International Eucharistic Congress 2012

Eucharistic Congress in Ireland June 10th to 17th 2012
 

 Book now to attend the 50th International Eucharistic Congress

New Year’s Resolution……Volunteer for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC2012) will take place in Dublin from 10th to 17th June 2012. Volunteers will have an integral role to play in the success of the Congress. Between two and three thousand volunteers will be needed during the week of the Congress and also to assist in preparations in the months leading up to the Congress.

 The Congress is planning for 80,000 participants in the closing ceremony; 25,000 participants each day; 12,000 international pilgrims, 5 continents and 2,500 young people. This will be the biggest international event in Ireland in 2012, one that will have a significant impact for Ireland with the largest gathering of the Irish Catholic Church since 1979.

 The Congress is recruiting volunteers for a wide range of roles and if you would like to get involved please visit the IEC2012 website  www.iec2012.ie/volunteer  and fill out an online application or request an application form from the Congress office. For more information please contact the IEC2012 offices on (01) 2349900 or volunteeradmin@iec2012.ie

 The Congress is also actively seeking offers of host accommodation in homes in the Dublin area for pilgrims. If you can offer free accommodation in Dublin to one or more pilgrims during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress please contact the IEC2012 offices on (01) 2349900 or volunteeradmin@iec2012.ie

 Bookings to attend the 50th International Eucharistic Congress are live on www.iec2012.ie  You can book for 7 days, for 3 days or for a single day. You can decide to come as an individual, as a family or as a group. Clergy bookings are live as well. Do not leave it to the last minute! Read more about the different possibilities of booking for the Congress and book now!

Full programme of events is now available on www.iec2012.ie 
Booking is also now open on www.iec2012.ie. 

Call for volunteers and to prayer for the success of the Congress in Ireland
-Congress Bell to visit all 26 dioceses of Ireland
-3,000 volunteers needed to help organise the Eucharistic Congress in Ireland

The theme of next year’s Congress is “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and one another”.  The Eucharistic Congress is one of the largest liturgical events and opportunities for pilgrimage throughout the universal Catholic Church.  It is hosted by a different country every four years.
The main events of the Congress next year 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.
 
Congress organisers have been developing partnerships with tourism representatives in Dublin as it is hoped the international visitors will give a significant boost to the city’s tourism industry.
Organisers are also keen to encourage volunteers to take part not only in the Eucharistic Congress itself but also in the lead up to the main events.  Volunteers are needed in a wide variety of roles including administration, hospitality, translation services and stewarding.  Details are available in seven different languages on www.iec2012.ie.
 
The Secretary General for the Eucharistic Congress Fr Kevin Doran and he has said that the “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.”
 
 Notes
·         The Congress Bell has its origins in the Dominican Convent in Portstewart in Co Antrim and will be brought on foot from diocese to diocese by teams of volunteers.  It is hoped that the Congress Bell will be a focal point for the prayer in parishes and at places of pilgrimage all over Ireland between now and June 2012.
·         The first International Eucharistic Congress, held in France in 1881,gathered 300 people at the head of Eucharistic movements in European countries. During the following 125 years, the format of Congresses strongly evolved and they now attract some 12,000 to 15,000 participants for a full week of celebrations, adoration, catechesis, cultural events, fraternal gatherings, and commitments to aid the poor.  Ireland last hosted the International Eucharistic Congress in 1932.
·         Since 1881, the Pope had always been represented by a special Delegate at the celebration of Eucharistic Congresses. In 1964, Pope Paul VI took part in the last two days of the Congress held in Bombay, an initiative followed by his successor, John Paul II.

 

Further information:
Fr Kevin Doran, Secretary General of the Congress 00353 (0) 87 244 7358
Ms Anne Griffin, General Manager of the Congress 00 353 (0) 87 244 9985
Martin Long, Catholic Communications Office, Maynooth 00353 (0) 86 172 7678
Fr. Paul Waldron, Diocesan Delegate from Diocese of Waterford & LIsmore.  058-42384

Every four years, somewhere in the world, the International Eucharistic Congress is celebrated.

The purpose of the Congress is:
- to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church
- to draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist (the responsibility that we have to reflect in our lives the meaning of what we  celebrate).
 
The last International Eucharistic Congress took place in Quebec City in 2008. During his homily at the closing Mass, Pope Benedict XVI announced the venue for the next congress in 2012.

Dear friends, as this significant event in the life of the Church draws to a conclusion, I invite you all to join with me in praying for the success of the next International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2012 in the city of Dublin! I take the opportunity to greet warmly the people of Ireland, as they prepare to host this ecclesial gathering. I am confident that they, together with all the participants at the next Congress, will find it a source of lasting spiritual renewal. (Pope Benedict XVI, Quebec, 22 June 2008).

This article will be updated with further news as we progress towards June.  The Diocesan representative for this event is Fr. Paul Waldron CC, Dungarvan. 

For further details:
Website: www.iec2012.ie

Prayer for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland in 2012
Lord Jesus, You were sent by the Father to gather together those who are scattered.
You came among us, doing good and bringing healing, announcing the Word of salvation
and giving the Bread which lasts forever.
Be our companion on life’s pilgrim way.
May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts, enliven our hope and open our minds,
so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith we may recognise you in the Scriptures
and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body and lead us to walk humbly on the earth,
in justice and love, as witnesses of your resurrection.
In communion with Mary, whom you gave to us as our Mother at the foot of the cross,
through you may all praise, honour and blessing be to the Father in the Holy Spirit and in the Church, now and forever.
Amen

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