Intercom May 2012

14 May 2012

May 2012 issue

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Editorial and Newsletter resources

Feature Article

What a Day at the Eucharistic Congress will look like (pdf)

What a Day at the Eucharistic Congress will look like

So we are just a month away from the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin and at this stage you might be wondering what an actual day at the Congress will be like.

The daily programme for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress from 11th until 16th June 2012 will take place in the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).  The Statio Orbis, the Liturgy on the final day of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, will be celebrated in Croke Park, Dublin on Sunday 17th June 2012.

The Programme of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress is built around the daily celebration of the Eucharist and each day has a theme of its own, related to the main Congress theme The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.

The main events of the programme take place in the RDS Arena. On most days these will be in the afternoon and will include:

  • The Catechesis: a “teaching” moment, usually presented by a bishop, reflecting on the theme of the day and its challenges
  • The Testimony: words of encouragement and inspiration from a lay-person with a story of faith to tell
  • Celebration of the Eucharist: Mass celebrated with all the Congress delegates, presided over by a bishop]

For the purposes of illustrating a day ay the Congress I have decided to focus in on Tuesday 12 June.

The theme of the day is Exploring and Celebrating the Communion of Marriage and Family so Tuesday is Family Day. The day will begin with Morning Prayer at 9.00am with Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland in the Prayer Space or there is prayer in the Chiara Luce Youth Space at 9.30am with Bishop Franz Lackner from Austria.

In the morning the workshops and presentations offer a wide variety of themes and choice: Faith of Our Grandparents, Spirituality for Married Couples with Teams of Our Lady, Do this in Memory, Communion and Co-responsibility: coming to life in pastoral practice, The Eucharistic Liturgy, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and much more. There will also be a musical performed by KISI-KIDS on the subject of Paul, called by God.

There will be an opportunity to see a Radharc film on the topic of Vatican II – A Council in the likeness of Pope John.  Ger Gallagher from the Office of Evangelisation in the Archdiocese of Dublin will deliver a workshop on the question ‘Where is the Young Adult Church today?’

Workshops and presentations continue throughout the morning with a choice of Religious Music for Children, Another Radharc film on the 1932 Congress, Liturgy that breathes, Blessings and Prayers in Family Life, The Changing Irish Family; for better or worse? And much more.

At 2.00pm the focus moves to the main arena in the RDS for Catechesis with Archbishop Barry Hickey, Archbishop of Perth on the theme God as Loving Communion. Personal testimony will be offered by Mr Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbanus on the theme of the day Exploring and Celebrating the Communion of Marriage and Family. At 4.00pm there will be celebration of the Eucharist and His Eminence André Cardinal Vingt Trois, Archbishop of Paris will preside.

The music programme for the Congress encourages everyone in the congregation to participate as much as possible in the liturgies during the week. Congregational singing is a key component in this. Particular emphasis is placed on the celebration of the Eucharist and the singing of the various parts of the Mass. These have been chosen from the anthology: Sing the Mass [Veritas 2011] produced on behalf of the National Centre for Liturgy and the Advisory Committee on Church Music.  The music reflects the repertoire of both the local and the universal church so that together we can give praise and thanks to God.

After the celebration of Eucharist there will be some free time to browse the exhibition and cultural spaces in the RDS and to meet and greet others from Ireland and across the World.

In the evening there will be workshops and presentations on themes such as: Sharing Faith with the next generation, Evangelisation and Church Art and Matrimony: Renewing Our Dream for Each Other. There will be an opportunity to see another Radharc Film called The French Connection. Mr John Waters, Journalist, Author and Commentator will give a talk on Finding my Religion and ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service will offer a workshop as will the Divine Mercy Apostolate.

Alongside the programme in the Arena, there is a full programme of workshops and cultural events. In addition there is the Youth Space which has its own dedicated programme, details of which are available on www.iec2012.ie.

You can book to attend the 50th Congress International Congress for seven days, three days or one day. See www.iec2012.ie for more information on the week-long programme and for booking details.

Join us at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in the RDS and Croke Park and be part of this momentous occasion in Ireland in 2012!

Brenda Drumm

Intercom

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