As the Diocese of Dumaguete gears up for the reception of the local symbol of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 this weekend, key Church leaders Thursday emphasized the vital role of the youths in the celebration of the Eucharist.
At a press conference Thursday, at least four priests stressed that the youth need to be brought closer to the Eucharist — a sacrament at which the bread and wine are consecrated as the body and blood of Christ.
“How many young people still go to church? How much is their understanding of the Eucharist?” Fr. Hendrix Alar, chair of the Diocese’s Commission on Youth, asked.
According to the young priest, the role of the youth in the celebration of the Eucharist must be emphasized, and they should not be at the periphery but at the center of its celebration.
Pope Francis, who recently visited the Philippines, had said that the future of the church lies in the young people.
The upcoming visit of the 51st IEC 2016 symbol to the Diocese will put premium on the youth taking part in the different activities lined up from January 25 through 29.
The IEC 2016 symbol, a replica of the shrine that houses the Cross of Magellan in Cebu, will arrive here on Sunday, according to Msgr. Julius Heruela, parish priest of Bacong, and Diocesan coordinator of the 51st IEC 2016 in Dumaguete.
Estimated to arrive around noon on Sunday, the symbol will be brought to the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral, seat of the Diocese, for the reception ceremony.
It will then be brought to the St. Paul University-Dumaguete for the opening activities to include a talk on The Eucharist: Source and Goal of the Church’s Mission, a Eucharistic celebration to be presided by Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes, and a youth vigil.
Fr. Cyril Jalandoon, coordinator for the central district, told the media that students and young people are expected to comprise the first day of congress and youth vigil at SPUD.
According to him, it is necessary for the youth to be drawn closer to the Eucharist, and that participating in the congress/vigil would be an appropriate venue vor them to deepen their relationship with the Lord.
On Monday, the motorcade bearing the IEC 2016 local symbol will proceed to Siaton, Negros Oriental for an overnight stay there, said Monsignor Heruela.
It will then travel to Tanjay City on Tuesday, and to Siquijor province on Wednesday for similar activities, to include talks, masses and youth vigils.
Fr. Leonardo Tan, parish priest of Banban, Siquijor, and coordinator for the IEC symbol visit to the island-province, also underscored the need to educate the young people on the Eucharist, and what it means to participate in its celebration.
While there are several individual parts of the mass, the two most important and main parts are the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Fr. Tan said.
These are things that have to be shared with not just the adults but the young parishioners as well for them to understand why it is important to participate in the Eucharistic celebration.
According to Monsignor Heruela, the activities lined up for this year in relation to the 51st International Eucharistic Celebration 2016 will be anchored on the messages of Pope Francis during his recent visit to the Philippines.
The Pontiff, who spoke to thousands of young faithful at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila last week, called on the Filipino youth to learn how to weep.
“Only when we, too, can cry about the things you said can we come close to answering that question. Why do children suffer so much? Why do children suffer?” Pope Francis stressed in response to a moving question by 12-year-old Glyzelle Iris Palomar, who broke into tears in the middle of her message to the Pontiff.
Monsignor Heruela disclosed that he will be meeting with Bishop Cortes soon to outline activities that can be integrated with Pope Francis’ inspiring points during his visit to the country.
Meanwhile, Heruela explained that the Diocese of Dumaguete is the first outside of Cebu to receive the 51st IEC 2016 symbol.
From here, it will be brought to Bohol then onwards to Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, and across the country, until it returns to Cebu, venue for the International Eucharistic Congress 2016.
On the possibility of Pope Francis returning to the Philippines next year to attend the IEC in Cebu, Monsignor Heruela said, “Let us pray for it”.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle had confirmed that an invitation was sent to the Pope for the 51st IEC 2016, but that the Pontiff will have to make that decision and announcement himself. (PNA/LAP/JFP)
