51st International Eucharistic Congress And The Pilgrim Symbol

Here comes another post for this day. Sorry I have so many pending posts to publish this week so please bear with me. Anyway, I’m so lucky that I was chosen to be one of the delegates to attend this very important event in behalf of our organization (Legion of Mary). It’s the 51st International Eucharistic Congress. It is an international gathering of people aimed at promoting an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. The Congress normally takes place every four years in different counties around the world and the Philippines was lucky enough to be chosen for the 51st Eucharistic Congress venue. The Congress proper will take place this coming January 20-22, 2016 in Cebu Philippines but prior to it, the Pilgrim symbol will be carried over from one diocese to another all over the country. It started in Dumaguete City on January 25, 2015 and it is currently on the diocese of Imus Cavite where the Pilgrim symbol was transferred from one church to another. Yesterday (July 13, 2015), the Pilgrim symbol was carried to the Parish of Sta Cruz.
P7130190t The entrance to the historical church, the Centennial ArchP7130191tSteel plate design with etched images depicting the historical oathtaking in Tanza Cavite.
P7130192tThe welcome banner for the IEC 2016 symbol. P7130194tThe Sta Cruz Church beside the Convent.
P7130198tInterestingly, the Pilgrim Symbol is inspired from the popular Magellan Shrine in Cebu. The International Eucharistic Congress over the years has developed the tradition of choosing a symbol, with the inspiration of the World Youth Day Cross, that will embody and represent the spirit and identity of the place where it is to be held. P7130199t
They have chosen such symbol for many reasons, first of all, the Cross of Magellan symbolizes the Christianization of the Philippines, whose beginnings can be traced to the year 1521. The Cross of Jesus Christ, a relic of which is embedded within the Cross of Magellan, is truly our hope of glory. It is when we embrace the Cross of the Lord that Jesus comes to be in us, thus the theme of the Congress: “Christ in us is our hope of glory.”
P7130208tThe shrine that contains the Cross of Magellan symbolizes the Church which is the mystical Body of Christ. When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, Christ is truly in us, our hope of Glory. P7130204t
The Cross of Magellan symbolizes the call to mission to all the Gentiles. Although the means of evangelization in the past need to be purified, the Cross, itself a symbol of contradiction, will be the principle of its purification. The Cross of Christ becomes the way of the New Evangelization – proclamation of the love and compassion of Jesus through the witness of our lives. [ Source of info taken from http://iec2016.ph/]
P7130205tThe speaker for the Congress was Rev Fr Eleomer Deldiego.

9 thoughts on “51st International Eucharistic Congress And The Pilgrim Symbol

  • July 14, 2015 at 3:15 pm
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    wow, this must be a very grand event.. once every four years and international, and lucky you for being selected as one of the delegates, so proud of you!! so, are you also involved in the preparation work?? still like half a year to go, is that enough of time?? wow, i can imagine the devotees from all over the world flocking to Cebu and it is surely a very good experience for you huh?? 🙂

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  • July 14, 2015 at 3:21 pm
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    so you have some kind of “warm up” there in the Parish of Sta Cruz.. and it is very meaningful for the IEC to actually choose a symbol that represents the place.. so packed with people there, all wanted to see and take photos of the symbol.. well, i am actually not a Christian so i do not actually know all about this, but i have to say the church is very nice from the outside, it seems to be a building with many years of history?? 🙂

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  • July 15, 2015 at 9:47 am
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    Wow. I didn’t know we have this event. Amazing to see the faithful gather. We just have the most beautiful churches.

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  • July 15, 2015 at 11:32 am
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    This is a historic event for the Catholic Church to be chosen as the venue of the 51st Eucharistic Congress. January 2015 is also the month Pope Francis visited our country, indeed a memorable year for us Catholics.

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  • July 15, 2015 at 3:00 pm
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    Cebu would be a perfect host for this one as this is the first area Christianity started. You are lucky to be part of the event.

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  • July 19, 2015 at 5:49 pm
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    What an honour for you to be chosen to be one of the delegates. Congrats!

    Reply

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