BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Mabuhay means something like “Long live” or “Welcome” in Tagalog, the language in my native country, the Philippines. I heard this word a lot today because the dynamic and charismatic Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines was periodically cheered by a lot of Filipino fans during his catechesis! Today’s featured continent was Asia, and ...read more
There’s a lot going on in the Eucharistic City! Two days ago, I covered Youth Space (very wild and lively) for the Zoom coverage on the Eucharistic Congress, and yesterday, I covered the serene and “mild-atmosphered “Adoration Chapels. It’s good to know that the pilgrims are not only hearing about the Eucharist, receiving the Eucharist, ...read more
Beginning on Thursday, June 19th, Salt + Light TV will now broadcast morning prayer at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress. Thursday’s broadcast day will begin at 8:30am ET and will include morning prayer, the morning catechesis, testimony, and a special Penitential Service. Holy Mass will be broadcast, in French later in the day at 4pm ...read more
  This morning’s session began with a Catechesis by Cardinal Phllippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, France. He said that the Eucharist makes us contemporaries of the Thursday supper, the Friday Passion and the Sunday Resurrection. He also referred to the Hebrew word, “zikkaron”, which is the word Jesus would’ve used when he said, “do this ...read more
There’s close to 20 of us from Salt + Light at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. We all have our different responsibilities, so we are scattered around. It’s at dinner time, which is around 8 or 9 pm by the time we’re done, that we’re all together in one place. Imagine how difficult ...read more
`Don`t ask what is the Eucharist…. but who is the Eucharist!` Those words from Cardinal Jozef Tomko`s fantastic homily at today`s opening Mass. This was one point in particular that stood out for me: Cardinal Tomko`s emphasis that the Eucharist is not some relic of a body — but it is the living Jesus, His ...read more
The 49th International Eucharistic Congress got under way Sunday afternoon with an impressive theatrical opening ceremony.  The customary welcoming speeches kicked off the event.  Attendees heard from Cardinal Marc Ouellet, from the mayor of Quebec City, a representative of the provincial government of Quebec, the Vatican’s Canadian ambassador Archbishop Luigi Ventura, and the minister of ...read more
We’d like to apologize to all our viewers for the technical difficulties we experienced Sunday afternoon that twice caused an interruption in the transmission of the Eucharistic Congress activities.  The problem occurred outside of our broadcast centre, and was at an third party’s fibre optics centre in Toronto.  The equipment malfunction affected not only Salt + ...read more
The Salt + Light crew has arrived in Quebec City for the 49th International Eucharistic Congress! (IEC)  The equipment is set and the tests have been completed, now it’s just a matter of transmitting the activities from Quebec City to you — our viewer!  It’s going to be a busy week, and if its anything ...read more
As the International Eucharistic Congress rapidly approaches, the Ark-carrying pilgrims have begun their descent from Northern Quebec. On the eighth week of 64 Days with the Ark, we follow the portageurs from Lac-Bouchette to Chicoutimi. Along the way we meet Pierre and Charlotte, whose mere presence on the pilgrimage is remarkable given that their marriage ...read more