April 7, 2010 - Cardinal to Lead Boston Eucharistic Congress

Braintree, MA – On April 23rd & 24th, Cardinal Seán O’Malley will again lead the 3rd annual Boston Eucharistic Congress for College Students and Young Adults.  As in past years, all events will be held in the historic North End of Boston.

Cardinal Seán said, “The Archdiocese of Boston was established not long after the founding of our nation.   For the past 200 plus years of generations of Catholics have accepted the call to carry on the mission given us by the Lord, we are blessed by the foundation of faith they established for us.  We pray that this Eucharistic Congress helps us to experience a renewed devotion to Jesus Christ and a greater love for His Church.”

Rev. Daniel Hennessey, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Boston, said, “During this Year for Priests, the Eucharistic Congress will be a great opportunity for College Students and Young Adults to gather together in prayer and service.  This year’s speakers will focus on how today’s college students and young adults can know and live out God’s call for each of them through a greater devotion to and understanding of the Eucharist.”

Rev. Matt Williams, Director, Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults, said, “I am truly inspired by the great outpouring of support we are receiving from local establishments who so warmly welcome us each year into the historic North End for this very important event.  We have a phenomenal lineup of speakers and we look forward to joining together to share in our witness of Christ’s love for each of us. ”

Most of the events will take place at Sacred Heart Church (12 N. Square, Boston), St. John School (9 Moon Street, Boston) and St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church (Saint Leonard, Prince and Hanover Streets, Boston).
 
For more information on the Eucharistic Congress and to view schedules or to register, please visit www.eucharisticcongress.org.

Also, George Martell of The Catholic Foundation will be photoblogging live as events occur on www.flickr.com/BostonCatholic.  Please also on http://www.facebook.com/BostonCatholic.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

• Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston
• Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR, Director of the Office for Spiritual Development of the Archdiocese of New York
• Sr. Sarah Burdick, SGL, Director of Formation for the Servants of God’s Love
• Fr. Leonard Plazewski, Director of Vocations, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida & President of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors
• Katie Dardis, Assistant Director of the Archdiocese of Boston Respect Life Education Office
• Amanda Graf, missionary at MIT with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)

Music will be provided by the Magdalen College Choir.  See  http://www.magdalen.edu/

SCHEDULE

Friday, April 23, 2010 
6pm:  Check-in/Registration (St. John School, right next to Sacred Heart Church)

7pm: Prayer & welcome (Sacred Heart Church)
 
7:30pm: Speaker, Fr. Leonard Plazewski, Topic: The Secret of Ars: Living in the Eucharistic Mystery (Sacred Heart Church)

8:15pm: Witness talk, Katie Dardis, Assistant Director of the Archdiocese of Boston Respect Life Education Office (Sacred Heart Church)
 
8:30pm: Eucharistic adoration/time for confessions (Sacred Heart Church)

10pm: Night Prayer (Sacred Heart Church)

10:15pm: Coffee/social (St. John School)

Saturday, April 24, 2010 
10:00am: Check-in/Registration (St. John School, right next to Sacred Heart Church)

10:15 am: Speaker: Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Topic: The Eucharist: The Key to Personal Faith Experience (Sacred Heart Church)

11:15am: Witness talk, Amanda Graf, missionary at MIT with FOCUS, Topic: The Eucharist: The Key to Personal Faith Experience (Sacred Heart Church)

11:30am-4pm: Service projects (various locations)

4:30pm: Vigil Mass with Cardinal Seán (Sacred Heart Church) 

6:30pm: Dinner (St. John School)

7:30pm: Evening Program with Sr. Sarah Burdick, SGL, Director of Formation for the Servants of God’s Love (Sacred Heart Church)
  
9pm: Eucharistic Adoration/Procession (Start Sacred Heart Church/Throughout the North End)

10:30pm: Benediction/Closing (St. Leonard’s Church)

About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Diocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of nearly 2 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 292 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 48000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of more than one million patients annually in its hospitals and 200,000 individuals through its social service outreach. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholic.org.