By Dcn. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB

Parañaque City, Philippines, September 15, 2015 — His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, gave a talk on “The Eucharist as Mission and Dialogue” yesterday, 14 September at Don Bosco Center of Studies (DBCS) in Parañaque City.

He noted that Eucharist as Mission is a major theme in the theological and pastoral reflection for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), and that it is necessary to realize “more deeply its implications on personal and communal life.”

Cardinal Quevedo, one of the speakers in the 51st International Eucharistic Congress which will be held in Cebu next year, manifested his being a teacher and pastor through his exposition of the theme.

Recalling his experience of a mother who lined up for communion and received the Sacred Host but gave it to her very young infant, he asked the assembly to ponder on whether "Do we really live what we celebrate?”

In a hall packed with audience composed of nuns, parish priests, theology students, seminarians and lay people, he emphasized that every celebration of the Eucharist is a dynamic commemoration of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Paschal Mystery means "Christ in mission."

Thus, by its very nature, the Eucharist has a missionary dimension.

In the second part of his talk, he developed the theme on “Mission as Dialogue.” In the same way that Jesus narrated stories, the Asian bishops also wanted to tell the story of Jesus over merely proclaiming Him.

Cardinal Quevedo was the secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops´ Conferences in 2005. A priest for over 50 years, he was elevated to the Cardinalate on Feb 22, 2014.

The talk, a part of DBCS’ Ongoing Formation Seminar Series aims to look forward to the IEC next year. Its last speaker, Sr. Maria Anicica Co, RVM, is scheduled to deliver a talk on The Eucharist, Mary and Evangelization” on 9 November.