As I mentioned previously the 50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin in 2012. I was delighted to learn from my bishop that I'll have a role to play in the local diocesan preparations for this Congress. Now, the Congress isn't being held in my rural diocese, but I think that it's important that the collective mind of the entire Irish Church be fixed on this Congress and on the mystery which it honours. At the moment I'm brain-storming with a few friends as to how there can be some sort of Eucharistic Renewal on the ground in the run up to the Congress. I'm keen that practising Catholics should have a deeper understanding and love for the Sacrament, and that the preparations for the Congress should be an opportunity for evangelisation and re-proposing the Mystery of the Eucharist to non-practising Catholics.
What should this consist of?
Well, it's evident that any renewal needs to draw on the richness of sound Eucharistic theology. (For my own part, I've decided to focus my reading on Eucharitic theology for the foreseeable future.) Good preaching and the opportunity for the faithful to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist is a sine qua non. Additionally, I think that it's important that we should draw on the history of the Church in Ireland - and in particular the history of devotion to and the celebration of the Eucharist in Ireland - in order to make people aware of our country's deep and abiding devotion to the sacrament. Thirdly, there would seem to be scope for an engagement between culture and the Eucharist. Perhaps our artists and young people should be encouraged to consider the Eucharist and Eucharistic spirituality as a topic for consideration. Wouldn't a flourishing of writing, poetry, music and the visual arts be a worthy way of honouring the sacrament which has so much to do with Divine creativity and artistry?
There will also be the more practical question of organising groups to travel to and from the Congress, and some sort of cathechesis 'on the ground'.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to how the Church in Ireland can make the most of this Congress?
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3 comments:
Is the practice of Eucharistic processions still alive in Ireland? If not, maybe it could be revived? So, perhaps, some kind of special prayers for Corpus Christi processions that are common throughout the land in the years leading up to the Congress? Or more frequent recourse to processions, as well as Adoration and perpetual Adoration?
Maybe you could have a word with some Canadians who were involved in the preparations for their very succesful congress, and find out what did/ didn't work there.
It's great to know that thought is going into it at what might seem like this early stage, but for it to be as successful as we would hope, the heads need to get together now.
I know of two yearly Corpus Christi processions - one in Belfast and the other in Dublin.
I like Gashwin's proposals - the more the better!
There are plenty of Corpus Christi processions throughout the country... I'll definitely contact my Canadian contacts for their imput.
Thanks!
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