Every four years, Catholic faithful from around the world are invited to gather together to reflect and celebrate the great mystery of the Eucharist during the International Eucharistic Congress. From June 15 to 22, 2008 it is expected that between 12,000 and 15,000 bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay people will gather in Quebec City to come to a deeper appreciation of “the Eucharist, gift of God for the life of the world,” the theme of this 49th Congress. The year 2008 also has special significance for the church of Quebec. It marks the 400th anniversary of the first permanent French establishment in North America and the beginning of the spread of Catholic faith into what would become the once vast New France. Congress officials express a confident hope that the Holy Father will preside at the closing mass on the plains of Abraham.

In order to help the youth of the City of Greater Sudbury prepare for this event, The Ark of the New Covenant is returning to the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. It will be on display in each of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s four secondary schools from Wednesday, February 6 to Friday, February 8, 2008. During this time a Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated with the students
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The Ark will be on display at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School on Wednesday, February 6, at Marymount Academy on Thursday, February 7, at St Benedict Catholic Secondary School on Friday, February 8 in the morning and at St Charles College during the afternoon.

What is the Ark?
The Ark: A Chest: The Ark of the New Covenant is a seat, as well as a container. It is a “seat” for the King, that is, Christ, present under the form of the Eucharistic species exposed in a monstrance. It is also a chest containing the Scriptures, the Bible, which, proclaimed in the liturgy, becomes the presence of Christ who through his word teaches the people, his Church. The ship’s hold at the base of the Ark is a place where people can place testimony of their commitment as Christians to mark the passage of the Ark as it travels from one community to the next.

A Symbolic Boat: The base of the Ark is in the form of a boat, bringing to mind Noah’s Ark (cf. Genesis 6:18-22). However, it refers more to the boat of Peter. Ever since the institution of the New Covenant, the boat has been a symbol of the Church, the people of God who are journeying together.

The New and Eternal Covenant: Its name “Ark of the New Covenant,” of Biblical origin, it refers to the spiritual experience of the people of Israel and the pact they concluded with God in the time of Moses in Sinai. Since that time, Jesus signed the New Covenant with the people of the Old Covenant. The expression “New Covenant” refers in fact to the new and eternal Covenant, which came from Jesus Christ, marked by the Pascal Mystery of his death and resurrection and celebrated in the Eucharist.

The originality of the Ark is a first in the history of International Eucharistic Congresses. The hope is that it will foster creativity in the places where it travels and will serve to bring all generations together – that it may be the impetus for an ideal opportunity to unite many people in Christian reflection to help them discover, deepen and celebrate the Eucharistic Mystery to render it in every way a gift of God for the life of the world.

In December the senior wing staff and students of St. James Catholic School in Lively launched a Christmas fundraising project in hopes of filling a stable with animals for a third world community in conjunction with the World Vision Organization. The stable will provide food, fuel, wood, income and fertilizer to a community in need to help break the cycle of poverty.

The goal of $1,200 was achieved within two weeks through generous family donations and with proceeds from ticket sales from a Christmas semi-formal dance.

Students at Bishop Carter Catholic Secondary School marked the beginning of the Advent Season by celebrating a special mass with Father Pat Woods. By coming together as a Catholic community students were given the opportunity to pray together and reflect on how they are preparing to celebrate Christmas.

Father Pat reminded the students that it is important to take time to reflect on the many ways that God comes into their lives and not let the retail hype of Christmas overshadow this important event. The students were challenged to be attentive to God’s presence during this busy time of year
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Father Pat also shared with the students that as Catholics we are a people of hope who are always seeking ways to use our talents and gifts to help those around us. To this end, students at Bishop Carter are in the process of collecting items for Christmas baskets which will be given to members of the community to help brighten their Christmas morning. This school wide effort to help follows closely on two other successful initiatives this fall. Earlier this year, students raised funds through their mission collections to build a well in India, collected an additional $750.00 to purchase insecticide treated mosquito netting as part of the “Spread the Net” campaign and undertook a UNICEF fundraiser to eradicate malaria in developing countries.

These types of Social Justice efforts help Bishop Carter students become more aware of the needs of others on an international, national, provincial and regional basis.

Bishop Carter Catholic Secondary School would like to express its deepest appreciation to Father Pat Woods for celebrating Advent Mass and to Mrs. Onuska for co-ordinating the mission efforts.