Cathedrals ‘Ring for Renewal’ inviting people to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress
Click here for photographs of Pope Benedict XVI ringing the Eucharistic Congress Bell
Across Ireland Cathedral and church bells will ring for a longer period at 12pm and 6pm on St Patrick’s Day as part of ‘Ring for Renewal’, a special event in preparation for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC2012).
During Mass celebrations for St Patrick’s Day in Armagh, His Eminence, Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, will ring the Cathedral Mass Bell in preparation for the forthcoming Eucharistic Congress.
Cardinal Brady will then hand the Cathedral Mass Bell to the new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, who will ring the bell as part of ‘Ring for Renewal’. The Clarion Bells of the Cathedral will then be played for two minutes.
This week Pope Benedict XVI joined ‘Ring for Renewal’ when he sounded the Eucharistic Congress Bell in Rome last Wednesday (14 March), calling people from across the world to Dublin for the Eucharistic Congress, which takes place from 10-17 June 2012.
In solidarity with the Holy Father, Cathedrals and parishes across Ireland have signed up to ring their bells for two minutes at 12 noon and 6pm, as a symbol of renewal and a call to gather in preparation for the Congress.
Cathedrals that will ‘Ring for Renewal’ on St Patrick’s Day include: St John’s Cathedral, Limerick; St Patrick and St Felim’s Cathedral, Cavan; Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway; Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow; Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.
Keeping with the ecumenical focus of IEC2012, Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin will be ‘Ringing for Renewal’ at 12pm and 6pm on St Patrick’s Day.
By ringing a bell on St Patrick’s Day, everyone can join the journey towards the Congress in their own personal way. Parishes are encouraged to leave a bell in a suitable place within their chapel for people to ring during a visit to the Church on St. Patrick’s Day, for mass or for personal prayer.
Whether people are working, travelling, or attending the St Patrick’s Day Parade, Fr Kevin Doran, Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012, encourages everyone to take a moment to ‘Ring for Renewal’ on the Feast of St Patrick. “We invite you, wherever you are, to pause for a moment from the activity of your day, and to allow the ringing of the bell to speak to your heart.”
‘Ring for Renewal’ extends an open invitation to everyone to ring a bell on 17 March, to pause for a moment in the day and to reflect on how they can be renewed as individuals and members of the Church as they prepare for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.
IEC2012 website is hosting the chiming of the Eucharistic Congress Bell available to stream online: www.iec2012.ie/ringforrenewal
About the Eucharistic Congress Bell
The symbol of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress is a Bell. The Eucharistic Congress Bell originated in the Dominican Convent, Portstewart, Co Derry.
Tradition has it that St Patrick left a bell in each Church he consecrated as a way to call people to the Eucharist. In parishes all over Ireland, the Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage is building on the tradition of St Patrick and the ringing of Bells.
Since commencing its pilgrimage on St Patrick’s Day 2011, the Bell has visited the 26 Dioceses of Ireland, over one thousand parishes, more than 100 schools, and a dozen hospitals and nursing homes, calling people to ‘Come to the Congress’.
In September 2011, the Bell travelled to Lourdes, France with the Dublin Diocesan group. The Bell has now entered phase two of its pilgrimage and is travelling abroad for the second time.
Ends
Further information:
- Aisling Harmey, Media Relations Manager, 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012,
Tel: 00353 (01) 234 9903 Mob: 00353 (0) 87 137 2447 Email: [email protected]
- Aoife Connors, Media Officer, 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012,
Tel: 00353 (01) 234 9940 Mob: 00353 (0) 87 628 0580 Email: [email protected]
Application for Media Accreditation for IEC2012 is now open at www.iec2012.ie/mediaregistration
The closing date for receipt of applications is 4 April 2012.
Notes for Editors:
- The 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 will take place in Dublin from 10 – 17 June 2012 with up to 25,000 pilgrims expected to attend each day at the RDS, including 12,000 international pilgrims representing 95 different countries.
- IEC2012 will transform the RDS into a Eucharistic Village for an eight day festival of faith and culture. The Eucharist will be celebrated in the Liturgy and adored in the Prayer Space.
- The Congress is an international gathering of people, every four years somewhere in the world, which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church; to help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and to draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist. These aims are achieved through a programme of pastoral preparation in the years leading up to the Congress and a programme of liturgical and cultural events, lectures and workshops over the course of one week.
- The theme of the Congress is ‘The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one Another’ (Communion – like Solidarity – means a relationship of mutual love and self-giving).
- On 17 June, more than 80,000 people are expected to gather and celebrate the Final Mass of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 at Croke Park Stadium.
- There will be 18 keynote addresses by international speakers.
- The full programme is available at: http://www.iec2012.ie/programme
- Previous Congresses took place in Quebec (2008) and Guadalajara (2004)
- For more information: www.iec2012.ie
Booking for the Congress is now live on http://www.iec2012.ie/registration
