(CCCB – Ottawa)… Following the 2008 celebration in Quebec City, the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) will take place in Dublin, Ireland, June 10 to 17, 2012, on the theme “The Eucharist, Communion with Christ and with One Another”. The Canadian delegation will include approximately 1,000 pilgrims, including 13 Bishops.  Among them are the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB); His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto; and the Most Reverend Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec City. The Canadian delegation is led by the two CCCB official delegates to the 2012 CEI, the Most Reverend Albert LeGatt, Archbishop of Saint Boniface, and Sister Doris Lamontagne, P.F.M., from the Archdiocese of Quebec City. Sister Doris was one of the principal organizers for the Quebec City International Eucharistic Congress.

His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, will be the Holy Father’s Legate to the Congress. More than 21,000 people are registered for the full-week program, and over 65,000 for the closing Mass on June 17. Pope Benedict XVI will address the closing Mass by means of a live broadcast from Rome on the Internet.

In addition to their participation in the CEI general program, the Canadian pilgrims are invited to participate in several special events These include a Mass in French presided by Archbishop Lacroix, and a Mass in English presided by Archbishop LeGatt. Both of these celebrations will be on June 11 at 9:30 am. On June 14, all the Canadian pilgrims are invited to a special gathering from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.

The major IEC events can be followed in English and in French on the Canadian Catholic television channel Salt + Light TV. Its coverage will include the catecheses, testimonies, the opening celebration and Mass on June 10, and the closing Mass on June 17. The Quebec City Catholic television channel ECDQ.TV will also broadcast online some of the catecheses and celebrations.  The IEC Organizing Committee is providing pilgrims to the Congress with a free mobile application for iPhone and iPad.