Pope Leo XIV has chosen “This is My Body, Given for You” as the theme for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney in 2028. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP announced the theme last night after it was confirmed by Fr Corrado Maggioni SMM, President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, on his trip to Australia in late September.
During his visit, Fr Maggioni expressed the committee’s desire to emphasise the real and tangible sacrifice of Christ, who died for no other reason than love.
“This love-driven sacrifice is at the heart of Christian faith,” Fr Maggioni said.
“Jesus’s words “This is my Body, given for you” makes it clear that we cannot receive his Body and remain unchanged … St Paul expresses this in Romans 12:1, we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice in the same way Christ does.”
Archbishop Fisher said the theme encapsulates the entirety of the Christian story and the call it places on those who seek to follow Christ.
“The richness of this theme will provide countless catechetical opportunities, enriched worship, renewed commitment to the promotion of vocations to priesthood, religious life and marriage, and more intentional service to the poor and vulnerable,” he said in the statement last night.
General Secretary of the IEC2028 Bishop Richard Umbers said the centrality of the theme to the Catholic faith would serve as a reminder of the gift of Christ in the Eucharist.
“The theme, ‘This is my body, given for you’ goes straight to the heart of our Catholic faith. It reminds us that the Eucharist is not something we do for God, but what Christ does for us – he gives himself so that we may live in him,” Bishop Umbers said.
“My hope is that people in Sydney, across Australia, Oceania and the whole world will discover for the first time or rediscover the joy of being nourished by Christ and be strengthened to become his presence in our communities – other Christs for the life of the world.”
This will be the 54th International Eucharistic Congress. It will be exactly 100 years since the 29th congress was hosted in Sydney, and the first time since it was held in Australia since Melbourne hosted it in 1973.
To express interest in volunteering for the IEC2028 in Sydney, or to be added to the mailing list for updates, email [email protected]
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‘This is My Body, Given for You’ to be the theme for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 (By Tara Kennedy, The Catholic Weekly)
