My Journey: 53rd INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, ECUADOR, SEPTEMBER 2024
53rd INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN QUITO, ECUADOR, 8-15th SEPTEMBER 2024
The Nigerian pilgrims set off from Lagos not yet sure of the status of their visas to Ecuador, because there is no Ecuadorian Embassy in Nigeria. Intervention came from Rome and we got our visas which we were to pick up passing through Paris airport. Arriving in Paris, the visas were yet to come, but eventually started coming one by one through WhatsApp. Some of us got theirs and could join the Air France flight that morning through Atlanta US to Quito.
Fr. Zacharia Samjumi and I had to stay back to sort out ours. It meant staying till the next day in Paris. Early next day, we took a flight to Amsterdam from where we boarded an eleven hour non-stop flight to Quito. On arrival, a boldly written sign as we exited the aircraft into the hall had my name, held by very warm and excited volunteer men and women who ushered us into the VIP airport lounge and guided us through a well facilitated immigration/police service. Every one was friendly, hospitable, and grateful that we came to visit their country. No one asked us if we “carry any thing come”.
The Eucharistic Congress Mass took off today, the 8th of September, the birthday of Our Blessed Mother. Pope Francis gave a touching opening address virtually which was very well received by all. It was a very well attended Mass and presided over by Most Rev. Alfredo Espinoza Mateus, SDB, Archbishop of Quito, Primate of Ecuador. The Mass continued as usual with a special ceremony for those prepared for the reception of their first ever Holy Communion. The Mass ended with a short speech by the Pontifical Legate for the Congress, Cardinal Baltazar Porras.
This Eucharistic Congress is a golden opportunity for people to come from all over the world, in, with, and through the Eucharist to invoke God for healing upon us and the whole world.
Even though you may not be physically present here in Ecuador, please join the Congress from your home or parish, or country by praying along with us who are here. If you can, attend Mass during these days. Pray the Rosary, offer good intentions for yourself, your family, your work, your parish, your home, your state, your nation and indeed, the whole world. Enough of conflicts, inequitable distribution of resources, moral and material corruption, rationalization of sin, etc.
We should pray also that we remain faithful to our vocations as lay men women, youth, children, religious, priests, Bishops, et al. Let us beg God to help us overcome in our societies and in the entire world, division, hatred, egoism, etc., and to be inspired by only the spirit of love, walking in brotherhood and sisterhood, dialogue and forgiveness and to collaborate honestly so that by God’s grace we can heal our broken and wounded world.
The world needs effective healing and the medicine which for us Catholics is the Eucharist has the surest guarantee and will no doubt help us to live well, happy, peaceful, respecting our environment and every individual, because we are made in the image and likeness of God. Whether poor or rich, sick or healthy, influential or feeble, powerful with money or weapons of destruction or helpless, let us be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers the world over.
