Eucharistic Congress stamps now available in post offices

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Commemorative stamps marking the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) are now available at the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost).

The stamps have been on sale at the Central Post Office in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila and in other post offices nationwide since Jan. 8.

PhlPost has commissioned Amstar Co. to print 104,000 copies of the IEC stamps, which is being sold at P15 apiece, exclusive of 12 percent value added tax.

Central and Eastern Visayas postal director Raul Buensalida said presentation packs at P100 each are available on order.

The stamps carry the official logo of the IEC, which aims to promote awareness on the role of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic church.

The event will be held in this city from Jan. 24 to 31.

Every four years, Catholics from around the world gather to reflect on and celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist.

The gathering, which carries the theme “Christ in you, our hope of glory,” is expected to draw 15,000 delegates from all over the world.

PhlPost also issued commemorative stamps of Pope Francis’ visit to the country in January last year.

The Pope Francis stamps, featuring images of the Argentine pontiff, broke sales records, including that of the Pope John Paul II canonization stamp in April 2014.

Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Cebu is wrapping up its preparations for the IEC and some of its delegates will join Sinulog festival this week.

The IEC will be opened with a mass by Cardinal Maung Bo of Sri Lanka at the Plaza Independencia.

Bo will lead the pontifical mass on behalf of Pope Francis, who will not be able to attend the event.

Among the speakers for the IEC week are Bishops Piero Marini of Rome, Diarmund Martin of Dublin, Joseph Cardinal Zen of Hong Kong, Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York, Oswald Cardinal Garcias of Mumbai and John Cardinal Onayeikan of Abuja, Nigeria.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will speak on Jan. 28 at the IEC Pavilion.