By Emilie Ng
CATHOLICS from the seven continents of the world gathered to share language, culture and love for the Eucharist at the annual Corpus Christi procession last Sunday.
Brisbane’s ethnic communities were invited to lead decades of the Rosary during the procession at Nudgee Junior College Indooroopilly, in Brisbane’s west.
One attendee commented on the beauty of hearing the prayers in their own language.
Burundi-born Catholic Bernadetta Nzorubara, who arrived in Australia on February 10, 2006, was among many who felt at home in the procession.
“This day I remember because in my country too, it’s the same, with many, many people and lots of walking,” she said.
She said Catholics would walk for more than three hours during the Corpus Christi procession in Burundi.
The Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Blessed Mother Teresa, brought children from their Sunday school program to walk as flower girls and boys in the procession.
Three of the Sisters also led the Rosary in their native language, Swahili.
Jesuit Father Gregory Jordan, who has been involved in organising the procession for almost 25 years, said the influence of ethnic communities in Brisbane was overwhelmingly obvious at this year’s procession.
“Last week, more than ever, I was struck by the role played by ethnic communities who appear in their own right to the generality of everyone else,” Fr Jordan said.
St Stephen’s Cathedral dean Fr David Pascoe led the procession around the school oval and gave the preaching before Benediction.
Fr Pascoe preached on the importance of the Eucharist, and said the day was focused on what was central to Catholics, that of Jesus’ eternal presence.
He said the highlight was seeing the devotion of the hundreds of Catholics who were there.
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