“Ready to welcome 40,000 pilgrims”: Catholic Archbishop in Madagascar on National Eucharistic Congress

The spiritual event “is a great opportunity to meet many people,” he emphasized about the Eucharistic Congress, whose theme is the same as that of the 53rd International Eucharistic Congress scheduled for September 8-15 in Quito, Ecuador.

Archbishop Ramaroson went on to decry the undermining of the aura of “fraternity”, which he blamed on “the influence of globalization and modernity” and the spirit of individualism.

“Fraternity is losing its true value, which is to accompany the various relationships that build human beings, our relationship with God and with nature,” the member of the Congregation of the Mission (CM) said, and added, “We are all aware that these relationships are being abused because of too much egoism, jealousy, pride, exclusion, and violence everywhere and at all times.”

He called for a “renewal that will heal this great value of fraternity, which will finally heal the world.” With fraternity, he emphasized, “we form a single family, the family of God.”

The Local Ordinary of Antsiranana since January 2014 invited the people of God to foster a life of prayer and to study the theme of the Eucharistic Congress that he said encourages the living of “a Eucharistic life” and working “to improve our society which is deteriorating today.”

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“We are not alone in this, but Christ our peace is walking with us,” he said, and added, “We are invited as a family to pray together, to prepare our hearts and souls to celebrate this third Eucharistic Congress.”

KEN 2024 seeks to mobilize the “maximum number of Catholics to restore the Malagasy fraternity with the real presence of Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Ramaroson said.

The Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2006 as Bishop of Madagascar’s Catholic Diocese of Farafangana shared the planned activities of the Eucharistic Congress, which he said will be preceded by a three-day National Youth Congress set to begin on August 21.

Pilgrims are expected to arrive in Antsiranana on August 20, the eve of the opening Eucharistic celebration “for the Youth Congress to be followed by Stations of the Cross and a meeting between Youth and Priests,” he told ACI Africa during the July 26 interview. 

August 22 will be dedicated to catechesis, Conferences, Testimonies, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Catholic Archbishop said, adding that catechesis for youths alongside Bible Quiz, and testimonies are some of the activities planned for August 23.

Holy Mass of the opening of the KEN 2024 has been scheduled for the afternoon of August 23. A conference on Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si', catechesis, and testimonies are some of the activities for August 24. The Eucharistic Congress is to conclude on August 25 with Holy Mass.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.