One million people joined in the concluding mass officiated by Cardinal Bo for the weeklong event in Cebu.
Cardinal Bo urged the faithful to keep oneness within their families, explaining that in them lies the “hope of glory.” He said, “Families, Christ in you is the hope of glory. The family is the first Communion. The family is the nucleus of the Church. Family breaks the Bread every day. The family needs to be protected, promoted, and nurtured…”
Pilgrims together
One might ask, “But what made this event so significant to the faithful from all walks of life, and what has brought them together?” You hear directly from the people inside and outside the Pavilion, where the Congress was held, an outright claim, “I am a pilgrim… we are pilgrims!” The congress did not only bring so many people together from the vast continent of Asia and from all over the world, but it has also brought together pilgrim faithful who have journeyed and have been woven together by one desire, to bear witness to Christ’ presence alive in His Church.
A call to be missionaries
The overall theme of the Congress, taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians, was widely discussed by several of the invited lecturers. From the very start up to the last day, the theme guided the delegates to discover anew the very core of Christian faith, Christ himself, who is the hope of glory. Pope Francis, in his recorded video message shown at the conclusion, highlighted the presence of Christ, alive among us in the Church, said: “His presence among us is not only a consolation, but also a promise and a summons. It is a promise that everlasting joy and peace will one day be ours in the fullness of his Kingdom. But it is also a summons to go forth, as missionaries, to bring the message of the Father’s tenderness, forgiveness and mercy to every man, woman and child.”
And the Jubilee Year of Mercy
It is timely that IEC 2016 was held in the Philippines, just a year after the muchlonged for and celebrated pastoral visit of Pope Francis in 2015, at a moment so dramatic and painful wrought by typhoon Yolanda. When the majority of the population was still searching for meaning for everything that occurred, the declaration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy came and has resounded deeply in the hearts of every faithful. Perhaps we can seek the deeper meaning of this week-long event in relation to the Jubilee Year of Mercy from the same message of Pope Francis. The Pope mentions the conflicts, the injustices and the urgent humanitarian crises plaguing humanity. He goes on saying: “So it is fitting that this Congress has been celebrated in the Year of Mercy, in which the whole Church is invited to concentrate on the heart of the Gospel: Mercy. We are called to bring the balm of God’s merciful love to the whole human family, binding up wounds, and bringing hope where despair so often seems to have the upper hand.”
Lives woven by the love of God
What livened up the theological lectures and catechesis offered each day were the life testimonies of individuals from various sectors, and from different parts of the world. One of them was Marian Servaas, professor at the Catholic University of Belgium, who shared her conversion story about coming to the Catholic Church and falling in love with the Eucharist. Her life story demonstrates how much God loved her, making her discover freedom and leading her to Him through the Eucharist. She ended her testimony with a call to others not to follow the road of secularization and unbelief, but to follow Jesus who is the Way. Servaas described Filipino joy as “a gift to the world.” She added, “You, Filipinos, are to me, very sacramental. Your joy is related to thankfulness and humility.
Please do not lose it. Do not choose artificial happiness.” Taichi Sugawara also communicated his experience on the wrath of the tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, and how much the disaster led to convocation of help from other communities beyond his small parish community in Ofunato.
Another witness was Paul Ponce from Argentina, who came together with his wife Leia and their three children. Paul shared how his encounter with the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of confirmation and the Eucharist, has transformed his personal, marital, and family life. Paul’s discovery of God and his love helped him understand his mission to proclaim the word of God through entertainment – the circus.
Ma. Georgia Cogtas, or simply Maggie, also stood out from the crowd and convincingly confided how much her way of giving life to others also gave new impetus to her otherwise dampened life. Formerly a street child, Maggie is now involved in organizing other street children, giving them catechism and feeding program. She shared: “No material thing could repair or replace my broken self… only the love of God!” Her frequent communion and involvement with the poor have helped restore and heal her brokenness. As she claims, her personal involvement with the street children became the best gift she has received and this can never be taken away from her!
An experience of encounter
From the theological lectures and catechesis presented, it is clear how God’s presence can be encountered in prayer and in the Eucharistic assembly. This same presence can also be experienced in an encounter with the poor, in poverty, in suffering and pain, as well as in the joy of living one’s Christian life, in one’s capacity to dialogue with people of other faiths.
One can affirm that the IEC was a unique opportunity given for the faithful to make a profound encounter with God. So, if there is a word that can summarize the IEC 2016, this word is encounter. From the four corners of the world each one journeyed as a pilgrim, all of them projected toward a personal and collective encounter with Someone whom they are seeking, with Christ.
And the week-long event made that encounter possible! In fact, Christian life, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, has once said, is not the result of an idea or ethical choice, but an encounter with an event – an encounter with a person which opens up to us a new horizon, a decisive orientation.
Next IEC 2020 – Budapest, Hungary
All in all, there were 13,158 participants coming from 71 nations. Filipinos topped the delegations with 8,677, followed by the 600 Taiwanese headed by their State Vice President Chen Chien-Jen, and 155 pilgrims from North America. Netizens from around the world who followed the event via live stream, on real time, were about 10,000. There were around 5,000 volunteers involved in the organization.
115 buses were made available to transport pilgrims from the venue to their respective lodging areas. Having managed the logistics and security for the event and its delegates, the local organizers can consider the event a huge success. We can now look forward to the next IEC which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in 2020, as announced by Pope Francis in his message.
We may never know the full impact of IEC today, but for those who have personally participated in the event, and for those who have followed it by live streaming either on TV, radio or internet, surely they must feel that a portal from heaven was opened, drawing down many graces for so many people. We cannot help but thank God for inventing the Eucharist which sustains us in our everyday lives as we serve every neighbor, especially the poor, while we continue our struggle for justice and peace here on earth.
Romeo Pelayo Vital
