar Corpus Christi processions were held or planned at parishes including St Declan’s at Penshurst, St Agnes’ at Matraville, Holy Spirit at North Ryde, St Kevin’s, at Eastwood, and St Catherine Labouré at Gymea.
Together they reflected a growing enthusiasm for public expressions of Eucharistic faith as Sydney prepares to welcome pilgrims from around the world for Eucharist28.
 marked across Sydney last weekend with Eucharistic processions that brought Christ in the Blessed Sacrament into local streets as a public witness of faith.){kind=link}