EUROPE/SPAIN - “The Year of the Eucharist was one of the last gifts God gave his Church through John Paul II”: with priestly ordinations on the Feast of Our Lady of Pilar Getafe diocese marks the closing of the Year of the Eucharist

Getafe (Fides Service) - Getafe diocese in Spain has organised a series of celebrations to accompany the closing of the special Year of the Eucharist of which the most important is a Mass with priestly ordinations today, the feast of Our Lady of Pilar, Patroness of Spain, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart where deacons were ordained on Sunday 9 October. On October 10 Fr. Manuel González, of San Dámaso Theology faculty gave a conference on “Adoration outside of Mass”, before a Mass presided by Bishop Joaquín María López de Andujar e Canovas del Castillo of Getafe and an hour of Adoration organised by the confederation of Religious and with the testimony of consecrated persons. On 11th October a conference “After supper near the table he washed their feet” by the diocesan vicar general Rev. José María Avendaño Perea who will preside Mass followed by all night Adoration prepared by a Youth Delegation with four testimonials from young people on the importance of the Eucharist in their lives and for conversion. Groups and movements will take it in turns for all night Adoration. Lastly today 12 October ordination of priests.
In a letter written for the occasion Bishop López di Andujar said this special Year of the Eucharist “was one of the last gifts God gave the Church through John Paul II”. The various initiatives organised by the diocese “increased our desire to make the Eucharist the centre of our life and of the life of our community”. The Bishop underlined that the Eucharist is all the more important in the society and culture of today when values such as respect for life and human dignity, the value of the family of freedom are threatened. “In the Eucharist hatred is transformed into love and death is transformed into life...The Eucharist signifies above all Love’s victory over destruction, violence and death...it can start a chain of transformation which can change the world”. The Bishop ended his letter saying that the Eucharist is the basis on which to build communities that live the commandment of love, are able to forgive, and to serve others and share their goods with others. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2005, righe 28, parole 396)