A Reflection On The International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin
Preparation for the Eucharistic Congress began for me in 2010 at a busy though routine enough meeting of Primary Catechetics Diocesan Advisors at national level. Inserted into a full agenda was an input on the Eucharistic Congress 2012 to be given by Ger Brennan. The latter turned out to be a young man who spoke of the Church in Ireland with a refreshing sense of hope and honesty.
In a spirited presentation he told how he foresaw the future Congress as an opportunity for new growth, renewal and a deepening of faith for the Irish Church. It was his belief that the Catechetical Advisors at all levels should embrace this opportunity to join the journey of preparation which he and the Congress Implementation Committee had started out on. I was inspired by his presentation and I volunteered there and then to be part of what has turned out to be an amazing journey.
A major theme of the Congress was that of journey with the Emmaus story at its heart. The aspects of the Emmaus journey such as questioning, reflection, movement of thought and understanding were brought to focus on preparation for the Eucharistic Congress. My particular journey of preparation for the Congress applied to my area of work which is Primary Schools Catechesis in the diocese of Killaloe.
Srs. Anne O’Callaghan, Ellen Seery, Patricia Greene, Esther (Essie) Hayes and Regina Powell with Congress Bell
There are 150 Primary Schools in the diocese and these accounted for some 1,000 classrooms which used the excellent resource material of the Congress website as a special focus for the Catechetical programme in the schools. This material complimented the existing “Alive O” material being used in the schools and in particular the First Communion and Confirmation programmes. All of this schools’ preparation received a very real boost and focus by the actual arrival of the Congress Bell at some chosen schools and in the near vicinity of most schools. The Bell rang out a clear message of heralding the Congress as well as a link with tradition and the idea of a bell was itself something schools found very relevant to their experience.
I was surprised and delighted with the fulsome response of the teachers to the Congress material. They found that it put the existing First Communion and Confirmation programmes into a context they felt they never fully appreciated prior to this. The material consisted of five lessons based on each of the four icons of the Congress and they felt that these lessons enriched the “Alive O” programme they were already teaching.
The committed work of preparation with the usual associated highs and lows went on for two years. Gradually, the countdown moved from months to weeks and then it was only a few days to go.
Ashe Road community ready for the International Eucharistic Congress
The Congress took place from Sunday 10 June until it closed on Sunday 17th June and I feel greatly privileged to have been present throughout. It was a feast some say; others call it a festival or a carnival.
The Congress Preparation translated into a banquet that appealed to the senses, fed the intellect, inspired the soul and fulfilled all our spiritual hungers and thirsts. I find myself spoiled for choice in choosing from a vast menu of inspiring events/happenings. One could choose from sections such as Art, Music, Ecumenism, Family Life, Children’s Section, Priesthood and Ministries and the days of special emphasis such as Reconciliation (Thursday) and the Sacrament of the Sick (Friday) and the Opening Ceremony and Mass and the final Mass on the Sunday in Croke Park.
I was moved by the world artists’ exhibition, The Faces of Christ and the dramatic presentation by Canadian Eleanor Glenn of her one woman drama, Servant at the Supper. Another moving dramatic presentation was The Trial written by Glenn Gannon. The Music section was enriched by the work of Monica Browne with children, Liam Lawton’s workshop and the All Ireland choirs represented at the Congress. Family Life was catered for by talks on grand-parenting, the presence and input by ACCORD, counselling services etc.
Overall the highlights of my week’s attendance at the Congress were The Opening Ceremony, The Family Day (Tuesday) and the celebration of Religious life (Wednesday). My choosing these in no way diminishes the wonderful worth and impact of all the other activities of the Congress.
The Opening Ceremony was uplifting as one watched people from the four Provinces of Ireland and the four corners of the World come together in procession. They brought with them the unifying symbol of water that demonstrated that all these rivers of people were tributaries of Catholics everywhere that were now joined as one vast river of Faith centred on and finding meaning in the Eucharist. For me the Opening Ceremony harvested all the fruits of Preparation for the Congress and made it all make sense and seem worthwhile.
Sr. Marie McNamara and Sr. Esther “Essie” Hayes with family at the opening ceremony
Tuesday’s Family day was memorable because it presented the inter-generational aspect of family life – parents, grandparents, youth and children. There was something awesome in watching them arrive in their coaches to be welcomed by their respective bishops and clergy who joined with them and became the great family of believers. Participating in workshops and activities parents and children had a new sense of what their family values meant to the Church. It was a sense that found expression most tellingly not in word or song, but in the tremendous power of silent prayer in the Prayer Spaces when over a thousand family members gathered to adore the Lord’s Presence among them.
Family monstrance commissioned especially for the Congress
As a religious Sister I had no great expectation of surprise from the day marked as Religious Life Celebration, but how pleasant it was to be surprised. Approximately one thousand male and female religious gathered to celebrate their chosen pathway in life. Australian Fr. Chris Monaghan CP spoke to our jaded hearts with images that refreshed and shocked us into life. I was so impressed by his before and after images of the Australian Bush fires. Where there was once verdant growth there was now the black ash of despair. Yet on closer examination one was drawn to the green shoots of new growth in wastelands of ash. Join to this the songs and personal testimonies of the event and one left with a deep rooted sense of feeling better for answering the call to the religious life.
The Congress has ended and it was a wonderful experience for many and much deserved credit is given to its organisers and the excellent volunteers who smoothed the daily running of the Congress. For me it is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. The paths of possibilities and potential open out before us. It was this that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin referred to in his concluding address when he said that “the Catechesis for the New Evangelization must begin again tomorrow”. I have great hope for the future as we set about implementing the new Catechetical Directory “Share the Good News”. Adult Faith Development is our key to benefiting from the graces of the International Eucharistic Congress 2012. Tomorrow has arrived!
Esther Hayes rsm
South Central Province
