Church/Portugal: Eucharistic Adoration can respond to the “search” for silence of new generations

Canon Francisco Couto, delegate of the Archdiocese of Évora for the V CEN, highlights the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of communities

Lisbon, May 3, 2024 (Ecclesia) – Canon Francisco Couto, delegate of the Archdiocese of Évora for the 5th National Eucharistic Congress (CEN), considers that promoting moments of adoration can help young people in their “search” for silence.

“It is the search for silence, but for a silence that brings meaning and life, it is not simply silence for the sake of silence”, says the priest, in an interview with ECCLESIA Agency.

The person in charge speaks of “very interesting signs”, such as building “a space of worship”, in catechesis with children, “in which they feel good, if in silence, they even feel like sharing, with a serenity that impresses.

“In fact, young people have discovered this need to find silence in their daily lives”, he adds.

Braga will host the V CEN from May 31st to June 2nd, with the participation of all dioceses in the country.

For Canon Francisco Couto, this is an opportunity to understand that “the Eucharist is the central point and the focal point of the entire community dynamics”.

“I cannot, in fact, consider myself a Christian without receiving my DNA from the life of Christ, who challenges me, on mission, to live as he lived”, he points out.

The three-day program of the V National Eucharistic Congress begins with the inaugural conference by the president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, Father Corrado Maggioni, who will reflect on the theme ‘Sharing bread: Eucharist and fraternity’.

The agent plans conferences, panels and seven workshops on topics such as hospitality; young people (WYD and Eucharist); family; poor; ecology; eucharistic spirituality; and confraternities of the Blessed Sacrament.

On the last day, June 2nd, starting at 7:00 am, participants are invited to become pilgrims and set out on foot to Sameiro, where the closing Eucharist of the V National Eucharistic Congress will take place.

The Episcopal Conference wrote a pastoral note about the V CEN, which has the Portuguese cardinal D. José Tolentino de Mendonça as the Pope’s special envoy.

HM/OC