Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Fides Service) - A solemn concelebration of Mass presided by Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico City opened an International Theological Pastoral Symposium on the Eucharist at Guadalajara Valle de Atemajac University as the prelude to the 48th International Eucharistic Congress 10-17 October in the same city. The main concelebrants included Cardinal Jozef Tomko president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses and Papal legate to the 48th Congress; Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara and President of the Congress organising committee; Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston, and Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral. During the Symposium experts from all over the world will speak about the different aspects of the Mystery of the Eucharist (biblical, theological, pastoral, catechetical, spiritual, liturgical, social and ecumenical) on the basis of the Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia.
The 800 participants include scholars and theologians from all over the world, cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay people. Moderator general, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, a member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses gave the opening address followed by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop Quebec, Canada with an introduction to the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia.
The morning continued with talks on faith in the Eucharist in different countries. Cardinal Appiah Turkson from Ghana, illustrated how devotion to the Eucharist has taken root in African cultures; Bishop Carmelo Morelos from Zamboanga in Philippines, spoke about the Eucharist and the life of Christians in the context of a religious minority; Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, archbishop of Seville, Spain, spoke about secularisation in Europe and repercussions on Mass attendance; Cardinal George Pell from Sydney, spoke of the situation in Australia where he said Mass attendance is increasing; Cardinal Bernard Law from the United States, offered an analysis of thought on the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Eucharist builds the Church was the title of a paper given in the afternoon by Father Jesús Castellano Cervere O.C.D, Vice president of the Pontifical Teresianum Institute of Spirituality in Rome who focussed on two important points: the Eucharist as a place to build Church unity; the Eucharist in the evangelising mission of the Church. Reflection in language groups was the last event on the agenda for the first day. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 7/10/2004; Righe 35; Parole 424)
