Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "Being able to deepen our understanding, appreciation and love of the Eucharist during the National Eucharistic Congress, to meet the Lord's presence and go into the world to nourish others, as we are being nourished on this occasion”, is the prayer of Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, in a statement released ahead of the Eucharistic Congress, which opens tomorrow in Mumbai and will end on November 15.
The theme this year is "Nourished by Christ to feed others." The event will feature Card. Malcom Ranjith, papal legate and Archbishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka, four Indian cardinals - Card. Telesphore Toppo, Card. Baselios Cleemis, Card. George Alencherry and the same Card. Gracias - in addition to 71 bishops and 665 delegates from all over India.
On days when the Asian country celebrates the festival of Diwali, with the lighting of candles to represent the victory of truth over untruth, light over darkness, Catholic leaders come together to deliver a message of hope and love " to the poor and needy, the sick and the dying "," inspired by the love of Christ and the mystery of the Eucharist". To mark Diwali, the Vatican sent a message to Hindus.
Card. Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi, will give the opening speech remembering his personal encounter with the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, when the missionary told him that "Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the source of my strength." "This is the secret of success of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity for her to start a new community meant opening a new tabernacle." Then in the afternoon there will be the testimony of Sister M Prema MC, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity.
November 13, delegates will hear the testimonies of two survivors of the anti-Christian pogroms in Kandhamal in Orissa, when in 2008 the Hindus gave birth to the most ferocious act of violence against the Christian minority in the nation’s history. (For the complete program of the conference, see here)
"We are grateful to God - concludes Card. Gracias - for this conference. This Congress is an invitation for each of us, the sons and daughters of India, to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist which is the way by which the Son of God is given to us. May Mary, Mother of our Eucharistic Lord, intercede for us with her son”.