Notes for Editors:
The 50th 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 thousands of international pilgrims representing more than 120 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, held 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 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 at Croke Park Stadium. There are a total of 223 speakers as part of the IEC2012 programme of events, which includes 38 speakers in the main arena delivering Catechesis (teaching), personal testimonies, homilies and addresses. There are 41 speakers delivering addresses at the Chiara Luce Youth Space for young people between 17 and 25 years old. A total of 160 workshops including talks, addresses, group reflections, meetings, concerts and plays The full programme is available at: http://www.iec2012.ie/programme