500 street kids to receive first communion during IEC

CEBU, Philippines - As the Church marks the Jubilee Year of Mercy and Compassion, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma promised that street children will not be left out in the celebration of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

Palma said one of the activities for the IEC will be the first communion of around 5,000 children comprising of 4,500 students from different schools and around 300 to 500 street children from all over the country.

The mass communion will be on January 30 at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

“Hatagan gyod nato og importansya ang mga street children aron dili sila ma-left out,” he said.

Palma urges everyone to show, without doubt, mercy and compassion especially to the poor.

“Atong ipakita ilabi na ngadto sa makaluluoy ang atong pagka-merciful and compassionate nga dunay special place for them,” he said.

Palma has been encouraging other dioceses and parishes to send more poor delegates to the IEC.

Aside from hoping that more delegates from around the globe would join the IEC, Palma earlier called on all priests to find more ways to shoulder the participation of more marginalized and financially challenged delegates in the gathering next year.

“We encouraged the parish priests of Cebu to sponsor the participation of the poor parishioners. The congress is not only for those who can pay. This is for everyone,” said Palma.

He also called on all parish priests to organize a fundraiser to help send poor parishioners to the once-in-a-lifetime event aimed at deepening our love and faith in the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1937, during the first International Eucharistic Congress that the Philippines hosted, one of the children who received their first Holy Communion was Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. 

Vidal will again be present in his second IEC in the Philippines, this time as the celebrant of the penultimate Mass of the IEC.  (FREEMAN)