50^th International Eucharistic Congress announces details of Youth Space

17 May 2012

Hundreds of Irish young people are preparing to ‘Get Set Go’ with an ambitious programme of events at the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) Chiara Luce Youth Space running at the RDS, Dublin from 11–16 June 2012. 

The Youth Space will feature a rich mix of interactive catechesis, workshops, drama, dance and music, and is open to all adults between 17 and 25 years old.

Youth Programme Officer, Anna Keegan, said: “I’m really excited to be involved in the Chiara Luce Youth Space at the International Eucharistic Congress. It gives young people an opportunity to learn more about their faith by discussing and questioning international speakers and Celebrating the Eucharist together. With the mixture of fun, music, and meditation we hope to build a strong community of young faithful people. This is our time to ‘Get up and go’ to the Congress!”

The six day Congress youth programme will commence with a daily morning prayer, ‘Get Set Go’ led by Net Ministries National Evangelisation Team (NET) Ireland, resident house band Elation Ministries and 3Rock Church of Ireland Youth Initiative.

Throughout the week from midday, a series of four workshops will focus on the chosen daily Congress theme.

• Monday 11 June, up to 1,000 young people from across the 26 dioceses will gather at the Chiara Luce Youth Space for an evening of prayer with the Brothers of Taizé.
• Tuesday 12 June features a workshop on ‘Love and Relationships’ by the Elijah Fellowship.
• Wednesday 13 June will feature a talk show, ‘Young and On the Mission…in Your Daily Life!’ focusing on three young lay people and three religious about living their lives as Catholics.
• Thursday 14 June will present Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, leading a workshop ‘Praying with the Breath.’ Later that day, Bishop Donal McKeown, Diocese of Down and Connor, will facilitate a short, dynamic conversation with young people on ‘Reconciliation in Our Communion’.
• Friday 15 June the Focolare Movement will deliver a workshop on ‘Chiara Luce; The Hurricane of Light’. The Chiara Luce Youth Space is named after Chiara Badano, meaning ‘Claire Light’ in Italian. She was a young woman involved in the Focolare movement, who died in 1990 aged 18, having suffered bone cancer. She was described as ‘a hurricane of light’ and beatified in 2010.

Other highlights:

Each evening between 6.30pm and 11pm, the Youth Space will also hosts an array of events including interactive catechesis sessions, concerts, a drumming circle with the Psalm Drummers from Belfast, and preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

Pilgrims can pirouette their praise with a workshop lead by Sister Bernadette Purcell, Chaplaincy, IT Tallaght, Dublin, on liturgical dance: ‘Sacred Dance: Using the Body to Pray.’  Or, they can learn street dance with ‘The Move of Faith’ workshop by Donking Rongavilla, Dance Donking, Ireland.  

Each day there will be interactive catechesis led by a Bishop involved in youth ministry. On Saturday, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Diocese of Brooklyn, USA, leads the catechesis and the final prayer at the Chiara Luce Youth Space: ‘Good to Go! Following the footsteps of the disciples on the road to Emmaus’. Young people are encouraged to participate in this Mission to go out and be the Church in action with Christ and with one Another. 

INTERVIEWS CAN BE ARRANGED UPON REQUEST

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 25,000 pilgrims expected to attend each day at the RDS, including 12,000 international pilgrims representing more than 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