EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

 50^th International Eucharistic Congress

Launches Official Programme of Events

The 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC 2012) is today launching the official programme of events for the week-long Congress, which takes place in Dublin from 10^th – 17^th June 2012.

Each day of the Eucharistic Congress includes an exciting programme of workshops, keynote addresses, catechesis, testimonials, concerts, drama and liturgical celebrations at the RDS, Dublin, which will be transformed into a Eucharistic village where 25,000 people are expected to attend on each day of the seven day event. IEC 2012 will be a significant event for Ireland culminating in the final mass, ‘Statio Orbis’ at Croke Park stadium when more than 80,000 people will gather to celebrate.

For a full listings of the IEC 2012 programme of events see: http://www.iec2012.ie/media/IEC2012ProgrammeofEvents1.pdf

The Congress has been described as a ‘Spiritual Olympics’ a kind of Spring Show or a ‘World Youth Day for Adults’ that will be a momentous occasion in Ireland 2012. Pilgrims from over 95 countries have already registered for the Congress where masses and prayers will take place in seven languages.

The Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people held every four years to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The programme of the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 is built around the daily celebration of the Eucharist and each day has a theme of its own, related to the main Congress theme: ‘The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another’.

• The 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 will take place in Dublin from June 10^th to 17^th 2012 with the theme “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another”, and expects up to 25,000 pilgrims each day at the RDS, of whom about 50% will come from overseas.

• The Congress is an international gathering of people, every four years somewhere in the world, which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church; to help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and to draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist. These aims are achieved through a programme of pastoral preparation in the years leading up to the Congress and a programme of liturgical and cultural events, lectures and workshops over the course of one week.

• The theme of the Congress is The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one Another. (Communion – like Solidarity – means a relationship of mutual love and self-giving)

• The concluding event of the Congress will be a Mass in Croke Park, in which approximately 80,000 people will participate.

• Previous Congresses took place in Quebec (2008) and Guadalajara (2004)

• Images in high resolution are available on request.

• For more information: www.iec2012.ie

• Registration for the Congress is now live on http://www.iec2012.ie/registration

Further information:

• Ms Aoife Connors, Media Officer, 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012,

Tel: (01) 234 9940    Mobile: (087) 6280580           Email: pressofficer@iec2012.ie 

• Fr. Kevin Doran, Secretary General, 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012,

Tel: 087 244 7358