International Eucharistic Congress organizers keep spiritual focus

Published: 2008-05-07

QUEBEC CITY (CNS) -- Organizers of the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress are keeping a spiritual focus while planning all the programming, accommodation, food and logistics for thousands of pilgrims. "The Christian faith is at the center of our identity," said Msgr. Jean Picher, secretary-general of the June 15-22 congress in Quebec City. "We are organizing opportunity. It is the Holy Spirit who will provide the results," he said. In some ways the preparations have felt like a protracted Lent "with its Good Fridays," he said. Sister Doris Lamontagne, a member of the Little Franciscans of Mary and assistant secretary-general of the congress, said it is an opportunity to reflect on who is present in the Eucharist and "who is Jesus Christ." To welcome Jesus, people need to change their lives and come back to him, Sister Doris said. Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, president of the congress, has described the three-year preparations as a time of conversion. The congress will be a time of celebration, he said.

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