AMERICA/MEXICO - At the end of the Eucharistic Congress Fides spoke with some of the participants: “The Congress was a cry to all men and women to remember that they are loved by God ”

Guadalajara (Agenzia Fides) - “I think this Congress, the people’s fervour, enthusiasm and love for Jesus in the Eucharist will not fail to increase love for the Eucharist in the universal Church” Bishop Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto, of Calama Prelature in Chile a participant at the 48th International Eucharistic Congress told Fides. “the Congress, the conferences we heard, the expressions of faith we lived, must be a new call to all Catholics to make the celebration of the Eucharist and adoration of Jesus present in the tabernacle the centre of life in order to draw from the Eucharist the strength to be better Christians and to serve others to the best of our ability”.
Archbishop Hugolino Cerasuolo Stacey of Loja, Ecuador, said it was amazing to see how faith in the Eucharist unites men and women of different countries, often very distant from one another, “but all inspired by love for Christ”. When we asked about the Eucharist and the promotion of a culture of life, the Archbishop said “We must work for this. Our God is the God of life and life is his gift. In no way can we be among those who work for death, on the contrary we must work for life. The Congress was a call to all men and women to remember we are loved by God and we must love him in return”.
Auxiliary Bishop Miguel Romano Gómez of Guadalajara also rector of the diocesan Seminary said he was deeply grateful to God for this gift awaited for four years: “it has been a blessing for the Church in Guadalajara, for Mexico and for the whole world”. The Bishop said he prayed especially for an increase, perseverance and sanctification of vocations to the priesthood, especially for the Seminary in Guadalajara”.
“The Congress brought countless blessings to the whole world” said Bishop Jorge Solórzano, auxiliary of Managua, Nicaragua, “we truly need to deepen our love for the Eucharist. The whole Church must grow in love for Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. This will bring many blessings because the Eucharist is the source and summit of the apostolic life and deeper love for the Eucharist will renew our lives our structures and the whole Church”.
Father Leobardo Arroyo from Puebla diocese Mexico was very grateful for the experience: “It was wonderful, unique experience which I will re-live day by day. It was very well organised.” A local priest Father José Luis Quesada Garcia from Guadalajara said the people had prepared for the event very seriously particularly also with more frequent reception of the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession. “The families also prepared to host brothers and sisters who came from all over the world to take part. But the most impressive sight was so many people in long hours of adoration of Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament”.
“This is the first time I have taken part in a Eucharistic Congress and it was a deeply significant experience” Fr Saturnino Cenis from the diocese of Valladolid in Spain told Fides. “It was good to see that the faith carried here from Spain by my brothers and sisters has spread and matured and today the local church in Guadalajara is flourishing”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/10/2004 - Righe 39; Parole 544)