Wednesday, 20 June 2012

A parishioner just returned from the International Eucharistic Congress gives a report of the pilgrimage.

We had a wonderful Spirit-filled time at the Congress venue, the Royal Dublin Society.

We attended workshops on such ideas as co-responsibility in the Eucharist. We listened to speakers such as Fr Timothy Radcliffe on "Spirituality for Today".

We were led in catechesis given by Archbishop Bashar Warda of Iraq. He spoke about "Communion in Suffering and Healing". We also heard testimonials such as from a young Ugandan woman Rose Busingye from Kitgum who, on having her faith re-kindled, has set up a support group in Kampala for  people who suffer from HIV / Aids.

We had the opportunity to spend time in quiet adoration of the Blessed Sacrament any time we wanted. We assisted at Mass each day, celebrated by Bishops from around the world including Patriarch Fouad Twal, Bishop of Jerusalem.

In Croke Park on Sunday the atmosphere was amazing as we attended the ’Statio Orbis’ – because as it was explained to us it was not a closing ceremony so much as a moving from one place to another, from suffering to healing, taking the experiences we had shared, the testimonies we had heard and bringing them home to our parishes to enlighten and enliven our lives in the Eucharist.

Mrs Helen Jungmayr
St Gabriel’s & St John’s Parish, Rochdale

Here is a photo of Mrs Jungmayr's group: