From Congress to Corpus Christi

By Sr Renée K Hall OP

Vice Principal (Ag), Holy Name Convent

On Monday, May 5, I walked into a packed Church of the Assumption in the midst of exuberant praise, worship, and prayer. I found a crevice near to the choir to kneel as Fr Patrick Gonyeau processed with the Blessed Sacrament. He approached me with the words: “bride of Christ.” In that brief moment, the Lord reminded me powerfully that I had taken Him as my spouse.

As the days before the Eucharistic Congress progressed, my anticipation of what the Lord had in store for us grew even more each day.

As I walked through the gates on Saturday, May 10, my mind was flooded with memories of the last time I was in the Queen’s Park Oval for a Eucharistic Congress. It was 28 years ago, and I was in Lower Six. Now I was walking in as a Religious Sister.

The entire experience of the Congress provided an outpouring of grace that I did not expect. I’ve pondered on what transpired during the course of the day and it occurred to me how powerfully God works when the people of God come together, plan meticulously and work towards the successful execution of an event such as a Eucharistic Congress.

The experience reminded me that when the people of God show up and present themselves before the Lord, He pours Himself out; everything worked in concert on that day. The faithful from the four corners of Trinidad and Tobago came together.

I was very touched by the deliberate moments of silence as the monstrance made its way around the perimeter of the Oval. I was inspired by the young people who made the first bold moves out of the stand where I sat among the faithful of the Northern Vicariate.

They knelt, they prayed earnestly, and they prostrated themselves before our Eucharistic Lord. I took my first faltering steps following their lead. I am still struggling to find the words to describe the encounter that made me feel liberated, consumed even as a bride of Christ. I felt as though the Lord was courting me again— “you have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced” (Jer 20:7).

All throughout the day, I knew we were experiencing a foretaste of Heaven.

I firmly believe that God is doing something new—can we feel it? Can we see it? Can we taste it? How are we embracing the opportunity that God is presenting to us?

These questions pursued me even as I entered into the celebration of Corpus Christi on Thursday, June 19. Once more, I joined the faithful gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

As I entered into the Mass and walked the streets of Port of Spain more questions came at me. What is the quality of our Catholic public witness? What does it mean to be Catholic? Does this Feast mean anything to the average Catholic as we see the numbers getting smaller and smaller every year? Is it possible for parishes that are close to each other to join so that we can make a more powerful statement? Are we prepared to use all the modes of media to teach, to promote and once more draw the faithful to actively participate in the only public holiday granted for Catholics?

It is such a privilege to be able to publicly profess our faith with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance sanctifying our streets and all God’s people as He passes by.

In the last couple of months, we have looked on in horror at the videos and images pervading the media with boys and girls fighting. Perhaps, Corpus Christi provides us with an opportunity to counter these images with children and teenagers at prayer—kneeling, praying and praising God.

Is this Jubilee Year inviting us to dwell in the realm of hope which points us to the possibilities beyond what meets the eyes and our own abilities? Do we dare to take the risks to radically witness to our faith in the Eucharistic Lord without counting the cost?

As an educator, I think all the time about the inheritance that I received and what I will be passing on to the generations that are coming behind me. Will they be equipped to accept the baton that is being passed on to them in this marathon of faith?

In 2025, we are at another historical crossroad moving from the first quarter of the third millennium into the second quarter. The young people in our charge need us to create opportunities for them to nourish the seeds of faith planted in them at Baptism so they can flourish.

How will we equip the young to run their leg of the marathon of faith with fidelity, courage, and creativity? How can we in the next 12 months, as we prepare for Corpus Christi on Thursday June 4, 2026, engage in dialogue in the spirit of synodality and mutual listening to try to revamp the turnout for this Feast?

At the Eucharistic Congress, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon stated that the Archdiocese of Port of Spain is 175 years old this year. These years symbolise unbroken service to the people of God by Catholic parishes and institutions.

May this Jubilee Year of Grace create in us a quiet resolve to recommit to the work of re-building, re-envisioning, and re-imagining new possibilities as we strive to keep building God’s Kingdom.

May our Eucharistic Lord fill us indeed with food for the journey which gives us life so that we may feed others.

I know that this Feast was very close to the heart of Archbishop Gordon Anthony Pantin. Let us call on his intercession.

Archbishop Pantin, Servant of God, pray for us.