Jun 20, 2012
Last Sunday 60,000 pilgrims gathered in Croke Park for the Statio Orbis of the 2012 Eucharistic Congress. This gathering was the culmination of a week’s celebration of hope, exploration of faith and sharing of love. When people were asked what was so special about the Congress the answer that was most often repeated was the atmosphere. There was a real sense of being reminded why we gather in communion; why we share the Word; why we break open the bread, the body of Christ.
It was an opportunity to remind ourselves of the precious gift we receive in the Eucharist. The words on the banner over the altar, Become What You Receive, offered encouragement, as well as a challenge. There has been a great deal of talk in Ireland, England and Western Europe about renewal in our church. If the Eucharistic Congress is to mean anything last Sunday wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.
Photos Irish Times Monday 18th June 2012
Jun 15, 2012
RTE's Drivetime is one of Ireland's most popular radio shows
One of the Eucharistic Congress’ themes during the week was vocation to priesthood and religious life. During the course of the day a number of people, including myself, were interviewed by the national broadcaster, RTE. We talked about vocation and how God continues to call men and women to follow Him. The Drivetime programme has a listenership of 239,000 people. You can listen to it by clicking the link below.
Fr. Alan’s Interview with RTE
Jun 12, 2012
Taize night prayer at the Congress
Ecumenism was the name of the game at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) today Monday 11th June, with an extensive programme of events on the RDS campus and main arena focusing on the importance of Christian Unity. The theme of the day was Exploring and Celebrating Our Communion through Baptism.
Brother Alois, Friar of the Taizé Community
A catechesis on our common baptism: ‘Communion and Baptism: A Passion for the Unity of Christ’s Body’ was delivered in the main RDS arena by Br Alois Löser, Prior of the Taizé Community, France. Dr Maria Voce, President of the International Focolare Movement, shared her personal testimony on ‘Word of Life’ before the Liturgy of Word and Water presided which was by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Speaking during the liturgy of Word and Water, Archbishop Jackson said: “The importance to me of this Eucharistic Congress is … it speaks of the broader picture of the life of communion flowing from baptism. Once we accept that mission is, first and last, God’s mission, questions have to be asked about how we enable this gift of God to be the spiritual activity and the active spirituality of the church of today. And we need to be mindful always that God speaks through the world to the church, as also to the world through the church.”
Jun 11, 2012
Amazing sunshine at the opening of the Eucharist Congress 2012
It was a day of football and faith. While the result from Poland wasn’t great it was a wonderful day in Dublin. We had over 12,000 pilgrims from Ireland, England, Korea, Peru, Canada, South Africa, in fact from all the corners of the world for the opening of the 2012 Eucharistic Congress. It marked the beginning of a week of workshops, liturgies and talks aimed at bringing people together to grow in communion and celebrate their faith.
Over the next seven days a wide variety of themes are going to be explored such as ecumenical dialogue, married life, priestly and religious vocation, the importance of reconciliation, the celebration of the Word and above all communion in the Eucharist. We’ll keep you updated on all that’s happening. If you’re coming along drop by Stand 71 and say hello.
May 31, 2012
After Mass in the neighbouring township of Ivory Park
There’s a clock on the office wall of the Tshwaranang Hospice and Care Centre that advertises the services of a local funeral director. It’s a sombre reminder of the reality facing South Africa in light of the HIV / AIDS crisis. But in a place that could easily be overshadowed by despair hope reigns, at least for now.
As we walk around the ground with Mna. Joanna, the centre director, we meet Sammy working in the garden. Sammy was once a patient in Tshwarang, but because of the care he received he has now recovered, at least temporarily. He is now looking after the vegetables that the Centre grows and sells in order to help support itself.
Tshwaranang Hospice
The word ‘Tshwaranang’ means ‘holding hands.’ It is small centre, with only eighteen beds. On the weekend we visit one person has died and two more patients have been admitted. What is important here is the quality of care. From the food prepared in the simple kitchen, to the grounds where the patients sit out on warm days, to the gentleness of the nurses, there is a sense of something special happening.
Tshwaranang is a place where the Gospel message is very much alive. It’s not enough to treat the sick because they are in need of medical attention or even because they are our brothers and sisters. In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus tells us the mark of a Christian will be their ability to see the divine in the poor, the imprisoned, the refugee and the infirm and to treat them as they would treat Christ himself. This is an essential part of our truest vocation and the greatest challenge of our faith, to see the divine spark in all people, especially those at the margins.
May 21, 2012
Steve Colbert
“If you don’t have it, don’t spend it.” As far as common sense goes it doesn’t get any more self evident than that. But are there certain things that are absolutely essential, things that we cannot abandon, without sacrificing values that make us who we are?
This was evident last week when the Irish Government stated that is was still committed to keeping its UN target of allocating 0.7 per cent of gross national income to overseas aid by 2015. We are in a time of cut back, redundancies and closures and one could be forgiven for thinking that the future looks a bleak. You would think that this would be a time when we need to look after our own first, after all charity begins at home. (more…)
It was an opportunity to remind ourselves of the precious gift we receive in the Eucharist. The words on the banner over the altar, Become What You Receive, offered encouragement, as well as a challenge. There has been a great deal of talk in Ireland, England and Western Europe about renewal in our church. If the Eucharistic Congress is to mean anything last Sunday wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.
