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Monday, July 14, 2025
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Work with us and see lives changed in Jesus’ name in 2028

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An icon of Sts Peter and Paul. Photo: Pexels.com.

This Sunday we celebrate the great feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

While many aspects of their saintly lives and journeys are worthy of consideration, it is a particular line in Scripture that has often drawn my attention.

At the Vigil Mass for this feast, the first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles and relates the story of St Peter and St John walking to the Temple in Jerusalem to join the community in prayer.

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As they are on their way down the road, a crippled beggar is being carried past, who takes the opportunity to beg from the two apostles, “hoping to get something from them.” (Acts 3:4)

The response of St Peter is most striking, “I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” (Acts 3:6)

Naturally, St Peter then takes the man by the hand, helps him to stand and the man joins them on the way to the Temple, “walking and jumping and praising God.” (Acts 3:8)

I would like to suggest that St Peter has demonstrated, in this brief encounter, a model for our attitude towards offering assistance and aid to others.

I would also like to suggest that an opportunity for rendering precisely such aid and assistance is being presented to us all in the coming years.

If you would like to volunteer for the IEC in 2028, please do not let any doubts as to your talents or abilities prevent you from submitting your name to us. Photo: Pexels.com

The International Eucharistic Congress in 2028 will present enormous logistical challenges, and there are innumerable practical difficulties that need to be examined and resolved.

As I toil away in my office, wrestling these quandaries, the thought of a few thousand willing volunteers often presents itself as the best possible solution.

After all, assisting others at an International Eucharistic Congress, either by providing directions or alerting people to the presence of a good Chinese restaurant down the road, would arguably qualify as exercises of either the corporal or spiritual works of mercy.

Yet often when I ask people whether they would like to register their interest in “volunteering” in some capacity for the IEC in 2028, I am presented with the same response:

“I am not able, I can’t help in any meaningful way, I don’t have the skills necessary.’”

I would fain point out that we all have what St Peter had—the name of Jesus.

And in that “name above all other names” (Phil 2:9), we are able to work miracles.

If you would like to volunteer for the IEC in 2028, please do not let any doubts as to your talents or abilities prevent you from submitting your name to us.

Walk with Christ 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025

We are not asking for silver or gold (though if you have those and would like to contribute them towards the mammoth enterprise that is the IEC, please do get in touch).

But we are asking for the willing assistance of anyone who would like to help others in “praising God” at the Congress in 2028.

As with the Sydney Olympics in 2000, as with World Youth Day in 2008, there will be need for very considerable numbers of expert and enthusiastic volunteers to help guide, direct, support and encourage attendees at the IEC in 2028.

My own experience of the US National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last year was that well-trained volunteers can make a significant difference to the Congress experience for participants.

The phrase “once in a lifetime event” is often overused, but in the case of the IEC in 2028 it is entirely accurate.

The Congress was last held in Sydney in 1928 and, following the mammoth celebrations in 2028, it is unlikely to revisit this region again during our lifetimes.

To be a part of that historic enterprise is a tremendous privilege; and it is a privilege that is being freely offered to each and every one of you.

Saint Mary ensured all students were treated as equal, regardless of wealth, social position or race, with every child as special as the other. Image: Paul Newton
Saint Mary ensured all students were treated as equal, regardless of wealth, social position or race, with every child as special as the other. She was fond of saying, “never see a need without doing something about it.” Image: Paul Newton

Australia’s first saint was fond of saying, “never see a need without doing something about it.”

The crippled man had a need and St Peter offered what he could.

We at the bureaucratic end of the IEC have definite need and would gratefully accept your assistance in helping us all in praising God and walking with Christ in 2028.

If you would like to express you interest in volunteering for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2028, or to be added to the mailing list for updates, please email: [email protected]

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