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THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS PILGRIMAGE BELL was welcomed into the Parish of Youghal on Monday last, December 26th and remained in the Parish until Tuesday December 27th. All those living in the Parish of Youghal, Killeagh and Ballymacoda and surrounding areas joined in one or more of the following scheduled events, which were all well attended and very successful.
On Tuesday 27th December 2011 after Mass at St. Mary's Parish Church, Youghal, The Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage continued with a procession of the Bell through the streets of Youghal. The Bell arrived at the old Youghal Stone Bridge at 3pm where a fitting service of prayer and hymns was led by Fr. Patrick Winkle from Youghal and Fr. Paul Waldron from Dungarvan.
On Monday, December 26th a Reception for the Bell was held at 12.30pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, The Strand, followed immediately by Mass for St Stephen’s Day. That evening at 5.30pm Evening Prayer and Carols was held. At 8.30pm prayers with the Icons and Night Prayer saw the first day come to a close.
Tuesday, December 27th commenced at 9.30am with a recitation of the Rosary in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, followed at 10am by the celebration of Mass. After Mass the congregation walked with the Bell and Icons into the town and arrived at St Mary’s Parish Church before noon, where prayers were said and carols sung.
The Bell and Icons were handed over to the Dioceses of Waterford and Lismore at the Stone Bridge in Youghal.
The Bell and Icons were handed over to the Dioceses of Waterford and Lismore at the Stone Bridge in Youghal. Despite the cold, a very large group of people from the Parish of Youghal came out to escort them on the journey from the Parish Church and into the welcoming hands of Fr. Paul Waldron, Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, Fr. Gerard O’Connor, PP, Aglish and Fr. Michael Cullinan, PP, Lismore.
The Bell arrived at the old Youghal Stone Bridge where a fitting service of prayer and hymns was led by Fr. Patrick Winkle from Youghal and Fr. Paul Waldron from Dungarvan.
Carols were sung by the Clashmore Choir, and people got the opportunity to personally ring the Congress Bell. Gardaí from the Parish of Youghal and West Waterford were on hand to ensure the safety of the ‘pilgrims’ and keep the traffic flowing freely.
The organisation and arrangements made by the people of the Parish of Youghal, and in particular the enormous amount of work put in by Fr. Patrick Winkle, are to be lauded. The Congress Bell and Icons paid just a quick visit to Youghal, but their presence was felt by all who came along during the two days to view and ring the Bell which, in June 2012, will be a VIP at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin.
The Bell, handed over at the Stone Bridge in Youghal, will remain in the Diocese of Waterford, visiting twenty two Parishes, until January 8th next when it will leave Waterford by yet another bridge, the Edmond Rice Bridge, and will travel into the Diocese of Ossery.
Fr. Patrick Winkle,Youghal; Fr. Michael Cullinan,Lismore; Fr. Gerard O'Connor, Aglish and Father Paul Waldron, Dungarvan pictured at the handing over ceremony of the Eucharistic Congress Bell from the the Diocese of Cloyne to the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore at Youghal Bridge on Tuesday 27th December 2011.
Lismore, Co. Waterford, Garda Bertie McCarthy, rings the Eucharistic Congress Bell as it departs Youghal Bridge on Tuesday 27th December 2011.
The Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage continues its journey throughout the Dioceses of Ireland.
Click on image to visit the IEC 2012 website
The theme of the next International Eucharistic Congress is “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.” The Congress will be held in Dublin from 10 June – 17 June 2012. Further details available at www.iec2012.ie
50th International Eucharistic Congress invites deaf community to Dublin in 2012
Archive Material from 1932 Eucharistic Congress
a video produced by Province 5 TV for the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress “Come and See” which includes a video interview with Joan Coughlan from Summerhill. She shares her childhood memories of listening to the radio broadcast for the week of celebrations.
Pathé news footage also features some of the Church and Civil celebrations;
A video of Navan’s Corpus Christi Procession is also included
For further information click on this link: www.youghalcatholicparish.com
Click on image below to see the Eucharistic Congress Bell handing over at the old Youghal Stone Bridge – Photos: YoughalOnline.com
Youghal
The Bell arrives into Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 12.20pm. At 12.30am there will be Mass for St. Stephens Day. At 5.30pm there will be Evening Prayers and Carols, followed by a Reflection of the Icons at 8.30pm. On Tuesday 27th December there will be Mass at 10.00am followed by a Procession of the Bell through Youghal at 10.45am. At 12.00 Noon the Bell will arrive at St. Mary’s Parish Church for Prayers and carol singing. At 2.00pm there will be a Bell Procession to Waterford Bridge.
At 3.00pm there will be the Handover of the Bell to the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.
The Eucharistic Congress Bell is a symbol of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. The Bell will reflect the invitation to faith, to prayer, to reconciliation and to mission which has always been important in our Christian tradition and is no less so today. The pilgrimage of the bell throughout the Dioceses of Ireland will be a vehicle to:
- Invite people to deepen their communion with Christ and with one another.
- Promote the pastoral aims of the Congress
- Animate the people of your Diocese to become involved with the Eucharistic Congress both locally and nationally.
Bell Pilgrimage, Diocese of Cloyne, 22nd – 27th December 2011
Date: Thursday December 22, 2011 – Tuesday December 27, 2011
Diocese: Cloyne
Venue: Cloyne, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Youghal
Contact: Fr. Patrick Winkle 086 829 2560
The Eucharistic Congress Bell is in the Diocese of Cloyne from 22nd December and remains in the diocese until 27th December 2011.
The Eucharistic Congress Bell pilgrimage itinerary is:
22nd – 23rd December
Cloyne
The Bell and Icons arrive at St Colman’s National School and are taken in procession to Cloyne Parish Church at 2.30pm. There will be a hymn and prayer service until 7.00pm when a Celebration Mass will be held.
Adoration from 8.15 until 9.00pm. The Bell remains overnight.
23rd December
There will be Mass at 10am, prayer and carol services at 11am and 12 noon, and a Holy Hour at 1.00pm. The Bell departs at 2.00pm.
23rd- 24th December
Carrigtwohill
The Bell arrives in Carrigtwohill at 3pm for evening prayer at 3.30pm in the church. There will be Mass at 6.00pm and a penitential service at 8.00pm. The Bell remains overnight.
On 24th December there is Mass at 10am and Confession at 10.30am. The Bell departs at 11.00am.
24th – 26th December
Cobh
The Bell arrives at 11.00am, confessions are available from 11.00am to 12 Noon, followed by a Reception of the Bell into the Cathedral. Confessions are available again from 2.00pm to 3.00pm. At 6.30pm to 8.30pm there is a Vigil Mass for Christmas which will be followed by Midnight Mass.
On Sunday 25th December, Christmas Day the Bell will remain in the Cathedral. On 26th December, St. Stephens Day there will be Mass at 11.00am followed by the departure of the Bell at 11.45am.
26th – 27th December
Youghal
The Bell arrives into Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 12.20pm. At 12.30am there will be Mass for St. Stephens Day. At 5.30pm there will be Evening Prayers and Carols, followed by a Reflection of the Icons at 8.30pm. On Tuesday 27th December there will be Mass at 10.00am followed by a Procession of the Bell through Youghal at 10.45am. At 12.00 Noon the Bell will arrive at St. Mary’s Parish Church for Prayers and carol singing. At 2.00pm there will be a Bell Procession to Waterford Bridge.
At 3.00pm there will be the Handover of the Bell to the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.
The Eucharistic Congress Bell is a symbol of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. The Bell will reflect the invitation to faith, to prayer, to reconciliation and to mission which has always been important in our Christian tradition and is no less so today. The pilgrimage of the bell throughout the Dioceses of Ireland will be a vehicle to:
- Invite people to deepen their communion with Christ and with one another.
- Promote the pastoral aims of the Congress
- Animate the people of your Diocese to become involved with the Eucharistic Congress both locally and nationally.
- Invite people to come to the Congress on 10-17 June 2012.
Click on image to visit our website
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in the RDS Dublin from 10-17 June 2012 with the closing ceremony taking place in Croke Park on the 17th June 2012.
A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to:
* promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church
* help improve understanding and celebration of the liturgy
* draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.
These aims are achieved through
* a programme of pastoral preparation in the years leading up to the Congress
* a programme of liturgical and cultural events, lectures and workshops over the course of one week every four years.
* The most recent Congresses were held in Quebec in 2008 and Guadalajara (Mexico) in 2004.
Most people in Ireland are familiar with the fact that a Eucharistic Congress was held in Ireland in 1932.
Our parents and grand-parents speak of it as a significant event in their own experience of Church. Some pupils in secondary school have undertaken special history projects on the Eucharistic Congress in preparation for their Leaving Certificate.
Improvements in travel since 1932 will provide a greater international perspective to the 2012 Congress. Technology will play an important part too in preparations but the most valuable aspect of the coming years is the sense of faith which can be kindled in the families and in every parish throughout the country.
The theme of the 2012 Irish Eucharistic Congress is “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.” This theme, Communion with Christ and with one another, will help us to explore not only how our relationship with Jesus can be deepened in the Eucharist, but also how the Eucharist challenges us to look more closely at how we live with one another.
Go n-éirí go geal linn, le cúnamh Dé.
Alex Swayne Kearns Baptism At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, The Strand, Youghal, Co. Cork. Celebrant: Fr. Bill Bermingham
Photo: Michael Hussey
