Bookings are now open for the official Irish pilgrimage to the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress which will take place in, Hungary, from 13 – 20 September 2020. Encouraging pilgrims to attend the Congress in Budapest, Bishop Kevin Doran, the Irish bishops’ delegate for International Eucharistic Congresses, said: “The Church in Hungary is inviting us to join with it to celebrate the next International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest next year. Ireland has had that privilege in 1932 and in 2012. Hungary has very deep Christian roots, dating back 1000 years to its first King, Saint Stephen. The beautiful city of Budapest was a place of suffering for Jews and Christians alike for much of the 20th century. What better way for us to express our communion with the people of Hungary and, at the same time, to renew our experience of Dublin in 2012? I look forward to meeting with hundreds of Irish pilgrims on the banks of the Danube next September.

“In addition to the daily activities of the Congress – the celebration of Mass and the delivery of catechesis and testimonies by clergy and well-known lay Catholics from around the world – pilgrims will also be able to enjoy a variety of cultural events and outdoor activities. There will also be an opportunity, for those who wish, to visit the cities of Estergom and Gyor.”

Bishop Doran concluded, “In Ireland, as we prepare for the IEC2020 in Budapest, we will host a National Eucharistic Congress Adoremus 2020 at the national Marian shrine in Knock, Co Mayo, on 19 and 20 June next year. Adoremus 2020 is a joint initiative between the National Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. All are welcome.”

Bishop Kevin Doran is Bishop of Elphin. In 2012 Bishop Doran was Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which took place in Dublin on the theme, ‘The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another’. He is the national delegate of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference to the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses. In 1932 Ireland hosted the 31st Congress which coincided with the 1500th anniversary of Saint Patrick’s arrival in Ireland.

The International Eucharistic Congress is a 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 lead up to the Congress and a programme of liturgical and cultural events, lectures and workshops throughout Congress week.

Hungary last hosted the International Eucharistic Congress in 1938. The theme of IEC2020 is ‘All My Springs are in You’. It is taken from Psalm 87 and refers to God as the source (or spring) of life for his people.

Those interested in being part of the IEC2020 pilgrimage from Ireland are invited to contact Joe Walsh Tours at the following link https://www.joewalshtours.ie/holidays/pilgrimages-international-eucharistic-congress

For more on IEC2020 see www.iec2020.hu/en