The archbishop has asserted that the sacredness of holy communion must be maintained, while speaking on "Eucharist as Communion" at the May 29 Archdiocesan Eucharistic Symposium for laity.

"The Eucharist is not hors d'oeuvres at a cocktail party to build community," he said, commenting on why the Church respectfully does not encourage non-Catholics to partake of Holy Communion.

In his presentation, the archbishop detailed five ways the Church understands communion - full communion, koinonia (fellowship), receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord, spiritual communion, and the Communion of Saints - adding that all were inter-related. He quoted from encyclicals issued by Pope John Paul II.

The archbishop's presentation was the second for the day.

A member of the laity poses a question to Archbishop Gilbert following his talk.

Despite the holiday weekend some one thousand persons from the archdiocese's five vicariates - North, East, Suburban, South and Central - turned out for the first session of the symposium, filling the JFK auditorium, UWI, St Augustine campus. The organizers had been expecting just over 700 so the overflow had to be accommodated on the stage.

The day began at 7.30 with the celebration of Holy Mass, with Vicar General, Msgr Christian Pereira presiding. Msgr Esau Joseph, vicar of the Suburban Vicariate concelebrated.

It was also his task to introduce the first speaker of the day, Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre director, Fr Henry Charles. Msgr Joseph began the day's heavy teaching session on a light note. As he introduced Fr Charles he quipped, "It is difficult for a doctor to introduce a lawyer". Msgr Joseph is a medical doctor and Fr Charles a lawyer.

Fr Charles' presentation was entitled "Eucharist as Memorial Meal". His presentation looked at the "meal ministry" of Jesus as well as the Eucharist as memorial of Christ's sacrifice. Fr Charles emphasised that the entire life of Jesus was salvific, not only the hours spent on the cross.

The post lunch speaker was Dominican Sr Diane Jagdeo who spoke on "Eucharist as Real Presence". Sr Diane's presentation was a multi-media, interactive one - music, video and dynamic stage presence - all of which contributed to a memorable learning experience for the participants.

Sr Diane outlined that the "Real Presence" of Jesus in the Eucharist does not only come at the words of consecration but from the start of the Mass - Jesus is present in the assembly, in the Word and in the bread and wine.

A question and answer session followed each presentation. Small group discussion organised by vicariate on pre-set questions, was then conducted, followed by group reports.

The second session of the Archdiocesan Eucharistic Symposium for the laity was due to take place this weekend, June 4, at the same venue.

Expected to deliver presentations were: Dominican priest Fr Urban Hudlin - "Eucharist as Mission "; Regional Seminary rector and chairman of the Liturgical Commission Msgr Michael de Verteuil - "Eucharist as celebrated through the Ages"; and Carmelite Sister Katrina Charles - "Eucharist as Spirituality".

The two-weekend event was a follow-up to a similar symposium held for clergy and religious April 19-21 at Benet Hall, Mount St Benedict.