'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 trees of Sainte-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.

"Seeing young people like us being involved, maybe it'll send a message to others that there are good things happening at church," said Koffi.

The group members say the practice of religion here is different from where they grew up.

"Here it's just the older people or the African people. In my country, you'd see any kind of age at the church," said choir member Dorcas Compaore.

"It's not just 'be seated' and follow the rules, you have to dance, enjoy, and sing along," she said.

Black culture celebrated in protestant communities, too

Over on the protestant side, there are similar themes. The person leading the Sunday worship at All Nations Church, Sarah Mason, also believes in the power of music to connect with God.

Mason grew up in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, where soca rhythms are part of the church experience.

"There's definitely more drum and bass influence, and people are dancing around with high energy," she said, recounting memories of her childhood before she moved to Toronto as a young teenager.

Mason brings these experiences with her on Sundays when she and her family perform for hundreds of congregants.

They do all the classics, sometimes mixing in reggae or afro songs, which are especially popular with the African crowd.

"I've gotten some positive feedback," she said. "You can see people dancing that wouldn't normally dance."

"We can serve God in different ways and celebrate each other's music. And I love being a part of that mission, so to speak," said Mason.

"It's actually a dream of mine to just see everyone of different nations coming together and worship."

Mason says she and her family will continue to bring their culture, African and Caribbean songs to the church for years to come.

"I'd actually want to have an afro choir … that would go to other churches, services, events to bring some of that culture to Sudbury," she said. "I'm working on that in the background."