Home
|
Eucharistic Congress: a feast for the soul |
|
|
|
Written by KATE OATIS
|
|
Thursday, 14 July 2005 |
|
This will be a rallying point of the celebration of our faith. It will allow us to grow in spirituality of the Eucharist and to unify as a diocese in our love of Christ, says Father Charles Singler about the Eucharistic Congress the diocese will celebrate Oct. 1 at Toledo Central Catholic High School and Rosary Cathedral.
To say that Fr. Chas is excited about the upcoming celebration is an understatement. Quite simply, he's joyful, hopeful, optimistic and very, very pleased to be chairing the committee organizing the event.
When Pope John Paul II announced the Year of the Eucharist last October, many dioceses seized the opportunity to hold Eucharistic Congresses. In our diocese, the Year of the Eucharist culminates with this event. All of that energy and spirit from the local parishes will be funneled to this day, Fr. Chas says.
And what a day it will be. Here's a sample - just a sample, mind you - of the feast of workshops available (and note there are workshops for youth and families as well as adults of all vocations): Yells, Bells and Smells: Ritual Symbols Revisited by Father Keith Stripe; What is the Real Presenceby Bishop Leonard Blair; Beyond First Communion: Family Customs in Faith by the Daniel Brahier family; The Biblical Understanding of Eucharist by Father Ken Morman; Eucharist and Social Justice by Sr. Pat Dorobek; and The Relationship Between Mass and Daily Life by Father Dave Reinhart. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place throughout the day for those who wish to spend time in prayer.
Here's how the day will unfold: registration at 9 a.m. followed by morning prayer. The keynote address, given by Benedictine Father Mark O'Keefe, will run from 10:30 to 11:15 followed by questions and answers. Lunch, provided, takes place at 11:30. Workshop Session A runs from 12:45 to 1:45, and Workshop Session B runs from 2 to 3 p.m. At 3:30, the procession to Rosary Cathedral begins. The day ends with 4:30 Mass there celebrated by Bishop Leonard Blair.
Fr. O'Keefe has been a member of the teaching faculty at Saint Meinrad School of Theology since 1987 and has been president-rector since 1996. He is or has been active in the Catholic Theological Society of America, Society of Christian Ethics and Society of the Study of Christian Spirituality. He has authored six books: What Are They Saying About Social Sin Becoming Good, Becoming Holy; In Persona Christi; The Ordination of a Priest; Priestly Virtues and Priestly Prayer.
Growing in Faith certification is available. There will be exhibitors, including several bookstores. Transportation from Rosary Cathedral back to CCHS after the Mass is available free of charge for those who want or need it. There will be interpreters for the deaf, and some workshops will be presented in Spanish. In short, there's every reason to join people from throughout the diocese for this joyous celebration of the Eucharist.
The fee for the entire day is $15 per person and $50 for family of four. Registration at the door: $20.
Parishes will receive brochures and will make them available to those interested. Soon, there will be a Eucharistic Congress link on the toledodiocese.org Web site. For more information, call the Office of Worship at 244-6711, ext. 515.
|
|
Catholic Chronicle of The Toledo Diocese RSS Feed
|
