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 our understanding and celebration of the Liturgy.

• Draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

These aims are achieved through a programme of liturgical and cultural events, lectures and workshops over a number of days every four years. The most recent Congress was held in Quebec in 2008 and was a source of renewal for the many thousands who took part. This was also the case with the last Irish Eucharistic Congress, held in Dublin in June 1932.

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.

We are all invited, over the next two years, to journey together in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may start out with heavy hearts, but through our encounter with Jesus on the road, we will be filled with new hope and energy.

During Advent and Lent for the next two years, in the parishes of the South Tyrone Area - Drumragh, Cappagh, Greencastle, Newtownstewart, Castlederg (Dregish), Drumquin, Gortin - we will reflect on each of the four parts of the Mass – Gathering together / Listening to God’s Word / Being Nourished by the Bread of Life / Being sent out as witnesses of the Gospel.

To begin the preparations, focusing on the first part of the Mass, [Gathering together to celebrate the Eucharist], we are holding a Eucharistic Novena, commencing with prayer in the various parishes on Sat 27th & Sun 28th Nov 2010.

[A Novena Prayer will be available in Churches at the beginning of the Novena]. Everyone is then invited to gather each evening in Christ The King Church, Strathroy, Omagh: Mon 29th Nov thru to Fri 3rd Dec @ 7.30pm for a Novena Service. The Novena will conclude in the various parishes on the weekend of Sat 4th/Sun 5th December.