Pastoral Preparation

A Pastoral Reflection on the Journey to NEC2015

The weeks that lead into the celebration of ‘Christ our Hope’ at the National Eucharistic Congress are paved with the Sunday readings. They call us to renewed reflection on the place of the Eucharist in our lives, on the centrality of God’s Word in daily Christian living, the impact of Baptism and the Ephphatha prayer throughout our lives, and the relationship between our good deeds and our faith. In the joys and challenges of daily life Christ is our hope, and nowhere is this more clearly seen than in the ultimate challenge – death.  Jesus embodies hope, secures hope for us and is the reason we can live hope-filled lives in every circumstance.  This is the Good News we celebrate weekly, but over the course of the weeks leading up to the National Congress, all are invited to a renewal, or recovery or perhaps even a first personal encounter with the Hope that Christ is, celebrated in the Eucharist.

Bell Cliffs

 

A lookback at IEC2012

The website of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 is still live and includes texts and some videos of the talks from IEC2012.  Why not revisit some of those talks and read or listen to them again, perhaps finding one that you missed out on in June 2012.  http://www.iec2012.ie/

iec-2012

 

Prayer in Preparation for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016, Cebu

Lord Jesus Christ, our hope of glory, You are the fulfillment of the Father’s  plan to save all humanity.

You are the mystery hidden from the ages and  from generations past now manifested to us.

You abide in your Church in  the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist.

As we celebrate the Holy Eucharist and receive your Body and Blood,

grant us the awareness that your presence in us urges us to continue your saving mission in the world.

Send us your Holy Spirit,  that he may lead us to walk humbly with the poor and the marginalized,

in the  company of Mary, your most holy mother and ours.

O Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, to you be all honor and glory and praise in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

One God, forever and ever.  Amen.

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