Pilgrimage call to join Archbishop Wilson to attend International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin 2012

What is an International Eucharistic Congress?  It is tempting to answer, “a World Youth Day for older Catholics”, but that would be misleading as an IEC is for Catholics of all ages.  An inspiring festival of faith, it enables participants to deepen their understanding of the Catholic tradition through seminars, concerts, workshops, exhibitions and, above all, great celebrations of the Eucharist shared by pilgrims from around the world. 

This year the fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin from 10 -17 June.  Coincidentally, this year will also mark the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council.  Before the Council, great emphasis was placed in Catholic piety on Christ’s presence in the consecrated Host.  Eucharistic Congresses promoted belief in the Real Presence and encouraged devotional practices like adoration of the Host outside of Mass.  At the 29^th IEC in Sydney in 1928 there was a procession from St Patrick’s College, Manly, to St Mary’s Cathedral.  The Blessed Sacrament crossed the harbour in a ferry painted white and gold for the occasion, accompanied  by hundreds of smaller vessels.  Around three quarters of a million people witnessed the procession, many kneeling and singing “Sweet Sacrament Divine” and “Faith of our Fathers” as the Blessed Sacrament passed. 

In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, more emphasis was placed on Christ’s presence in the Scriptures and in the Eucharistic community.  For many Catholics, this led to greater attentiveness to the Word of God and participation in worship.  Some lament, however, what they see as a loss of reverence as celebrations of the Eucharist became more informal.  Other problems also confront the Church today, not least the growing shortage of priests and the smaller number of teenagers and young adults in the pews on weekends.   

It is, therefore, a good time for Catholics to ponder again God’s gift of the Eucharist.  As its central theme, the Dublin Congress will take up one of the most significant theological notions of the Vatican Council: the importance of communion with Christ and one another. Fifty years on, there is still much wisdom from the Council which is relevant to the needs of today.  Archbishop Piero Marini, President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, commented in 2009 that an IEC “is not a triumphalistic manifestation of faith, a great act of homage shown to the Eucharist, but a grace for the ongoing renewal of the Eucharistic life of all the People of God”.   

Archbishop Wilson will be attending the Congress in Dublin and has asked me to lead a pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Adelaide to join him. After the congress pilgrims will be able to see some beautiful Irish scenery in the Connemara region, Galway and County Clare.  We will then fly to Glasgow for a week in Scotland following in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop.  She visited the homeland of her ancestors in the Scottish highlands in 1873. 

The rich concept of “communion” also includes communion with the saints and those who have gone before us, including the many Irish and Scottish Catholics who helped establish the Church in Australia.  An Australian presence at the Dublin IEC would be a fitting tribute to their faith.  If you are interested in being part of this special experience, please contact Harvest Pilgrimages’ representative Ian Maitland (8234 3530) or ian@airporttravelcentre.com

To follow IEC Facebook, click here. 

Article written by Josephine Laffin - Catholic Theological College  

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