The Ark of the New Covenant marks a first in International Eucharistic Congress history. With it, we wish to foster creativity in our communities and bring all generations together. We also hope it will provide a special opportunity for many people to gather in Christian reflection to deepen their understanding and celebrate the mystery of the Eucharistic, “gift of God for the life of the world.” Thank you for sharing the hope of this initiative with us.
The three stages
The Ark of the New Covenant was created in the hope of fostering a variety of activities related to the three main objectives of the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress:
- Promote catechesis on the Eucharist as the paschal mystery of Christ
- Promote active and conscious participation in the liturgy through listening to the Word of God, self-offering, and community fellowship
- Promote greater human solidarity through an active commitment to the transformation of the world through concrete actions, sign of the Kingdom in the midst of today’s world
These objectives will be integrated into a variety of activities:
- Catechesis: The base of the Ark of the New Covenant is shaped like the hull of a boat. The deck supports a rectangular chest decorated with icons depicting passages from the Gospels. These iconographic representations can serve as the basis for Eucharistic catechesis.
- Liturgy: The chest is designed to hold either the Bible or a monstrance containing the Real Presence. All forms of prayer are possible.
- Commitment: The Ark of the New Covenant was designed to hold the commitment forms of the faithful, invited to sign a “Eucharistic Charter.”
Activity tools
- The Guide outlines the Ark of the New Covenantproject. It describes the symbolism of the Ark, explains different types of activities, and suggests the various forms Eucharistic commitment might take.
- The Appendices to the Guide offer suggestions for liturgies, catechetical programs, thematic sheets, and suggested hymns and prayers.
- The Eucharistic Charter (PDF) includes a prayer and suggestions relating to Eucharistic commitment, as well as a symbolic act of commitment.