Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - In preparation for the next International Congress which will be held in Quebec, Canada 15 - 22 June 2008, young Catholics of Rome will gather in the church of S. Agnes to welcome the Arc of the Eucharist. The Arc was brought to Rome by a delegation of Canadian youth. On May 11 after being blessed by the Pope the Arc will be carried to the church of S. Agnes in Piazza Navona where young people meet to pray. Here there will be a special youth Mass followed by Adoration of the Eucharist until midnight. .
The Arc, 90 cm long and about 60 cm high, is a reminder of the Arc of the Covenant of the Old Testament in which the Jewish people kept the tables of stone on which were inscribed the Ten Commandments which God gave to Moses. This modern symbolic object, designed as a sort of portable table on which to expose the Book of the Gospels and the Blessed Sacrament, is decorated with scenes from the life of Jesus based on the Gospels. On June 1 the Arc will begin a pilgrimage across Canada visiting parishes, schools, spirituality centres, convents in every diocese to finally arrive in Quebec in June 2008. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/5/2006; righe 15, parole 206)
