DUMAGUETE
CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) – To further raise the public’s anticipation for
the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) which will be held in Cebu on
January 2016, a replica of the famous Magellan’s Cross has begun its tour to
different districts under the Diocese of Dumaguete.
The IEC symbol arrived in Dumaguete City on January 25 and
was brought to the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria for a short welcome
ceremony by the parishioners of the cathedral.
Afterwards, it was transferred to St. Paul University Gym for a
mass which was celebrated by Diocese of Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes and
youth vigil.
The IEC symbol was then brought to Siaton in the south for
its tour, and on January 27 it will have a caravan going to Tanjay City for its
visit to the north district of the Diocese.
By January 28, the replica of Magellan’s Cross will be taken to
Siquijor for the final leg of its tour to the districts under the mentioned
diocese.
Msgr. Julius Heruela of the Diocese of Dumaguete explained in a
recent press briefing that the replica of structure that houses the Magellan’s
Cross became the symbol of the 51st IEC since it symbolizes the beginning of
Christianization in the country.
“Although the cross of Magelan may represent the imposition of the
faith on the native Filipinos at the initial stage of evangelization, the cross
itself becomes the symbol of the purification on our way of evangelization,”
Msgr. Heruela said.
The replica of the shrine of Magellan’s Cross will contain a relic
of the true cross so that people will be venerating with the relic.
He also added that there are four icons which can be seen under
the IEC symbol: Mary, St. Joseph, San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro
Calungsod.
Meanwhile, the visit of the IEC also features a talk on “The
Eucharist: Source and Goal of the Church’s Mission.”
Officials of the diocese urged youths to participant in the IEC
symbol caravan especially in the youth vigil.
Fr. Hendrix Alar, head of the Diocese Commission on the
Youth, disclosed that one of the goals of the talk is to assess young
people’s understanding about the Eucharist.
Fr. Alar emphasized that young people should not be in the
sidelines of the church; rather, they must be in the center of the church
because they are the future of the church.
The IEC symbol will leave the Diocese of Dumaguete on January 29
and its next destination will be Bohol. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)