AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Year of the Eucharist:A week of reflection and prayer on the Eucharist in the dioceses of Colombia and the celebration of Eucharistic Congresses mark the solemnity of Corpus Christi

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Bogota (Fides Service) - In this Year of the Eucharist the Catholic Bishops of Colombia, through the Bishops Conference’s Liturgy Commission agreed to hold a Week of Reflection on the Eucharist from 22 to 29 the week in which the Church celebrates the solemnity of Corpus Christi. The themes for reflection and prayer focus on the different parts in which the Eucharistic Celebration is articulated, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Benediction.
Ibagué archdiocese has organised a diocesan Eucharistic Congress 27,28 29 May on the theme “Eucharist new life for Ibagué”. The Congress programme will alternate harmonically with prayer, reflection, Mass, adoration and procession with the Blessed Sacrament. The closing Mass on Sunday 29 will be presided by Mgr Flavio Calle Zapata, Archbishop of Ibagué .
The celebration of the Diocesan Congress organised by Sonsón-Rionegro diocese was inserted in the spirit of the diocesan pastoral plan which was an invitation in these first five years of the third millennium to “walking towards the encounter with the living Jesus Christ”. The diocesan priority for this year is “Contemplating Christ with Mary, Mother of the Lord”. The central event of activities this year will be the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress 28,29, 30 May with the slogan “One Bread, One Body”. Saturday 28 May, after the celebration of the Eucharist and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament there will be two conferences: “Two tables: Word and Eucharist” (Mgr José David Henao M.) and “The real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist” (Rev. Iván Marín). In the afternoon the participants will form reflection groups followed by a Corpus Christi prayer vigil at Rionegro sports stadium 7.30-10pm to which all the people of the archdiocese are invited.
On Sunday 29 May the conference themes will be: “Eucharist, sacrament of unity” (Mgr. Darío Gómez Z.) e “The Lord’s Day” (Mgr. Adolfo Duque). In the afternoon following group reflection there will be a round table discussion and the presentation of conclusions. The Day will close with a solemn concelebration of Holy Mass and a procession with the Blessed Sacrament presided by Bishop Ricardo Tobón Restrepo. In the late evening there will be a concert of religious music. On Monday 30 May the Congress will close with a reflection on “Social dimension of the Eucharist: solidarity and commitment for the poorest of the poor” (Mgr. Gilberto Muñoz O.), presentations of Conclusions and solemn closing Mass. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 25/5/2005, righe 31, parole 407)


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