Published: June 19, 2008 02:58 pm            

Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will welcome over 20,000 people to the 13th annual Eucharistic Congress beginning in the evening of June 20 and all day Saturday at the Georgia International Convention Center. The event is free and open to all.

“I Am the Living Bread,” the theme for this year’s gathering, is from John 6:51 -- “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

“I invite you to prayerfully consider coming together with family and friends in union with Christ as we experience the joy of renewing our faith at the 2008 Eucharistic Congress. We are called through our Baptism and Confirmation to deepen our relationship with Jesus who comes to each of us in the Eucharist,” said Archbishop Gregory.

The Congress begins on Friday at 6 p.m. with a Healing Mass celebrated by Father Tim Hepburn followed by “REVIVE!”—a program for young adults ages 18 to 40 with Matthew Kelly and Curtis Stephan & Band.

On Saturday, the Congress begins at 8:30 a.m. with an opening procession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At 11:00 a.m., attendees can choose to attend the General, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Deaf, Teen or Kid Track, as appropriate.

A press conference will be held on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. inside the Georgia International Convention Center by Exhibit Hall “D” for all media to ask questions of Father Ricky Bailey, Father Jose-Duvan Gonzalez, and others who will be available for comments and questions.

Speakers for the General Track on Saturday include the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta, the Most Reverend William George Curlin, Retired Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Steve Ray, Helen M. Alvare, Matthew Kelly, and Father Tim Hepburn with the award-winning news journalist, Russ Spencer, as emcee.

Among the tracks offered this year, the Hispanic Track will welcome the Most Reverend Daniel Flores, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit, Most Reverend Gabino Miranda-Melgarejo, Auxiliary Bishop of Ayacucho, Peru, and Reverend Octavio Diaz Villagrana, founder of the Bible Theological Institute.

The Most Reverend Stephanus Tri Buu Thien, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Can Tho in South Vietnam, and Reverend Anthony Vu Van Triet, Pastor of Vi Hung Parish in

Vietnam, are the speakers for the Vietnamese Track. Father Jeremy St. Martin, coordinator of the Office for Deaf Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston, will lead the Deaf Track.

The Teen Track will feature Over The Top Ministries with Anne Marie Cribbin and Justin Russell using comedy, music and story telling to evangelize and to show others what it is like to live as disciples of Christ.

“The Donut Man,” Robert C. Evans, will delight children from kindergarten to age 11 with songs and story telling. “Life without Jesus is like a donut; there’s a hole in the middle of your heart.”

At the conclusion of the day, all will gather for the Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. with Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as homilist and main celebrant.

“The Eucharistic Congress is a vibrant and important part of our Catholic heritage, bringing tens of thousands of Catholics from around the archdiocese and surrounding states to venerate Jesus, to hear about the many ways that the Eucharist is at the heart of our mission as Church and as disciples, and to be personally nourished by the Eucharist,” said Communications Director Patricia Chivers.

        

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