51st International Eucharistic Congress

51st International Eucharistic Congress
Cebu, Philippines
January 24-31, 2016
THEME: Christ in You, Our Hope of Glory

On June 17, 2012, the last day of the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 will be held in Cebu City, Philippines.

WHAT IS A EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS?
A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to:

• Promote an awareness of the central place of Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church
• Help and improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy
• Draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist. The congress normally takes place every four years.
• The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the congress. The wider the program of the congress includes other liturgical celebration, cultural events, catechesis, testimonies, and workshops during the week of the congress.

ORIGIN OF THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

St. Peter Julian-Eymard
The work of the International Eucharistic Congress began in France in 1881 as a fruit of the Eucharistic apostolate of Saint Peter-Julian Eymard, “the Apostle of the Eucharist” and of other outstanding figures such as:

Blessed Antoine Chevier
Antione Chevier was a French priest of the nineteenth century. He is the founder of the Work of the Prado, a clerical school.

Leon Dupont
He is known as “The Holy Man of Tours”, or the “Apostle of the Holy Face.” He helped spread various Catholic devotions such as the Holy Face of Jesus and the nightly Eucharistic adoration. He was declared Venerable by the Holy See during Pope Pius XII’s pontificate and currently awaits Beatification.

Emilie Tamisier
She first proposed the idea of rendering public homage and veneration to the Blessed Sacrament under the form and name of the International Eucharistic Congress.

SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF IEC

The International Eucharistic Congress brings extraordinary honor to the City and the Country hosting it.

It brings in many economic and social benefits.

More importantly, the moral and spiritual benefits are immeasurable. The sharing of faith experience, occasioned by the attendance of delegates all over the world, will bring a deeper appreciation of the Eucharist. The Eucharist, the sacrament of the Lord’s presence, is also the sacrament of His love. In the Last Supper, the Lord washed the feet of the disciples, commanding them to wash other’s feet. The Eucharistic Congress gathers all to reflect on this mystery and to live it in their lives.