Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Trujillo (Fides Service) - Foster love and devotion for the Eucharist, encourage parishes, groups, movements and educational, social, political and military institutions and the entire People of God to bear witness to their faith in Jesus Christ and in his Blessed Mother Mary; around the Eucharist foster unity in the Archdiocese of Trujillo and the whole Church in northern Peru: these are the objectives of the Northern Peru Eucharistic Congress opened yesterday in Trujillo on the theme “Eucharist, light and life for the new millennium”. The Congress will close on Sunday 13 November.
Each day of the Congress has a special theme: “Eucharist, gift and life of the Church”, “Eucharist source and requirement of communion” and Eucharist calls us to be missionaries”. Moments of prayer will alternate with sacred music, testimonials, group reflection, plenary assemblies on different themes including Peruvian Saints and the Eucharist; the Eucharist and religious sects; Eucharistic miracles; the Eucharist and social work. After the solemn Mass to close the Congress participants will make a procession through the streets to the cathedral for Benediction.
In a message on the occasion of the Congress, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples said “The Eucharistic Congress is a call to go back to the roots of the Christian faith in order to live in the sacramental sign of the weekly Easter Day, Sunday, the expression of the identity of the Christian community and centre of its life and mission” The message was addressed to Archbishop Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo and all the Congress participants. The Cardinal underlined that the missionary mandate is more important than ever today “at a time when even in the Church some with incorrect theological ideas mistakenly question missionary activity or say inter-religious dialogue has taken its place. Today when - not rarely - people say the only goal of mission is human promotion and that out of respect for the conscience and freedom of every person the proposal of conversion is excluded, it is time to announce loud and clear without hesitation the joyful proclamation of Jesus Christ in your society, and beyond your frontiers”.
Necessary and continued help for this great undertaking comes from fervent frequent participation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In this perspective the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples said “the Sacrament of the Eucharist in itself in a missionary event. It builds the inseparable bond between communion and mission which makes the Church a sacrament of Christ the light of all nations. It supplies us with the strength to be witnesses and heralds of Christ”. The Cardinal said Pope Benedict XVI assured his blessing to the participants and concluded: “If we make the Eucharist the centre of our life we can each with our own charisma carry with joy the Good News of salvation to the ends of the earth”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2005, righe 36, parole 503)
