Parañaque diocese holds Eucharistic Congress

The diocese of Parañaque, composed of 52 parishes in the cities of Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and Parañaque, will hold its first  Diocesan Eucharistic Congress on Saturday, Sept. 14, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in La Huerta, Parañaque City.

The congress’ theme is “Uniting around the redeeming cross of Christ.”

Bishop Jesse E. Mercado, DD, will lead the whole-day affair which begins at 8 a.m. It will be attended by 1,200 delegates from the 52 parishes.

Rev. Fr. Genaro (Genie) Diwa, head of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Manila, will be the keynote speaker.  The congress will culminate with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 4 p.m. Bishop Mercado will be the main celebrant.

Mercado said the First Diocesan Eucharistic Congress was geared toward strengthening the faithful’s understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist as the “source and summit of all Christian activity.”

Before the holding of the congress, activities were held to generate interest in the event. The activities include video catechesis on the celebration of the Eucharist during Sunday Masses and monthly Holy Hour in all parishes, on-the-spot poster-making contest for high school students in the diocese. There were also pre-congresses in the six vicariates of Sta. Rita de Cascia, St. Martin de Porres, San Antonio de Padua, Our Lady of the Abandoned, Holy Family and St. Joseph, pre-congress prayers at Sunday Masses and video presentation and the singing of the theme song, “Uniting Around the Redeeming Cross of Christ.”