What is a Eucharistic Congress (IEC)?
A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to:
1) Promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church.
2) Improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy
3) Draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist (i.e., the responsibility which we have to live in the spirit of communion and self-gift that we celebrate).
The Congress normally takes place every four years. The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the Congress. The wider programme of the Congress includes other liturgical events, cultural events, catechesis and testimonies, and workshops during the week of the Congress.
Previous Congresses
The work of the Congresses began in France in 1881 as a fruit of the Eucharistic apostolate of St Peter-Julian Eymard.
In the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, the Eucharistic Congresses, in addition to promoting a deeper understanding of and participation in the celebration of the Mass, sought to focus attention of the essential link between the Eucharist and the service of those who are poor and oppressed. The Synod of Bishops in 2005 expressed this responsibility as follows:
‘Before the Lord of history and the future of the world, the suffering of the poor, the ever more numerous victims of injustice and all the forgotten people of the earth cannot be alien to the celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, which commits baptised people to work for justice and the transformation of the world in an active and conscious way’.
The first Congress was held in Lille, France in 1881; Dublin hosted the 31st IEC, 21-26 June 1932 and Dublin hosts the Fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress June 10-17 2012.
Fr. Philip Bradley Milltown (Host Parish IEC)
Thanks to parishioners who have already handed in their Easter Dues.
Thank you for the €1203 which you donated to last Sunday’s collection for the Support of Priests of the Dioceses and for the Share Collection which amounted to €863.
The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul will collect your returned filled bags from the Church Porches this Saturday and Sunday.
Mass on this Bank Holiday Monday, June 4th, will be at 11am.
A Summer Fair will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, June 4th from 11am to 5pm in the Milltown Mosque on Milltown Bridge. Further details are on the parish Notice Boards
Parish Pastoral Council will meet at 7.30 pm on Wednesday next June 6th. Members of the Council are invited to attend the Area Meeting in Avila on Tuesday next, June 5th.
Parish Child Protection Policy Statement
We, the Parish of Saints Columbanus and Gall, Milltown, in the Dublin Diocese, value and encourage the participation of children and young people in all parish activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development. We recognise the dignity and rights of all children and are committed to ensuring their protection.
In keeping with this we will do all in our power to create a safe environment for children and young people in order to secure their protection and enable their full participation in the life of the Church.We appreciate the generous service of the adults who facilitate such participation and respect their integrity.
The Milltown Parish Adult & Toddler Group meets in the Parish Pastoral Centre at 10.30am on Friday morning. All welcome.
Pilgrim walk 2nd – 16th June
Come and Visit Seven of the Oldest Churches in the City of Dublin. St Ann’s Dawson St, Our lady of Mt Carmel, John’s Lane, St James’s James St, St Mary of the Angels Church St, St Michan, Halston St and St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough St.
An invitation to reflect on the Eucharist: “The Eucharist – Medicine for the Soul and the Body” Dr. Miriam Duggan, FMSA. The talk takes place at the Iona Centre, St Colmcille’s Parish, Knocklyon, Tuesday, June 5th, 2012, 8.00 p.m. ionacentre@knocklyonparish.ie
Notices from the Eucharistic Congress Office:
As we are now in the final days of preparing for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, the Congress organising office in the RDS will be closed to the public from Thursday 31st May until after the Congress. Pilgrims are advised that all information about the Congress (tickets, access, parking, full programme etc) is available on our website at www.iec2012.ie and our phone line still remains open at 01-2349900 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). We thank you for your continued support and prayers and we look forward to welcoming you to the Congress very soon.
The Gardai at Mountjoy are appealing to persons attending the International Eucharistic Congress to inform themselves of the Traffic Restrictions which will be in place in Dublin on Sunday the 17th June. Advice as regards parking can be found on the Garda Website. .
Parishioners attending this Mass in Croke Park should be seated by 1.00pm as the ceremonies and music commence at 1.00pm sharp. This is a live event and will be broadcast from 2.00pm on international television. The stiles will be open from 12.00 noon to give people plenty of time to be seated. Further information is also available on at www.dublindiocese.ie in the Congress Updates section
The Parishes of Milltown and Clonskeagh will host the following events during the week of the Eucharistic Congress
Monday, June 11th
9.30am: Mass in Milltown Church on Monday June 11th will be at 9.30am. This Mass will be celebrated in French to facilitate members of the French Community who will be in Dublin for the Eucharistic Congress.
9.30am: Mass will be celebrated in St.Joseph’s Oratory, Clonskeagh Church.
8pm: Concert of music and verse ‘Celebrating Faith in Irish Culture’ in Clonskeagh Church.
Tuesday, June 12th
7.30pm “From Big Bang to Big Mystery”, a talk by Rev. Brendan Purcell in Milltown Church.
7.30pm: “The Priest as a Servant of Communion” will be presented by Dr. Timothy O’Donnell in Clonskeagh Church.
Wednesday, June 13th
2pm: A bus to the R.D.S. will depart from Bird Ave. Church Clonskeagh. Admission to the R.D.S. costs €35 payable on arrival.
4pm: Mass will be celebrated.
7.30pm: The Eucharistic Procession begins. After the procession the bus will return to Clonskeagh Church.
(Please place your name on the list at the back of the church, or contact the Parish Office if you wish to travel on this bus)
Thursday, 14th June
7.30pm: A play entitled ‘Servant of the Supper’ will be performed in Clonskeagh Church.
Friday, June 15th
7.30pm: “Spirituality of Communion”, a talk by Prof. Tom Morris will be held in Milltown Church.
(There is no admission charge to the events in Milltown and Clonskeagh Church)
