All is set for 51st IEC in Cebu

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=12&rid=849784
• Saturday, January 23, 2016

By Ferdinand G. Patinio [(PNA), RMA/FGP/SSC]

MANILA, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- All is set for the holding of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) on Sunday in Cebu CIty.

According to Msgr. Joseph Tan of the IEC committee, they are 125 percent ready to host the religious event which will start on Jan. 24 to 31, in the Queen City of the South.

“Modesty aside, we are 125 percent ready. We are down to our last two percent of things that remain to be done … the nitty gritty,” he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website.

He added, “We hope that we will make a very impressive opening day given the number of people expected to attend although we know there are many who registered for the second half of the congress.”

Thousands of participants from 71 different countries are expected to attend the week-long event.

Based on the IEC 2016 Calendar of Activities, an opening mass at the Plaza Independencia will kick off the Congress on Sunday at 4 p.m., to be led by Archbishop Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, a Papal Legate to the IEC 2016.

There will be concurrent catechesis and sessions for the IEC 2016 delegates to be presided by priests, bishops, and archbishops, among others.

Speakers include CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cotabato Archbishop Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, and Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as well as Abuja Archbishop Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bombay Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias, and New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

There is also a scheduled “Parish Encounter” on Jan. 27 for the parishioners of San Roque-Subangdako; Gethsemane; Holy Family-Casuntingan; National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City; St. Joseph The Worker-Mabolo; St. Therese of the Child Jesus-Lahug; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart-Capitol; Our Mother of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist; Sto. Rosario-P. del Rosario; Sacred Heart-Jakosalem; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral; Our Lady of Lourdes-Punta Prinsesa; San Roque-Mambaling; and Our Lady of Guadalupe-Guadalupe, Cebu City.

A Visita Iglesia, or the visit of churches by the IEC 2016 delegates, is also set on Jan. 28 at the Asilo de la Milagrosa Chapel; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart-Capitol; Our Mother of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist; Sto. Rosario-P. del Rosario; Sacred Heart-Jakosalem; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral; and Basilica Minore del Sto. Niῆo.

The IEC 2016 Youth Day is also set to be held on Jan. 28 to 29 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City and at the Mandani Bay at the Mandaue City Reclamation Area.

On Jan. 29, there will be a mass at 4 p.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds, which will be followed by the solemn procession from the Capitol Grounds to the Plaza Independencia.

The culminating mass or the “Statio Orbis” will be held on Jan. 31 at 4 p.m. at the South Road Properties (SRP) with Cardinal Bo again presiding.

The IEC is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, help improve understanding and celebration of the liturgy, and draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

This is the second time that the Philippines will be hosting the quadrennial event of the Catholic Church, the first one was in 1937 during the 33rd IEC which was held in Manila during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI.