Cebu City to host church congress

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Touted as one of the more important events of the Catholic Church, the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) will be staged in Cebu City in January 2016, marking the second time the country will host the occasion.

The first time was in 1937 in Manila, which was also the first congress held in Asia that was attended by one and a half million people from all over the world, according to the organizers. Cebu is considered the seat of Christianity in the Philippines.

“It is a privileged moment for all of us. It is an event worth celebrating and rejoicing over… that we have an opportunity to share our expressions of faith,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the 51st IEC in a press conference on Tuesday.