There are 3 ways to book for the Congress:
1) Book Online: http://www.iec2012.ie/registration
2) Telephone our Booking offices on 01 2981122.
3) Download a paper booking form from http://www.iec2012.ie/registration and send the completed form to CSSL, 3rd Floor, Paradigm House, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14.
Advance bookings are open until the 9th of May 2012. After that date all bookings are onsite at the RDS during the week of the Congress.
Pope Benedict XVI received the International Eucharistic Congress Bell in Rome today, Wednesday 14th March. He blessed and rang the Bell as part of preparations for the upcoming 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC2012), calling people from across the world to Dublin for the Congress, which takes place from 10-17 June.
The Bell was presented by a delegation headed by the President of IEC2012, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, accompanied by Secretary General of IEC2012, Fr Kevin Doran, and members of IEC2012 staff during a papal audience.
“Pope Benedict XVI blessed the bell, rang it vigorously, and paused to admire the icons as Archbishop Martin explained their significance”, explained Fr. Kevin Doran.
Colette Furlong, Pastoral Services Manager in IEC2012, presented Pope Benedict XVI with the first commemorative medal struck to mark this year’s 50th International Eucharistic Congress. Sheena Darcy, IEC2012 Office Manager presented shamrock to the Holy Father.
Later today the Bell will move to St Peter’s Basilica where it will remain for Mass at 5pm celebrated by Archbishop Piero Marini, President of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses. The Bell will be rung at Masses throughout Wednesday as an invitation to the Congress.
Later in the week the Bell will travel to St Isidore’s Irish Franciscan College, where this year’s St Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 17 March. Also attending this Mass will be Deputy Pat Rabbitte, Irish Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, as part of his visit to Italy for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. On Sunday 18 March, the Bell will be present at Mass in the Pontifical Irish College at 10am.
Speaking during the Bell Pilgrimage in Rome, Fr Kevin Doran, Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012, said: “It seems somehow appropriate that the Bell, on its way to visit Pope Benedict, was delivered on Tuesday afternoon [13 March] to the very office beside St Peter’s Square where Pope Benedict himself worked for over 20 years.”
Fr Doran added: “We are truly delighted that with this visit the Bell has brought parishes, schools and hospitals all over Ireland into a closer Communion with the Pope as we enter the final phase of preparation for the Eucharistic Congress.”
Journeying with the Bell are the four http://www.iec2012.ie/index.jsp%3Fp=109%26n%3D4532“>Eucharistic Congress Icons which represent the four parts of the Mass, and correspond to each of the four stages of the pastoral preparation programme for the Congress. The Bell calls people to prayer and the Icons offer rich themes for reflection.
Ring for Renewal invites people to pause on the journey of life and reflect on how we can renew as people and as members of the Church as we prepare for IEC2012. http://www.iec2012.ie/ringforrenewal“>Read more about Ring for Renewal.
About the Bell
Tradition has it that St Patrick left a bell in each Church he consecrated as a way to call people to the Eucharist. In parishes all over Ireland, the Eucharistic Congress Bell Pilgrimage is building on the tradition of St Patrick and the ringing of Bells.
Since commencing phase one of its pilgrimage on St Patrick’s Day (17 March) in 2011, the Bell has visited the 26 Dioceses of Ireland, over one thousand parishes, more than 100 schools, and a dozen hospitals and nursing homes, calling people to “Come to the Congress”. In September 2011, the Bell travelled to Lourdes, France with the Dublin Diocesan group. The Bell has now entered phase two of its pilgrimage and is travelling abroad for the second time.
About the Eucharistic Congress Medal
Pope Benedict XVI was presented with a commemorative medal celebrating the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012.
To mark the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012, organisers have produced a commemorative medal designed by Martin Barlow, who also designed the IEC2012 logo. The medal carries the Congress logo in colour on the front and on the reverse a Celtic cross motif surrounded by the Congress theme: The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another. Each medal comes in a presentation case complete with an explanatory card available in the seven official languages of the Congress. There are two versions of the commemorative medal available: A medal for general issue and a limited edition Irish language version, of which only 1,000 will be produced.
The medal will be available online at http://www.thecollector.ie/iec2012medal. The medal is priced 29.95 euros + p&p.
JOIN US ON ST PATRICK’S DAY AND RING FOR RENEWAL! http://www.iec2012.ie/ringforrenewal“>Read more