The final month of preparation for the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC2012) is being marked with a special Mass celebrated by the Papal Nuncio, the Most Rev Charles Brown, which will be broadcast live on Sunday 6 May. 

IEC2012 staff members and volunteers will gather in RTE for the Mass to be broadcast live on RTE1 at noon on Sunday 6 May.  Music will be provided by the Palestrina Choir under the directorship of Blánaid Murphy. 

Speaking in advance of the televised Mass to mark IEC2012 preparations, Fr Kevin Doran, Secretary General of IEC2012 said: “Those who are sick or frail due to old age have an important place in the life of the Church and we are delighted that, through this celebration of Mass, they can be drawn into the final stage of preparations for the Congress.”

Meanwhile this weekend, the final National Collection to raise funds for this year’s 50^th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) will be held in parishes across Ireland on 5 & 6 May 2012.

This annual collection is the final in a series of four which form a key part of fundraising for the Congress.  Parishioners responded very generously to collections in 2009, 2010 and 2011 on the Feast of Corpus Christi raising a total of €3 million to date.

Due to the difficult economic climate and a desire not to compete with funding for education or healthcare, IEC2012 has specifically not sought any of the kind of public funding that would normally be made available to a large international event such as the Congress, which will be attended by around 20,000 people daily in the RDS from 10-16 June and will have an audience of up to 80,000 people in Croke Park on 17 June.

Funds generated from the National Collections will form part of the overall budget of €11.5 million for the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress.

Events such as the Congress must adhere to stringent health and safety requirements involving careful preparation and infrastructure.  The money raised will go towards logistical expenses including: hiring and fitting out the two venues; RDS and Croke Park, provision of essential requirements for the liturgy, the communication of the Congress on website and broadcast media, the preparation of signage for venues all around Dublin and all the other preparatory work that will enable us to welcome pilgrims in comfort and safety.

The funds will also support the volunteer programme which is helping to make the Congress run smoothly by providing it with meals and uniforms for almost two thousand volunteers working as part of the organisation team.

Previous Congresses have been funded by a variety of measures including private contributions, sponsorship, fundraising and delegate fees.  This Congress is following a similar approach.  The Congress, though hosted in Dublin, is a pastoral initiative of the whole Irish Church.

Speaking about the fourth National Collection and its significance to the Congress, Fr Kevin Doran, Secretary General of IEC2012 said: “We are conscious that in the circumstances of the times that the Congress should not be ostentatious.  We are committed to making it a worthy celebration of faith.  The celebration of the Eucharist will be at the heart of IEC2012, but the Congress will also include a comprehensive programme of educational and cultural activities.

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: press@iec2012.ie

• Aoife Connors, Media Officer, 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012, Tel: 00353 (01) 234 9940    Mob: 00353 (0) 87 628 0580   Email: pressofficer@iec2012.ie

Notes for Editors:

• The 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 will take place in Dublin from 10 – 17 June 2012 with up to 20,000 pilgrims expected to attend each day at the RDS, including 12,000 international pilgrims representing 99 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.  Previous Congresses took place in Quebec (2008) and Guadalajara (2004)


• 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 Statio Orbis, the Final Mass, of the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 at Croke Park Stadium.


• There will be 18 keynote addresses by international speakers.


• 22 Keynote Speakers will deliver Catechesis (teaching), personal testimonies, homilies and addresses.


• 160 Workshops including talks, addresses, group reflections, meetings, concerts and plays


• 6 keynote speakers will lead a parallel programme for 18-25 years olds during the week


• The full programme is available at: http://www.iec2012.ie/programme


• For more information: www.iec2012.ie


• Registration for the Congress is now live on http://www.iec2012.ie/registration