The celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi on Thursday begins with Holy Mass at the Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah at 8.30 a.m.
Parishes in Port of Spain and its environs, students of Catholic primary and secondary schools and members of the various religious communities, lay communities and other devotees come together to witness to the ‘Body of Christ’, the great gift that Jesus left His followers—the Holy Eucharist.
The procession that follows Mass will take the faithful from the Grand Stand on to Queen’s Park East, proceeding into Charlotte Street, then right on to Park Street, heading west up to Frederick Street.
At Frederick Street, the procession moves south to Independence Square, and turns east along Independence Square to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. It concludes with Solemn Benediction.
This year the Catholic Church will be celebrating the 235th anniversary of Corpus Christi in Trinidad and Tobago.
PTSC buses will be available (free of charge) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to shuttle the faithful to the Queen’s Park Savannah. These buses will be located on the southern end of the Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC’s) office on South Quay, Port of Spain. Additionally, after the procession, devotees will be shuttled from noon to 1.30 p.m. to the Savannah to collect their vehicles.
In south Trinidad, the parishes of La Romaine, Mon Repos, Pointe-à-Pierre, Marabella and San Fernando (Les Efforts, Vistabella) will have their Corpus Christi Mass from 8.30 a.m. as well.
La Romaine parish priest Msgr Christian Pereira will be the main celebrant while Pointe-à-Pierre parish priest Fr Godfrey Stoute will preach the homily. The procession follows through the southern city’s streets.
The Corpus Christi Mass for Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima will be celebrated on Wednesday evening followed by the procession through the streets of the eastern borough.
The Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi—the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ —on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday. Its celebration on a Thursday is meant to associate it with the institution, by Jesus, of the Eucharist during the Last Supper.
Last year’s Corpus Christi procession turns on to Independence Square. Photo: Gerard-Paul Wanliss