Article on the Eucharistic Congress

Diocesan celebration at ND on Saturday
CLAUDIA BAYLISS
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend invites the public to join in the celebration of its 150th anniversary at the daylong Eucharistic Congress on Saturday at the University of Notre Dame.

The Eucharistic Congress -- called "Behold the Face of Christ: His Steadfast Love Endures Forever" this year -- will be a highlight of the yearlong events known as the Sesquicentennial Jubilee.

The day's events will begin at 10 a.m. with an ecumenical service at Sacred Heart Basilica, followed by a reception in the lounge of the Coleman-Morse building on campus. (Those who plan to attend the interfaith service and who are interested in being put on a parking list can contact Nancy Cavadini at 574-291-6404 until 5 p.m. Friday.)

Throughout the day, local and national speakers will lead workshop sessions on faith issues of interest to adults, youths and families. Among the speakers' topics will be "Faith and Culture," "MSI: Mass Scene Investigation," "Understanding Islam," "Can Ethics Be Taught?: Reclaiming Moral Character" and "Praying as a Couple: Can We Do It Together?"Ennie Hickman, youth minister for St. Timothy Parish in Meza, Ariz., will be the keynote speaker at 11 a.m. in Washington Hall. (Mark Hart, known as the "Bible Geek" and the keynote speaker originally announced, had a medical emergency this week.)

Hickman, who graduated from Franciscan University in 2001 with a degree in theology and minors in human life studies and communications, works to change lives by communicating the Gospel and by connecting with teens in a unique way.

He has spoken at large retreats in the United States, Eastern Europe and Africa, and is a contributor to Life Teen, a Catholic movement that helps bring teens closer to God.

Throughout the day, exhibits of merchants and religious orders and a Catholic art exhibit will be on display in the Joyce Center. Other ongoing activities will include 45 reconciliation sites (look for the yellow umbrellas around campus), praying at the Stations of the Cross at the basilica or around St. Joseph Lake, continuous praying of the rosary at The Grotto, and eucharistic exposition and adoration of the sacrament in Alumni Hall.

The Most Rev. John M. D'Arcy, the diocese's bishop, will concelebrate the closing Mass with many of the diocese's priests. Doors will open at 3 p.m. at the Joyce Center for those who plan to attend the Mass.A prelude to the Mass will begin at the Joyce Center with a brass and hand bells performance just before 4 p.m., followed by music performed by a choir made up of more than 200 participants from the diocese and a slide show of artwork by students from the four Catholic high schools and five Catholic colleges within the diocese.

After the prelude and before the Mass, youths from the diocese will carry the Jubilee Cross into the Joyce Center. As well as the bishop and clergy, the procession will include an honor guard of the Knights of Columbus and a native Miami Indian tribe.

A reception following the Mass, at about 6:30 p.m., will be held in honor of D'Arcy on his 75th birthday, which is Saturday.After leaving the Joyce Center following the Mass, those who wish to attend the reception should re-enter the building at Gate 3.

[Emphasis mine]