The International Eucharistic Congress
Much has been written about World Youth Day. Every two or three years, the Vatican holds a major event for Catholic youth and young adults in a prominent city of the world. Venues have included Toronto in 2002, Sydney in 2008, and Madrid in 2011. The next one will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2013.
The Church also holds similar events geared more towards adults, the International Eucharistic Congresses. These have a longer history, dating back to 1881. In recent years, host cities have included Guadalajara in 2004, Quebec City in 2008, and the next one commencing today, June 10, and running through next Sunday, June 17 in Dublin, Ireland. As seriously as the media might take World Youth Day, the Church provides a great motivation to attend its Eucharistic Congresses: Participation at the closing Mass of a Eucharistic Congress is enriched with a Plenary Indulgence.
Readers of this column are surely aware by now of the Juventútem movement, in the news recently because of the plethora of activities being offered by our new local chapter. Juventútem started as an effort to serve young adults attending World Youth Day who wished to attend Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form. Chapters of Juventútem are forming across the globe; in addition to the primary mission of organizing pilgrimages to World Youth Day, local chapters are arranging a variety of local religious and social events.
It should therefore not be surprising that a similar movement is taking shape at International Eucharistic Congresses. As an increasing number of people find their spiritual home in the Tridentine Mass, it is only pastoral for Congress organizers to offer these pilgrims access to their preferred form of Sacred Liturgy. At this week’s Congress, a program of Extraordinary Form Masses and events is planned at Dublin’s St. Kevin Church, as can be seen in the adjacent excerpt from their IEC brochure. Particularly noteworthy is the Pontifical Mass to be celebrated by Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, the same prelate who conferred Minor Orders at the FSSP Seminary in Nebraska last fall. His Excellency is setting a commendable example of support for the EF for his fellow Canadian bishops.
While such efforts at IECs have not yet been given a “brand name” à la Juventútem, the point is clear: The EF will have a growing role at major Church events going forward.
Marquette Sacred Music Conference
Closer to home, Diocese of Marquette Bishop Alexander Sample – a regular celebrant of the Tridentine Mass – has organized a Conference on Sacred Music to be held at Marquette’s St. Peter Cathedral Monday-Tuesday, June 18-19. Presenters include the ubiquitous Jeffery Tucker and Arlene Oost-Zimmer of the Church Music Association of America, as well as our own Dr. Steven Ball. Befitting any event involving Mr. Tucker, a principal focus will be singing the Propers at [Ordinary Form] Mass. It is an encouraging sign of the times to see a diocesan-sponsored conference advocating traditional norms for sacred music. Further information is available at www.marquettesacredmusic.com. [Some of us note with enthusiasm that the Conference Chair for this event is none other than our own Sacred Heart Major Seminary grad, Fr. Ryan Ford.]
Juventútem News
Congratulations to Juventútem Michigan for having been invited by the Archdiocese of Detroit to participate in today’s Corpus Christi Procession at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. This is the first time since Vatican II that a group associated with the Extraordinary Form has been explicitly requested to be involved in a Cathedral liturgy, albeit in the Ordinary Form.
This Friday, June 15, Juventútem will be holding its next dinner for young adults age 18-35 at the St. Josaphat Social Hall after the 7:00 PM High Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. [All ages are invited to the Mass.]
Young adults are invited to carpool with Juventútem to the Marquette Sacred Music Conference; please e-mail contact@juventutemmichigan.com if you are interested.
Tridentine Masses This Coming Week
Mon. 06/11 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (St. Barnabas, Apostle)
Tue. 06/12 7:00 PM: Low Mass at Assumption-Windsor (St. John of San Facondo, Confessor)
Fri. 06/15 7:00 PM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Please note the two separate Feasts being celebrated next Sunday:
Sun. 06/17 9:30 AM: High Mass at St. Josaphat (Third Sunday After Pentecost)
Sun. 06/17 2:00 PM: High Mass at Assumption-Windsor (External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
"I will go in unto the Altar of God
To God, Who giveth joy to my youth"
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