P.E.I. minister 'amazed, inspired and hopeful' after taking part in Last Supper recreation

A Prince Edward Island minister is part of a reimagining of The Last Supper that aims to capture the country's diversity. 

To mark its 100th anniversary, the United Church of Canada decided to recreate the iconic Leonardo da Vinci painting, which depicts communion between Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.

Rev. Franklyn James, the minister at West River United Church in Cornwall, P.E.I., was asked to take part in the photo recreation after presenting a report on equity in the church at its general council meeting last year. 

James said the church wanted to challenge the traditional image of the Last Supper, and create one that's more representative of modern times. 

"Here is an image of a diverse people, a diverse way of being, a diverse lived experience that can be at a table, and you are welcome at this table despite how you present yourself to the world," he said. 

"I see it as an invitation to anyone who would want to be a part of a community that accepts them truly for who they are." 

Called A Place at the Table, the photograph by Alan Lai includes 12 members of the United Church from across the country, posed similarly to the apostles in da Vinci's mural. 

The "disciples" come from various walks of life, including members of the Black, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. 

Notably, the photo doesn't include the depiction of Jesus in the physical form. Rather, "Christ's presence is embodied through the gathered community, underscoring the belief that faith is expressed through justice, compassion, and service," the United Church of Canada said in a news release. 

"The image serves as a bold testament to the Church's vision — a table where differences are  honoured, diversity is celebrated, and faith is lived through shared commitment to equity and belonging." 

Fresh Air14:31A Seat at the Table: Reimagining the Last Supper in Canada

To mark its 100th anniversary, the United Church of Canada has reimagined Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper with a modern, diverse twist. Minister Hoeun Lee from Waterloo joins host Ismaila Alfa to reflect on what it meant to be part of the photograph, how it mirrors his personal faith journey, and what it says about belonging, identity, and inclusion in today’s Canada.

'There was this beauty to it'

The photo was unveiled at Metropolitan United Church in Toronto on Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, which the Christian faith recognizes as the day of the Last Supper. 

The United Church says Holy Thursday was always about radical inclusion — Jesus sharing a meal with his followers, washing their feet and urging them to love one another.

"When I [looked] at it, there was this beauty to it. There's this warm sense of being part of something greater than I am," James said. "There's a pride that comes from looking at the photograph and looking at the colour and looking at the people, and I just felt amazed, inspired and hopeful."