IEC Update : Reminders for the SRP Culminating Mass on January 31, 2016, 4:00 P.M.

BELOW are the reminders and the arrangements of participants for this Sunday's Statiu Orbis 

A. The SRP area is already open as early as in the morning on the said date for all who may attend the Statio Orbis Mass.

B. Traffic Routes at the SRP will not be closed EXCEPT for huge container vans and trucks while the activity is going on.

C. Hence, Only the BUSES of the Delegates and the Vehicles of the VIPs and other Committee in charge are allowed to park near the Templete. (They have designated parking space at the back of the Templete.

D. For those travelling via BUSES and jeepneys from the SOUTH OF CEBU, they are advised to travel up to the KAWIT ISLAND area only. Kaoshiong Buses are available at the area to bring them to the SRP Templete.

E. For those travelling via BUSES from the NORTH OF CEBU, they are advised to travel up to the MARITIMA BUILDING (near the City Hall area) area only. Kaoshiong Buses are available at the area to bring them to SRP Templete.

F. Those travelling via private and light vehicles may enter the SRP area and use the available parking space at SM Seaside City.

G. Everyone is also advised to bring with them their own chairs since the ones being prepared are reserved to the IEC 2016 Delegates only. (This may include basic necessities such as umbrella, bottled water and the like).

Source : IEC2016.ph

IEC Media Briefing January 26 : Use social media but with substance, Rev. Barron to priests

Priests can go high-tech in spreading the word of God!

The use of new media is a creative way of bringing back people to church. 

 This was the statement of Most Reverend Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, California, USA.

Barron was among the panelists in a media briefing at theInternational Eucharistic Congress Pavillion.

 He said there is a noted decrease among those who go to church and social media among other modern methods, should be used by the clergy .

 The social media and the Internet, he said, is an extraordinary tool to evangelize.

“It will be silly not to take the advancement,” Barron said.

However, Barron pointed out that its usage will be maximized positively.

“You must have something substantial to share. You study. You read. New media must be backed up by the Old Media, which are the books, scripture,” Barron said.

He said that in his own diocese, more than 70 percent of Catholics are no longer attending masses. “This is a spiritual disaster,” he said.

Barron said that it is the Filipinos that keeps the church alive.

  

He said he could feel the vigilance and the passion in Cebu where Christianity began in the Philippines.

Barron is the founder of Word on Fire, a global media ministry dedicated to new evangelization methods.

On the other hand, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that while there is a  need to innovate again it should be with more  learning and praying.

Palma calls on the practitioners of traditional forms of media to help them in keeping the faith alive.

Over 15,000 delegates are in Cebu for the IEC which runs from January 24 t0 30.

 It is the second time the IEC is held in the Philippines. 

*Photos are all taken by Virgilio V. Verzonilla of PIA-Cebu 

IEC media briefing Jan. 25 --Of hopefuls and inculcated values

CEBU CITY, January 26 (PIA) – Catholic church officials are hopeful that the holding of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu  translates into applied values in the Philippine society.

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Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in yesterday's press briefing at the IEC Pavilion, said they remain positive that the learnings and realizations that will be shared from the congress will eventually be made visible in the various issues faced by the Filipinos.

Understanding the Eucharist means the intent to transform, he said.

“It is transformative, so this would mean values such as equality, peace and honesty, patience will be practiced by public, leaders and the people,” Palma said.

Citing the Mamasapano incident which happened exactly a year ago, Palma said they continue to hope for justice and healing for the families.

The IEC is also seen to influence the lay positively which will extend into the conduct and participation of the May elections.

“I believe in the grace of the event.  Walking towards the direction of hope means doing something and not just sitting down,” Palma said.

Italian Archbishop Peirro Marini said the Eucharist is the identity of Christ.

“In the Congress, the participants are hoped to have inculcated what they learn from the liturgy or it will be nothing," Marini said.

The second day of the IEC centered on being hopeful and the pastoral role of women in the Church.

The Papal Envoy led by  Papal Legate Charles Maung Cardinal Bo will be treated today to a performance by the world renowned dancing inmates of the Cebu ProvincialDetention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

                                               (Dancing Inmates tribute to Pope Francis' visit) 

There are 72 participating countries in the EIC with over 200 bishops present.

It was in 1937 when the Philippines first hosted the IEC.(FCC)/RMN/.PIA7-Cebu)

For other Cebu news go to Philippine Information Agency - Central Visayas news 

DSWD 7 augments city welfare staff for IEC2016

CEBU CITY, January 22 (PIA)—Sixty Department of SocialWelfare and Development (DSWD) staff will augment the local social welfare department for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC)  next week.

According to Evelyn Macapobre, Regional Director of DSWD7, there are 60 staff identified to assist during the event on January 24 until the 31st.

In a press release, the 60 regional personnel will be augmenting the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) of the Cebu City Government who are mainly assigned for camp management and emergency situations.

“We have committed 60 staff mostly composed of social workers to help manage the help desk where lost and found children will be stationed,” Macapobre said.

Initial symposium related to the IEC are already being done this week.

It will be formally opened with a Mass by Cardinal Maung Bo of Sri Lanka at the Plaza Independencia.

The Pontifical Mass on January 24 will be celebrated by Cardinal Bo in behalf of Pope Francis who will not be able to make it to the IEC.

 

Cardinal Maung Bo representing Pope Francis 

On the 28th Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle will be the congress’ speaker at the IEC Pavilion.

There will be a Visita Iglesia or church visit on that day  will also be held among parishes in Metro Cebu including the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Capitol, Redemptorist Church, Santo Rosario Church, Basilica del Santo Niño, AsilodelaMedallaMilagrosa, Sacred Heart Parish, and the Cebu Cathedral.

 These will also be the venues where the delegates will have encounters with local parishioners. 

 On January 29, the delegates will also be brought to their foster families as part of the immersion activity while a procession will be held from Capitol to Plaza Independencia in the afternoon.

 There will be Masses to be held on January 28 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Capitol building quadrangle on January 29, and the closing ceremonies at the South Road Properties on January 31.

 IEC 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 our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

 The event is expected to gather millions of pilgrims during the opening and closing ceremonies. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu with reports from Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya IO)