A festival of Communion

Wednesday 20 June 2012
By Br Mark O'Connor FMS
Archbishop's Office for Evangelisation
 
THE LAST few days of the Eucharistic Congress were marvellous. I was struck how vitally important it is to nurture people’s faith, and the organisers did a great job providing spiritual nourishment.
 
Adult faith formation was clearly a hunger for so many of the participants. The 160 workshops have all been packed, and some people queued patiently for up to two hours to hear their chosen speaker.
 
Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, gave his talk twice with only a 15-minute break between, in order not to disappoint pilgrims. The organisers showed his recorded talk later as well. It was amazing to see people standing on sodden grass in the pouring rain in front of a screen, just to hear him.
 
Indeed there was no favouritism regarding those who were turned away from full-up workshops, because they included several Cardinals, a Senator, several bishops, and one speaker’s mother! In fact, one prominent politician got turned away from three different talks in a row!
 
These workshops were one of the real lessons of the congress. The demand for them shows there is a real hunger for spiritual and intellectual nourishment among Catholics. 
 
Another  highlight of the last few days for me was the extraordinary catechesis of the new Archbishop of Manila, Luis Tagle.
 
After the talk I met with him and invited to come to Melbourne in December 2013! He was very open to the possibility.
 
On Saturday 16 June, the penultimate day of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress— the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, this sign of hope and gift to the Church from Asia— Archbishop Luis Tagle led reflections on the theme, Communion in the Word through Mary.
 
And he began with the ordinary human experience of establishing communion, a connection with others. He said, “We see in our time so much exchange of words happening at high speed and across national boundaries. But unfortunately the world is as divided as ever. Why is communion not achieved in spite of the exchange of words? Because Jesus is not the word they share and receive.”
 
From the platform of the central arena his usually warm and reassuring voice cracked as he spoke of the very real consequences of a break down in human communion:
 
“When financial wizards talk about ways of manipulating the economy for their own profit, you do not call that communion; that is corruption! When politicians talk to people about grand promises without intending to fulfil them, you do not call that communion; that is cheating! When the powerful 'negotiate' among themselves while neglecting the weak, you do not call that communion; that is oppression! When so-called enterprising persons deal with each other on how women and children could be profitable merchandise, you do not call that communion; that is slavery!”
 
He concluded, “When communion consists in Jesus who is the Word of Life then the common good becomes central. And that is pleasing to God’s eyes.”
  
The Closing Eucharist
 
Sunday’s Statio Orbis Mass was certainly pleasing to God’s eyes! It was a remarkably moving celebration of faith—the organisation was great and the music divine —that moved one to tears at its beauty.
 
It was impossible not to be affected by the beautiful spirit at Croke Park, as tens of thousands of Irish Catholics celebrated their faith with the same deep loyalty as their ancestors had done down the centuries. The 75, 000 present will never forget it.
 
The Pope’s message and the whole message of the day was about going deeper inside the mystery of the Eucharist—our very personal communication with God. It was a real moment of renewal for a great local Church.
 
As Archbishop Martin said in his address, “Tomorrow we must start our catechesis anew to prolong the fruits of this Eucharistic Congress.”
  
Will one Eucharistic Congress solve all the challenges of the Irish church? Of course not. But it has been a fantastic, life-giving experience, and the real benefits for thousands of people will be quiet but long-lasting.

Read more and view photo gallery: Building up the body of Christ
 
Photos courtesy of CNS photo/John Mc Elroy. Copyright 2012.