East Anglia group joins National Eucharistic Congress

A 40-strong group from the Diocese of East Anglia participated in the National Eucharistic Congress, Adoremus, held at St Mary’s College, Oscott, on Saturday, September 14.

The attendees were warmly welcomed by the seminarians of the College in Birmingham, including Anthony Reilly and Peter Ho from our own Diocese who are being trained for the priesthood at Oscott.

The coach from East Anglia was filled with faithful from across the diocese, including members from the Cathedral Parish, parishes in in Peterborough and a group of young people who had been to World Youth Day in Lisbon. Religious communities were represented by sisters of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham and the Grace and Compassion Benedictine Sisters, who are well-known for their work at the Montana Care Home in Great Barton.

The one-day event included Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and a Eucharistic procession around the beautiful grounds of the seminary.

Over 1,000 people attended, with representation from bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful from across England and Wales.

The Cardinal gathered together the spirit of the day in the conclusion of his homily: “We are summoned, by the loving plan of the Father, to render all praise to God and to sing constantly of the beauty of his creation. In our pilgrimage, we are constantly guided by the Holy Spirit, in discernment and decision, in the company of the Church. And, at every step of the way Jesus accompanies us, never leaving us alone, always within our reach, always there before us, most especially in the Eucharist, in this most Blessed Sacrament.

“‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ‘Take hold of the Lamb of God!’ ‘Hold onto the Lamb of God’, cling to him with all your might!

“This is our honour and joy. This is our Eucharistic heart. This is the faith of the Church and we are proud to profess it.”

Fr Peter Wygnanski said: “It was a day full of joy to participate, accompanied by such a rich representation of our diocesan faithful, in this moment of coming together as a national Church celebrating our devotion to the Eucharist.

“It was a very particular grace to be brought together with people from across the country, including long-not-seen friends from far-away places, united by a desire to be close to the Lord in his sacramental presence.”

Read more about Adoremus at:  www.cbcew.org.uk/category/adoremus/

Pictured above is the group from the Diocese of East Anglia at the National Eucharistic Congress, Adoremus, held at St Mary’s College, Oscott. Pictures by Marcin Mazur/CBCEW.

For a full picture gallery click here or see below.

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