Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quebec (Fides Service) - With a meeting in Quebec from 19 to 22 May Canada’s Catholic youth will start spiritual preparation for the 49th International Eucharistic Congress to be hosted by Quebec, in 2008 from 15 to 22 June on the theme “The Eucharist, God gift for the Life of the World”. The meeting will be a youth rally for young people aged 18 to 35 from dioceses all over the country. The initiative was launched by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec, to foster spiritual preparation for the Eucharistic Congress among Catholic youth, because young people as members of the Church are called to take an active part in the Eucharistic Congress and to achieve its main goal: celebrate and announce the living Jesus Christ in the Eucharist as the heart of the Church. For this gaol to be achieved and for the Eucharistic Congress to be a success it must be carefully prepared and this calls for in depth reflection on the mystery of the Eucharist with catechesis, liturgical celebrations, initiatives of solidarity.
The theme of the youth rally is “Here I am Lord!”, with three variants for each of the three days of reflection: “Here I am before you Lord” (Saturday 20); “Here we are as Church” (Sunday 21); “Here I am Lord to do your will” (Monday 22). The main venue for the meeting will be Jesus-Marie College of Sillery, with Liturgies in different churches in Quebec. The rally will include various activities, illustration of the theme, liturgies and adoration, catechesis by Cardinal Ouellet on the theme "Christ comes to meet you", workshops. During the rally there will be a priestly ordination and a procession to the tombs of the three founders of the Church in Canada.
The International Eucharistic Congress in 2008 will coincide with the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city of Quebec, see of the first Catholic diocese north of Mexico. Therefore during the year there will be numerous civil and religious events and the culminating moment of religious celebrations will be the 49th International Eucharistic Congress. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/5/2006; righe 26, parole 343)
For more info see
http://www.cei2008.ca /
