Dublins’ missionary hopes for 2012 Eucharistic Congress

“It is our hope that the 2012 Congress will assist renewal in the Catholic Church in Ireland by reflecting on the centrality of the Eucharist at the heart of our increasingly diverse community, and give renewed impetus to the living of faith”, said Cardinal Sean Brady Primate of All Ireland, Monday as together with the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, he launched two major initiatives as part of the preparations for the 50th International Congress which takes place in Dublin in 2012, a major volunteer drive and the Congress Bell.

The theme of next year's Congress is "The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and one another". 

The main events will take place in the RDS, Dublin, beginning with the opening ceremony on 10 June 2012. 

Over the week 10 - 17 June a programme of liturgical and cultural events, workshops and daily celebration of the Eucharist will culminate in an open air Mass and closing ceremony in Croke Park.

Next week, on Saint Patrick's Day, a pilgrimage of the Congress Bell will begin from St Mary's Pro Cathedral, Dublin, going to St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh and it will visit all 26 dioceses of Ireland. 

The bell is a symbolic invite to Irish Catholics, and for Christians of other traditions, to join in the call to faith, prayer, reconciliation and mission that is at the heart of the Church's preparation for the Congress over the next year and a half.

“The Catholic Church in Ireland is undergoing a process of renewal”, said Archbishop Martin Monday. 

“In Ireland, as in many Western societies, that renewal must spring from a new evangelization, a vibrant re-presentation of the essentials of the Christian message to men and women who, though baptized and who were perhaps at one time active participants in the life of the Church, have in various ways drifted away from full sharing in that life”.

The Secretary General for the Eucharistic Congress Fr Kevin Doran said at Mondday's launch "Core to the mission of the Congress is the view that it is a pilgrim journey involving spiritual and pastoral preparation. Each diocese in Ireland has its own organising committee to promote a deepening of understanding for Catholics of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church, a richer celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy and an awareness of the social responsibility that comes with the communion and self-gift of Jesus which we celebrate."

Lydia O’Kane spoke to Fr Kevin Doran. 

He said, “We are looking at the Congress as an event and a journey”. 

Fr Doran also added, “from the point of view of the wider world, I suppose it’s a good opportunity for us perhaps with Catholics in countries such as, Britain, the United States, Australia, South Africa."

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