Throughout June, but especially the 10th and 11th, Chalice volunteers across Canada were abuzz with activity. As the Church celebrated the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we carried out our second annual Corpus Christi sponsorship weekend event.

More than 400 volunteers mobilized to run a sponsorship weekend in one of 168 parishes. Some served at their own parishes and others joined a team at a different church nearby. 

During the Masses, parishioners learned about Chalice’s mission and the gift of becoming a sponsor. After Mass, the volunteers (a.k.a “Chalice Champions”) spoke with inspired parishioners, answered questions, and – most importantly – helped them sponsor a child. 

The volunteers were the essential ingredient to the success of the whole event. It was their cheerful assistance and expertise that resulted in more than 1200 sponsorships!

Gualter and his parish's sponsorship weekend team in British Colombia were part of this incredible wave. We asked them to find sponsors for 15 children – and they found 17! 

"I have always thought about participating in a Catholic mission abroad, but life has led me on other paths,” Gualter says. When Chalice asked him to lead a sponsorship weekend, he recognized his missionary calling within it. “Being a Chalice spokesperson gave me the opportunity ... to help less fortunate children in developing countries.” He believes that through sponsorship, “we can all be missionaries.”

Gualter loved speaking to parishioners and sharing his story as a sponsor. “Seeing the enthusiasm in those sponsors warmed my heart,” he says, “and made me feel part of the Chalice team.” 

Chalice needs more Champions for sponsorship weekends, and not just in June. Parishes host us year-round, and we have upcoming events this fall.

We humbly invite you to volunteer to be a Chalice Champion if we are holding an event in your area. Our volunteer coordinator, Ligia, will contact you with details if/when we book an event with a parish near you. 

If Chalice has not hosted a sponsorship weekend in your parish recently, and you would like us to reach out to your pastor, please do let us know by emailing Ligia at ligiaangulo@chalice.ca. We would love to work with you to bring the blessing of sponsorship to your parish.