Ark schedule announced

By LAUREEN McMAHON

The Ark of the New Covenant may not be traveling by water, but it will have made a lot of waves by May 10, when it docks in the Vancouver archdiocese!

Special to The B.C. Catholic Christ and His disciples at the Last Supper.

Over the past several months the remarkable and beautifully illustrated wood carving, crafted to be the symbol of next year's 49th International Eucharistic Conference in Quebec, has made its way across the country, stopping in many dioceses to be viewed by thousands of Catholics.

The 90-pound icon-adorned carving will be welcomed at St. Mary's Parish in Chilliwack on May 10, when four Knights of Columbus volunteers will carry the ark in procession into the church. The ark can be suspended on poles for easy transportation.

Other parishes on board to welcome the ark to Vancouver are St. Ann's in Abbotsford, Our Lady of Fatima in Coquitlam, and Sacred Heart, St. Mary's, Holy Rosary Cathedral, and Sts. Peter and Paul in Vancouver.

In North Vancouver, the ark will visit St. Edmund's Parish, and in Surrey, Good Shepherd Parish. The last stop before the ark departs to Victoria will be St. Monica's in Richmond.

The following dates and times have been released by the chancery. Visitors are advised to check the Web site of the Vancouver archdiocese, www.rcav.bc.ca, closer to the pilgrimage date and also to see a short podcast about the Ark of the New Covenant's unique design and purpose.

More information will be available in parish bulletins closer to the pilgrimage date.