Eucharistic Congress 2012 The Logo, entitled People in Communion, was designed on behalf of the Congress Committee by Martin Barlow of Portadown, Co. Armagh. The design concept is based on the idea of people 'from every nation, race, tribe and language' (Rev.7:9) being drawn together in Communion as 'One Body' formed by faith in the person of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, and the sacrifice he made upon the cross..
Registration opens for Theology Symposium
Thursday October 27, 2011
Registration is now open for next year's international Theology Symposium which takes place in St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
The Symposium which is on from 6th until 9th June 2012 will follow the theme The Eucharistic Ecclesiology of Communion Fifty Years after Vatican II. The Symposium takes place the week before the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.
Participants at the four day symposium should have a graduate level or equivalent level of study in theology.
St Patrick's College invites papers from active researchers for presentation at the Theology Symposium. The selected papers will be presented daily at the Symposium during the emerging scholars' forum
09. Mar, 2011 Up to 3,000 volunteers are needed for the International Eucharistic Congress that will take place in Croke Park in Dublin in June 2012. On-line application form now live @ www.iec2012.ie
Lord Jesus, You were sent by the Father to gather together those who are scattered. You came among us, doing good and bring ing healing, announcing the Word of salvation and giving the Bread which lasts forever. Be our companion on life’s pilgrim way. May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts, enliven our hope and open our minds, so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith we may recognise you in the Scriptures and in the bre aking of bread. May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body and lead us to walk humbly on the earth, in justice and love, as witnesses of your resurrection. In communion with Mary, whom you gave to us as our Mother at the foot of the cross, through you may all praise, honour and blessing be to the Father in the Holy Spirit and in the Church, Now and forever. Amen
The 50 International Eucharistic Congress is a week long programme of events, linking faith and culture, with a particular focus on the gathering of people of every nation, language and way of life around the table of the Lord. We are busy preparing an agenda which will offer a wide range of possibilities.
The opening ceremony of the Congress will be celebrated in the afternoon of Sunday 10 June 2012 (The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord).
The key events of the IEC program will include the daily sessions of catechesis given by bishops from different parts of the world, as well as testimonies offered by Christians who have a story of faith to share
The theme of the congress is “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another”Dioceses across the country have been invited to prepare for this congress, following a broad programme of preparation in four moments or stages:
Stage Two: Spring/Summer 2011 Christ gathers us to listen, to hear, to be nourished and to be formed into community by God’s word
Stage Three: Autumn/Winter 2011 Christ gathers us to be nourished by the Bread of Life
Stage Four: Spring 2012 Christ gathers and strengthens us for Mission by the Word and the Bread
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress will take place in various locations throughout the Dublin Diocese. Of all of them, the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and Croke Park will host the most important ones.
The Royal Dublin Society (RDS)
The RDS is one of Ireland's finest venues for conferences and events. The Congress' opening ceremony, as well as many of the events that will be taking place during the week, will be held in the RDS.
In 1731 fourteen Irishmen came together in Dublin united by a common aim – to improve the poor economic condition of the country by promoting agriculture, arts industry and science in Ireland. This objective, they believed, could be achieved by the dissemination of knowledge and new ideas. From such small beginnings, the Society developed into an invaluable resource from which grew major national institutions including the
National Botanic Gardens (1795), the Veterinary College (1800), the National Gallery of Ireland (1854), National College of Art and Design (1877), the
National Museum of Ireland (1877), the Natural History Museum (1877), the
National Library of Ireland (1877) and the Radium Institute (1914). Over the course of three centuries the RDS has pursued, with vigour, its mission to encourage the development of agriculture, arts, science and industry throughout the country by educating, providing practical guidance, rewarding excellence and encouraging ability. Its mission remains as relevant today as it was in 1731.
The Society draws its strength from its independence and impartiality; it relies on its own resources to fund its activities; and on the voluntary input and support of its Members who give of their time and expertise to serve on its Council and Committees.
While the Society's work is focused on the island of Ireland, its name has spread internationally through the success of the annual Dublin Horse Show. The first exclusively RDS-run Horse Show was held in 1868 in the grounds of Leinster House (the Society's home at the time) and the Show is now ranked among the top equestrian shows in the world.
The Society has always prized its independence and, to achieve this, it must utilise its premises and grounds to the best effect in order to earn its keep and fund its activities. Because of its central location in Dublin, the variety and flexibility of the rental space available and the expertise on hand, the RDS has become a major venue for exhibitions, conferences and business and social gatherings of all sizes. Even its Main Arena, previously limited to equestrian events, now hosts rugby and soccer matches.
Croke Park Stadium
The closing ceremony of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Croke Park (Irish: Páirc an Chrócaigh), the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Ireland's biggest sporting organisation. The stadium is in the heart of the city, a 15 minute walk from the main thoroughfare O'Connell Street. Since 1884 the site has been used primarily by the GAA to host Gaelic games, most notably the annual finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Senior Hurling Championship. Music concerts by major international acts have also been held in "Croker", as it is often called by Dubliners, and it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics. During the refurbishment of Lansdowne Road the stadium also hosted the Irish national rugby union and soccer teams.
The GAA took ownership of the grounds in 1913 and it is since then that the grounds became known as Croke Park in honour of
Archbishop Thomas Croke, one of the GAA's first patrons.
In the 1980s the organisation decided to investigate ways to increase the capacity of the old stadium. The design for an 80,000 capacity stadium was completed in 1991. This redevelopment was staged in four phases starting in 1993 with a new Cusack Stand and culminating in 2005 with a new Hill 16. The redevelopment was completed in just over 12 years with no disruptions to any All-Ireland Finals
