'You have to dance, enjoy, and sing,' How Black voices are breathing life into northern Ontario churches

It's a rainy Sunday morning in the early days of summer, and the vibrant green spaces of Saint-Anne-des-Pins Church in Greater Sudbury contrast with the grey skies. 

The church was the first building to be erected by settlers in the city, and has been a bastion of Franco-Ontarian religious life for more than a century. 

The parishioners start to trickle in for the weekly mass. 

Like other French Catholic communities, religious attendance among younger people here is on the decline. 

This crowd is part of an older generation — except for those belonging to the Black community.

Sitting side-by-side are seniors and young African families, chatting as the service begins. 

This particular Sunday is African mass, a tradition that emerged to meet the cultural needs of the new faces attending and leading the church.

A local group called the African choir is performing. Their members are from all over: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea.

"There's a growing number of Africans attending church so we were thinking of ways to weave in African culture," said lead singer Judith Koffi. 

"We thought a choir would be a good way to have our songs from home, and make mass even more beautiful," she added.

Before launching into a song from the Ivory Coast, Koffi gives the parishioners more information about what they're going to hear. She tells them what the chorus means and why she chose it. 

It's a crowd pleaser. Some are swaying back and forth, others are smiling, and a couple are even dancing. The church says attendance has improved as this monthly tradition formed.

The African choir is now getting calls and requests from churches across the region, and regularly travels to different communities to perform. 

"It brings us so much to share the joy of faith with others," said Koffi, adding that religion is her comfort and strength. She hopes the singing will help grow their religious community.