Sisters Attend Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico

OCTOBER 11, 2004 - Sister Mona Brunner of Pocatello, Idaho, and Sister Helen Jean Brinkman of Bridal Veil, Oregon, left on Monday, October 11th to attend the 48th International Eucharistic Congress this week in Guadalajara, Mexico. The community provided this opportunity for Sister Mona on the occasion of her 50th jubilee as a Religious.

The Eucharistic Congress is a world-wide event held every few years. Priests, religious and lay people gather together for the purpose of celebrating the gift of the Holy Eucharist. It is a celebration of the entire Church to honor the Body of Christ present to His people under the form of consecrated Bread. The Eucharist is considered to be the most precious treasure that Christ has given to His Church. It is the center of Catholic worship.

One of the primary goals of these congresses is for the faithful to discern how they can best promote greater devotion to the Holy Eucharist.

The theme of the 48th International Eucharistic Congress in Mexico is “The Eucharist: Light and Life of the New Millennium.” The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have a special devotion to the Eucharistic Presence of Christ, and are privileged to have two Sisters representing the community at the congress.

The Holy Father has proclaimed a Year of the Eucharist from October 2004 to October 2005. The International Eucharistic Congress opens the Year of the Eucharist. To read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter for the beginning of the year, visit the Vatican web site.

The first congress was held at Lille, France, in 1881. Initially, the meetings were local but grew year after year with increasing widespread popularity and importance. For more information on the event, visit the web site of the 48th International Eucharistic Congress.