Scottish Catholic Observer

With only 15 weeks to go to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, young people across Ireland are being called to Go Be the Church.

Young Irish Catholics been invited to celebrate their faith at IEC2012 this summer’s in an event that is being described as one of the most ambitious youth ministry programmes ever presented in this country.

Each diocese in Ireland is being invited by IEC2012 to bring groups of young people to the Congress, either for the entire week or a portion of it. At the end of the week, young people will be missioned to go back to their parishes to begin local faith programmes.

The Go Be Church programme will take place at the Chiara Luce Youth Space at the congress in the RDS from June 10-16. Young Catholics between the ages of 17 to 25 will be able to engage in a diverse range of activities that include workshops, dramas, interactive catechesis, celebrations, concerts, social activities, games, and art.

“We are hoping that every parish in Ireland will send at least one young person to represent them in the IEC2012 Chiara Luce Youth Space. The Church in Ireland needs young people and the Congress is a fantastic opportunity for young adults to explore and celebrate their faith,” Francois-David Freschi, IEC2012 youth officer, said.

Around 2500 young people are expected to participate in this summer’s programme.

Preparations

In preparation for the upcoming Congress, more than 350 young people from across the Ulster Diocese gathered in Tyrone on Sunday to celebrate faith through music, workshops and prayer at an event called Crossroads 2012.

The significant role that youth play in the Church in Ireland was highlighted by the presence of Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, who was the principal celebrant of the Eucharist at Crossroads 2012.
Bishops concelebrating the Mass at St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley included Bishop John McAreaveyof Dromore, and Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor. They were joined by IEC2012 Diocesan delegates from the Northern dioceses.

Bishop McKeown emphasised the important role the youth programme will play in the upcoming Congress.

“These are difficult years for everybody in modern Ireland—and, in a particular way, for young people. We are all paying the price for trying to live in the fast lane or coarsening our hearts with superficiality,” he said. “The 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 provides a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for the people of this island to pause and reflect on the deep human hunger; for meaning, love, God, healing and communion. Adults may well need to see, hear and listen to young people much more than the youth need the adults!”

“The Congress is a God-given opportunity to reawaken ouridealism through reflecting on the mystery of love, community and service. It is a divine invitation to put communion at the heart of who we are as a people.”

Youth space

The IEC2012 Youth Space is named after Chiara Badano, an ordinary young woman involved in the Focolare movement, who died in 1990 at the age of 18, after succumbing to bone cancer.

Because of her qualities as a friend, and her deep sensitivity to the needs of others, especially the poor, she came to be known as ‘Chiara Luce’ (Claire ‘the Light’ in Italian). Chiara was beatified in 2010 and is the patron saint of the IEC2012 Youth Space.

—To support the spiritual journey of young people before and after the Congress, groups of young people are invited to dip into the Pastoral Programme which is available on: http://www.iec2012.ie.