Last week the Diocese of Madison hosted its first-ever Eucharistic Congress, with an attendance of over 1,200 participants.
The congress was our diocesan participation in the efforts commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to inspire a National Eucharistic Revival.
At the Eucharistic Congress, participants heard inspiring talks on the Eucharist, participated in small group reflections, prayed with others, encountered Christ in Adoration, attended Mass, went to Confession, and experienced fellowship with other faithful, like-minded Catholics.
For all intents and purposes, the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress looked like a resounding success. But we cannot think of the congress as the goal or culmination of our efforts for the National Eucharistic Revival in our diocese. The congress was just the beginning of our local efforts for the National Eucharistic Revival.
The timeline for the Eucharistic Revival
According to the website for the National Eucharistic Revival, “Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.” (eucharisticrevival.org)
In response to this need, a strategic timeline was launched to reintroduce the faithful to a greater understanding and love of Christ in the Eucharist.
On the feast of Corpus Christi in June 2022, the national efforts for Eucharistic revival began with Eucharistic processions all over the country.
From June 2022 to June 2023 the revival invited diocesan bishops, priests, and their staff to consider reaching out to the faithful with events and plans to begin the revival locally. June 2023 to 2024 is the time for parish renewal. During this time, parishes ought to begin implementing greater understanding and devotion to the Eucharist at the local level and in the parish community.
In 2024 and going forward there will be a call for the faithful to go forth in mission to share their love for the Eucharist and to invite others to encounter Christ.
A year of parish renewal
The National Eucharistic Revival outlines four goals for the year of parish renewal.
The first is to reinvigorate beauty and reverence in the liturgy.
Second, parishes should consider monthly opportunities for the faithful to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist at Adoration.
These encounters with Jesus in the Eucharist will hopefully facilitate an encounter with the person of Christ.
Third, parishes should offer robust catechetical formation on the Eucharist.
Finally, the faithful should be sent forth to share the Good News of Jesus in the Eucharist.
‘Jesus and the Eucharist’ small groups
In the wake of the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and the year of parish renewal, the Diocese of Madison is inviting the faithful to be leaders and participants in local Eucharistic small groups.
These small groups are a great opportunity to continue local parish efforts to support the call for catechetical formation as a part of the year of parish renewal.
The National Eucharistic Revival has provided the content and materials, entitled “Jesus and the Eucharist,” for dioceses and parishes to use.
Small group materials are available in both English and Spanish.
The diocese and the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis will train local small group leaders to go forth and offer these Eucharistic small groups all around the diocese.
To join a small group, get trained to lead a local small group, or simply to get more information, go to madisondiocese.org/jesus-and-the-eucharist or contact oec@madisondiocese.org