Despite driving wind and rain, the brave souls from the Catholic Society at Sydney University went ahead with their annual Eucharistic Procession across campus, on Thursday 11 October.
“It was a great success,” second-year Commerce student, and executive member of the Catholic Society, Brendan Desouza, told The Catholic Weekly.
“The day before the Procession we were forced to cancel all activities as one of our tents broke due to the strong rain and wind. However, we were determined to have the Procession and still went ahead with it on Thursday despite the rain and wind!”
The Procession, led by Chaplain Fr Mannes Tellis OP, made its way through the University Quadrangle and down Eastern Avenue, to the Catholic Student Centre.
“More often than not, Catholics at USyd are faced with hostility for merely voicing their opinions and presenting Catholic teaching,” Mr Desouza said. “However, we continue to hold events on campus, especially the Eucharistic Procession to show that we will never be silenced; but more especially, that the truth will never be silenced.”
“Students on campus need to hear the voice of Christ. There are so many factors influencing young people today; and it is very important for all students to know that the only thing that will truly make them happy is to know and love God.”
The Eucharistic Procession was part of Christ Week, a four-day event organised by the University Chaplaincy team and the Catholic Society. A stall was set up on Eastern Avenue, the busiest thoroughfare on campus, seeking to engage students as they walked past.
“This year we placed a number of questions such as ‘Is Christ really present in the Eucharist?’, ‘Does religion contradict science?’ and ‘Do we need forgiveness?’ on the walkway with a yes/no voting box,” Mr Desouza said.
“We always get a mixed reaction with these questions with some students not wanting to engage but some others being open to having a conversation and genuinely seeking the truth.”
Throughout the week a public chapel was set up where Mass, confession and adoration were held each day.
