The Eucharist binds

As a Pastor what can be the best way to serve the faithful of different languages and nationalities? – this question has been around for quite a long time for Ägidius Johann Zsifkovics. At the IEC organised online pre-meeting the diocesan Bishop of Eisenstadt (Austria) was greeted by Péter Erdő as a good, old acquaintance. Once, at the university the Hungarian Cardinal was a professor of Zsifkovics. Péter Erdő talks with appreciation about the work of his former student, about his sensitivity towards the different ethnic and national groups in his diocese, in the Hungarian border close city of Eisenstadt, where the Bishop takes care of not only of the German-, but also of the Croatian-, and Hungarian speaking faithful, among others.
The Bishop’s message and work perfectly illustrate the importance of a meeting with various nationalities at the International Eucharistic Congress – tells us Péter Erdő in his introduction. It was quite a remarkable experience the Christians went through during the pandemic times – says the diocesan Bishop of Eisenstadt. As to Ägidius Johann Zsifkovics there is an analogy between the current pandemic situation and that of the deprivation experienced by the sons of Israel during their wilderness wandering. The Church shows the people where to relieve hunger by the heavenly bread and to quench the thirst: “There, where the bread is broken and the chalice is handed over to them. In the Blessed Sacrament Jesus gives us himself as the bread of the eternal life.” – voices the Bishop in his message.

Photo/Source: IEC