Year-long IEC countdown starts

CEBU, Philippines - After the celebrated Papal visit in the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Cebu yesterday marked the start of a year-long countdown for the upcoming 51st International Eucharistic Congress at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

 Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who also heads the 51st IEC, turned on the countdown clock mounted in on electronic LED billboard truck. The IEC is scheduled on January 24, 2016.

A brief program was held beside the Cathedral belfry to stage the activity, which was attended by different charismatic communities, members of the laity, other religious communities and some parishioners of the city. Also present during the activity was Mayor Michael Rama.

 Palma said the countdown clock is a representation that time is important and the faithful owes to offer time to the Lord.

“This is a way of telling the Lord that, yes, this (51st IEC 2016) will be a solemn, fruitful, and successful celebration of faith as we come together in one mind, in one heart,” he said.

 After the turning on of the countdown clock, Palma celebrated a Eucharistic Mass at the Cathedral. In his homily, Palma recounted the words, which manifests the life of Pope Francis.

“He (Pope Francis) reminds us that before the Lord, we are all sinners, we are all miserable,” he said.

 Palma said that through the gospel, the faithful are reminded that the love of the Lord will always embrace His people despite their miseries.

 “Tonight, it reminds us that yet we are sinful, we are called, we are chosen.”

Palma said that this, as a vocation of the faithful, will help them continue in proclaiming the glory of God as He made known to His people His forgiveness, mercy and compassion.

 The secretary-general of the 51st IEC local committee, Msgr. Dennid Villarojo, also updated the members of the media on the preparations during a press conference.

Villarojo said the formal opening of the IEC will be on a Sunday, January 24, 2016 at exactly 4 p.m., in which a Mass will be held at the Plaza Independencia.

The national pilgrimage of the IEC symbol will also begin today starting with the islands of Leyte and Samar before going to Luzon. —FPL (FREEMAN)