DSWD-7 To Augment Cebu City Staff For IEC Event

Sixty Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) staff will augment the local social welfare department for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) next week.

According to Evelyn Macapobre, Regional Director of DSWD7, there are 60 staff identified to assist during the event on January 24 until the 31st.

In a press release, the 60 regional personnel will be augmenting the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) of the Cebu City Government who are mainly assigned for camp management and emergency situations.

“We have committed 60 staff mostly composed of social workers to help manage the help desk where lost and found children will be stationed,” Macapobre said.

Initial symposium related to the IEC are already being done this week.

It will be formally opened with a Mass by Cardinal Maung Bo of Sri Lanka at the Plaza Independencia.

The Pontifical Mass on January 24 will be celebrated by Cardinal Bo in behalf of Pope Francis who will not be able to make it to the IEC.

On the 28th Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle will be the congress’ speaker at the IEC Pavilion.

There will be a Visita Iglesia or church visit on that day will also be held among parishes in Metro Cebu including the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Capitol, Redemptorist Church, Santo Rosario Church, Basilica del Santo Niño, AsilodelaMedallaMilagrosa, Sacred Heart Parish, and the Cebu Cathedral.

These will also be the venues where the delegates will have encounters with local parishioners.

On January 29, the delegates will also be brought to their foster families as part of the immersion activity while a procession will be held from Capitol to Plaza Independencia in the afternoon.

There will be Masses to be held on January 28 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Capitol building quadrangle on January 29, and the closing ceremonies at the South Road Properties on January 31.

IEC is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

The event is expected to gather millions of pilgrims during the opening and closing ceremonies. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu with reports from Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya IO)