Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Arequipa (Fides Service) - In response to calls by Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI to foster the faithful’s encounter with Christ in the Eucharist especially in this Year of the Eucharist, the diocese of Arequipa is holding various initiatives including a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, 13-20 November with the slogan Eucharist bread of eternal life. The congress aims to foster awareness of that the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, at Mass as ‘food for new life’ and in Eucharistic adoration, impels us to build a society of more justice and solidarity”, said Rev. Victor Livori, Diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and secretary of the central preparatory committee for the Congress presided by Archbishop José Ríos Reynoso of Arequipa. Other committees composed of clergy and lay persons are preparing theological, liturgical, logistic and media aspects of the congress.
The Congress will be celebrated in three stages: pre-Congress, Congress and post-Congress consisting of various pastoral, social and liturgical activities organised at the level of parish and diocese. Activities in this pre-Congress stage include: ‘Christ Eucharist’ pilgrimage, since 21 August an image of Jesus holding chalice and host has been visiting parishes in Arequipa welcomed with deep devotion and fervid prayer; Holy Hour of Adoration animated by different religious orders in the Cathedral on Thursdays 5-6pm and Sundays 4-5pm; 31 August to 4 September, course of formation for pastoral workers involved in home-visiting; 19 - 25 September Parish Social Week, consisting of conferences in 40 parishes on Catholic Social Doctrine under various headings: basics, family and social responsibility, respect for human dignity, work key to social problems, Christians and democracy; lastly the Cathedral offers daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the devotion of the faithful.
The aim of the programme for the stages of celebration and post-Congress is to “promote intense participation of the whole diocese so Arequipa will become an altar for Christ Eucharist”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2005, righe 32 parole 438)
