Eucharistic Congress, a celebration of Easter

By Fr Jesse Maingot OP

“I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 20:28). I can think of no greater fulfilment of these words of Jesus than His presence with us in the Holy Mass and the Holy Eucharist.

As we celebrate Easter, we celebrate the great truth that the Risen Lord of Glory has conquered sin and death. This same Lord comes to us in a tangible way in the Eucharist.

Our faith boldly claims, the Eucharist is Him. It is from His Eucharistic heart that He continues to feed us with the power of the Resurrection. It is this power we call ‘grace.’

This year we are celebrating a Eucharistic Congress as one of the flagship events of our Jubilee Year of Hope. The theme of the Congress is Days of Glory: Fullness of Joy in His Presence.

One of the fruits of hope is joy. It is one of humanity’s great experiences that the presence of a loved one can bring hope and comfort in times of great trial and suffering.

In the Eucharist we have the abiding presence of not just any loved one, but the Lord Jesus Himself, our God.

How many times do I hear people telling me of the power of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration in bringing hope to their lives? How many times have people told me that a visit to the tabernacle eased their burdens and brought them light?

In this Congress, we are celebrating the joy that comes from the hope that is born from being near to Jesus’ real presence. It is being close to Him, feeling His love, inclining our heads on His tangible presence that joy springs eternal.

To celebrate the joy of being with Jesus, the Eucharistic Congress will begin with  nine days of non-stop Eucharistic Adoration and pilgrimage throughout all our jubilee sacred sites.

A special Mass on May 1 will open the Congress in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A special monstrance and statue of our Lady of Fatima will be blessed and after a night of prayer, the Lord will be sent out from the Cathedral to visit each sacred site.

At each site, there will be an official arrival of the Lord and the pilgrim statue of Our Lady. There will also be a guest preacher and Eucharistic healing service followed by an all-night adoration vigil.

On May 10 in the Queen’s Park Oval, we will gather as a whole family of God to celebrate the culmination of the Eucharistic novena days of prayer. I am full of anticipation for a holy anointing from the Lord for this day full of festivity, talks, prayer and healing.

Visit eucharisticcongresstt.org for all the information regarding the Pilgrimage Schedule and the programme of events for the Oval. We will issue updates on the website as the date approaches. Please keep checking it.

Crucial information for the Oval: Please check for tickets in your respective parishes. Tickets are free but limited. For those who will not make the Oval event, there will be a community gathering in each vicariate to facilitate a time of community where the event will be live-streamed.

For those coming to the Oval, please note: no coolers, glass, weapons or firearms are allowed beyond the entrance security. Please carpool and arrange maxis as much as possible due to limited parking around the Oval.

Also please bring to the Oval a piece of bread (hops, roll, slice of bread), to be used for a symbolic moment of prayer. Above all, let us pray that the Congress will be a time of anointing and grace for our Church and the nation.

Come Lord Jesus!

If you are willing to donate towards providing for this ‘free event’ please email us at eucharisticcongress@catholictt.org

May God bless you.