Church predicts drop in attendance for TT vs England game

TT’s World Cup match against England has been incorporated into the Anglican Diocese Family Day on Thursday — Corpus Christi at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

Corpus Christi commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

“On this day the church families come together to dedicate and give praise and thanks for the role of Christ in the Holy Eucharist,” said Anglican Bishop of TT the Right Reverend Calvin Bess in a release.

The family day will begin with Eucharistic Mass from 8.30 am.

Bess said, “and since June 15 is the day TT will be playing England in the World Cup Football match in Germany, two large screen plasma televisions will be provided for worshippers to view the game from the 1 pm kick-off time. There will also be a play park for children.”

Bess said he hoped all Anglican families would come out to worship as the Body of Christ, and enjoy the football game as a family.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port-of-Spain, will have Corpus Christi mass from 8.30 am, followed by the annual procession around Port-of-Spain.

Cynthia Major, who is part of the committee making preparations for the mass, said there may be a “little drop” in attendance due to the World Cup match, which takes place at noon TT time). She said the procession will end by 11 am.

Despite a decrease, Major said there should be 2,000-2,500 people attending the Corpus Christi mass and procession. She said the cathedral can accommodate 2,000 people seated on the inside, but additional people stand on the outside around the church.

The mass and procession involving parishes and church groups will be led by Monsignor Cuthbert Alexander.

The procession will proceed along Independence Square south and stop for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Brian Lara Promenade, opposite the Treasury Building.

Archbishop Edward Gilbert usually leads the procession, but he is out of the country until June 16.