Occurring nearly a lifetime after its predecessor, Sunday, July 21, marked the conclusion of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
The Congress was held jointly at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind., from Wednesday, July 17, to the following Sunday, and tens of thousands of pilgrims traveled from across the country to take part.
The 60,000 that attended, including pilgrims from the Diocese of Madison, came for many reasons: To show their love for Christ in the Eucharist, to learn from renowned speakers, to engage in liturgies, to grow in relationship with the Lord.
Some may have attended to appease family or to test an inkling of doubt about the Eucharist or the Church, but regardless of any personal intention, God, present in the Eucharist, in the Sacrament of Confession, and in the beauty of liturgy, met each and every pilgrim in Indianapolis throughout the course of the Congress’ five days.
Allowing God the space to be welcomed into the heart and mind of every pilgrim is precisely why, after the excitement of each day’s breakout sessions and talks, Congress organizers ensured the highlight each evening was a Holy Hour of Adoration.
But keeping God at the center of the Congress is also why, with the help of many generous priests, Confession was offered from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and why Masses were offered in the Byzantine Rite, in Vietnamese, in Latin according to the 1962 Missal, and in the more familiar Novus Ordo, offered beautifully throughout the five days in Indiana.
The Congress was special; it was uniquely American.
Just as World Youth Day is meant to unite and revitalize a global Church body, the Congress united American Catholics, a melting pot of nationalities, languages, and preferences to be sure, yet still a specific people that came together who are called to go out on mission with the Lord.
The procession
What the Congress presented to the Church gathered in Indianapolis is the need for a missionary American people, a people who are willing to follow God and His will for them.
This message of missionary zeal and following God’s will took many forms throughout the Congress, from catechetical speakers to charismatic worship, but it was most clearly displayed during the Congress’ Eucharistic procession through the blocks of Indianapolis.
In the procession, tens of thousands of Catholics, Religious and laity, processed through the streets following the Lord in the Eucharist.
It was that witness which caught people’s attention and changed hearts — such as when a man called out to Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis for a spontaneous blessing, but even for practicing Catholics, who were amazed by how many Nuns, Brothers, seminarians, priests, and bishops participated.
Zélie Klingele, a high school student who attends St. James Church in Madison — part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Pastorate — with her family, said the procession was “breathtaking, amazing, to see our community come together in this way.”
She said, “It was really beautiful, but I think my favorite part was on the way back.
“We started singing and it brought this new energy after seeing the Lord, and even though we were all hot and sweaty, we were singing and just praising.
“It was cool to see people — who weren’t Catholic or were just around, who weren’t part of the Congress — wave to us and smile.”
Zélie’s younger brother Xavier, a middle school student, was reflective, and although at times he struggled to put his thoughts into words, he said that the procession had “a different kind of energy than I’ve felt in other places. It was a peaceful energy.”
The Klingele siblings were especially excited for that evening’s revival session, which featured actor Jonathan Roumie, Bishop Robert. E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, and singer Matt Maher, in addition to the Holy Hour, and they offered their thoughts on the Eucharist and the Congress so far.
For Zélie, she said that by attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist, she finds “hope and forgiveness” and continues to practice because she wants “to participate in the Sacrifice”.
For Xavier, he had been inspired by the Congress to “keep praying”.
Linda Meyers, who traveled in the diocesan group, attends Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Sun Prairie — part of Epiphany of the Lord Parish. She said that she chose to join the Congress because for the past decade “I’ve been on a mission to increase my knowledge of the Faith” and attending “seemed like a great way to take the next step”.
Meyers particularly remembered University of Mary President Msgr. James Shea’s talk — focused on how Satan twists “Christian principles, turning them upside down and using them to do evil instead of good” — because the monsignor’s “presentation was absolutely astounding” and because “he’s very animated and fun to listen to”.
Fr. Mike Schmitz’s talk on salvation history was a highlight for diocesan pilgrim Marie Lins who attends St. Luke Church in Plain — part of Ss. Joachim and Anne Pastorate.
She said what she especially appreciates about Father Mike is his “way of presenting that makes things clear to understand”.
Another parishioner of the diocese, Maria Gaboury, who attends Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Sun Prairie, said one of her favorite parts of the Congress was “Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday when, during the meditation, we had Latin chant sung by Floriani,” a men’s vocal ensemble.
Gaboury spoke about the Congress and the Eucharist.
She said that “I grew up loving the Eucharist but having these speakers in the times we have right now, it means more to me to get involved and love the Lord better. We always can go a little bit higher because He’s always there for us. So, it’s increasing our love of the Eucharist and sharing it with the ones that don’t believe and even the ones that do. We want to bring them higher into Eucharistic Adoration.”
Go and evangelize
More than a mere conference, the 10th National Eucharistic Congress was a meeting place of the Church, united in the mystical body of Christ, to enter more deeply in relationship with the Lord, to recall its mission, and then to go and evangelize.
And that was the message pilgrims from the Diocese of Madison heard from Cardinal Luis A. Tagle, a Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
At the closing Mass of the Congress, Cardinal Tagle said, “I bring to you the paternal blessings of his Holiness, Pope Francis.
“The Holy Father prays, as we all do, that the Congress may bear fruit, much fruit, for the renewal of the church and our society in the United States of America,” which was followed by thunderous applause.
“Before coming here, I asked the Holy Father if he had a message for you. He said, ‘Conversion to the Eucharist, conversion to the Eucharist,’” said the cardinal.
After the Mass, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, who headed the Congress’ efforts, invited all participants and indeed all American Catholics to Walk with One, a national initiative to bring one person into the faith.
After many thanks and rounds of applause, the bishop, speaking of Jesus’ gift of Himself in the Eucharist, said to the pilgrims, “Go, go and tell others about the gift you have received.”
To learn more about the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, the Walk with One initiative, and what’s coming next, visit eucharisticcongress.org.