EUROPE/ITALY - 24th National Eucharistic Congress opens this evening in Bari: “We cannot live without Sunday”. 29 May closing Mass presided by Benedict XVI

Saturday, 21 May 2005

Bari (Fides Service) - At 5pm this afternoon, Saturday 21 May in Bari, the 24 Italian National Eucharistic Congress will be officially opened by the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto Mgr Francesco Cacucci who will welcome the Papal Envoy Cardinal Camillo Ruini, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, many other cardinals, bishops, authorities and thousands of Congress participants.
On Sunday 29 the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI will preside the closing Mass and lead the prayer of the Angelus. In a Letter for the occasion to Cardinal Ruini the Pope said “this highly significant event for the Church in Italy takes place in this special Year of the Eucharist, during which Catholics all over the world are encouraged to grow in their awareness of the great gift Christ left us at the Last Supper … very timely is the theme chosen: «We cannot live without Sunday», on which the Church in Italy is reflecting in order to identify effective paths of pastoral action to foster ever new awareness of the value of the Lord’s Day on which we celebrate the mystery of Easter of which the Eucharist is the authentic and perennial memorial”. The Holy Father concludes his Letter with these words: “I hope to be present for the closing Eucharistic Celebration on Sunday 29 May this month to render homage to Christ in the Sacrament of his love and at the same time strengthen the bonds of communion between the Successor of Peter and the Church which is in Italy and the Italian bishops.”
In the Year of the Eucharist the theme of the Congress - “We cannot live without Sunday” - is taken from the words of the 49 martyrs at Abitene. They were martyred under Emperor Diocletian (304 d.C.) in a town of what is today Tunisia: sentenced to death for gathering together against the orders of the emperor to celebrate the Lord’s Day, they went courageously to their death saying that without celebrating the Day of the Lord, Sunday, they could not live. The Eucharistic Congress wishes to focus on Sunday as the day of the Eucharist and to show that Sunday Mass is the centre of the life of Catholics as individuals and as communities .
The daily Congress programme includes celebrations of Mass in different places, followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, catechesis, presentation of testimonials, round table discussions, theatrical and musical performances. Each day will have a theme connected with Sunday: “Day of the Risen Lord- the gift of the Trinity” (22 May), “Day of the feast-light of human life” (23 May); “Time of regeneration for the city of man-source of a new world” (24 May); “Day for reconciliation among Christians - St Nicola di Bari, a bridge between East and West” (25 May); “Day charity-bread of brotherhood” (26 May); “Day of the Church-heart of Sunday” (27 May); “Day of Mission-the Virgin Maria Mother of God and woman of the Eucharist” (28 May).
Wednesday 25 May there will be an ecumenical prayer meeting in the basilica of San Nicola, Thursday 26 (Corpus Christi in some countries) Procession with the Blessed Sacrament , Friday 27 Via Crucis through the city. Young people are invited to visit a “Youth Village”, for prayer, information, formation, exchange of experience. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people are expected to attend every day and 300,000 at the weekend and for the Sunday closing Mass on 29 May with Benedict XVI. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/5/2005 - Righe 41; Parole 540)


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