The 10th National Eucharistic Congress in the United States concluded on Sunday 21 July with a moving celebration of the Eucharist at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, attended by more than 50,000 people, including Melbourne’s own Archbishop Peter A Comensoli.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Francis’ special envoy to the congress, presided over the Mass, conveying Pope Francis’ paternal blessings and urging attendees to be disciples who share the gift of Jesus’ presence and love with others. ‘A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelising people,’ he said. ‘Let us proclaim Jesus joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!’
Over five days, the congress had brought Catholics from across the country together for a range of events, workshops and Masses, all focused on the Eucharist.
Shaughn and Claire Phillips did not have time to register for the congress as they planned for their wedding on 22 June, so they decided to come as volunteers instead. ‘We decided: why not serve?’ Claire said.
That call to serve is a value shared by the newlyweds. Claire is coordinator of religious education at St Joan of Arc Parish in Indianapolis, where the couple are members. Shaughn is director of campus ministry for Brebeuf Jesuit, a college preparatory high school in Indianapolis.
The Phillips were spotted holding hands, walking through Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on 17 July at the end of the congress’ first revival session. Whether it was a familiar face or that of a stranger, ‘just being able to see everyone in one place has been really beautiful,’ Claire commented.
Volunteering for the entire congress was an experience the couple was glad to share. ‘We’re co-workers in the vineyard,’ said Shaughn.
When asked about the impact of the Eucharist in his life, congress-goer Bob Willoughby says, ‘It means everything to me. The Church is built around the Eucharist. If we don’t have the Eucharist, we don’t have the Church. That’s how important it is,’ he told The Criterion, the newspaper of the Indianapolis Archdiocese.
A moment later, his daughter Ambrosia showed that same combination of awe and reverence as she noted, ‘The Eucharist allows me to know that when Jesus says he remains with me always, that’s the truth. It doesn’t matter where I go or what I go through. He’s in every part of my being when I receive him. He’s in every bit of that with me. That’s what the Eucharist means for my life.’
Her friend Alison Vigland said, ‘For me, it’s just the beauty of it. I’m a big hiker. I like outdoor stuff, but when I see a monstrance with the Eucharist in it during adoration, that is just the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen—ever.’
That shared devotion to the Eucharist led the three of them—along with Bob’s wife and Ambrosia’s mother, Santiaga—to travel from the Diocese of Dallas to join in the five-day event.
John and Leigh Becker showed similar awe when speaking about the power of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration in their lives, with John becoming choked up with emotion as he described the way his wife of 38 years has helped to bring him into a deeper relationship with Christ. ‘She was my anchor who brought me closer to my faith,’ he said.
His dedication to Eucharistic adoration has been an important part of this.
‘I learned that making it a part of my life was important,’ John said. ‘It just makes Jesus accessible in a way that I think many non-Catholics and non-Christians don’t realise. In times of difficulties, and sometimes in jubilation, it’s nice to know you can be that close to him.’
The desire to draw even closer to Jesus has led the parents of four and the grandparents of five to come to Indianapolis for the congress.
‘My faith is important to me and so is deepening my faith, finding out more and more about it,’ Leigh said. ‘The more I learn, the more I want to learn and just grow in that deeper relationship with Jesus. I’ve always known him, and I’ve always depended on him, but I may not have been in awe of him enough. I want to unite my heart more to him and be like him more to all those around me.’
She has found a similar spirit among the people who are attending the congress.
‘It’s amazing,’ she said. ‘Especially in our culture right now, we can be made to feel that what we believe isn’t right. Or we’re kind of alone. Everybody is, “You do you.” To be surrounded by all these people who believe the same thing is amazing and empowering. It gives you peace.
‘I’ve turned to Christ a lot of times in moments of difficulty,’ Leigh said. ‘He always gives me the strength to get through, even if it doesn’t turn out like I thought it was going to. I can look back and see he was there. He’s got this.’
‘My faith is important to me and so is deepening my faith, finding out more and more about it,’ Leigh said. ‘The more I learn, the more I want to learn and just grow in that deeper relationship with Jesus. I’ve always known him, and I’ve always depended on him, but I may not have been in awe of him enough. I want to unite my heart more to him and be like him more to all those around me.’
After the final Mass on 21 July, Bishop Andew H Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, board chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress, Inc., told OSV News he is ‘just filled with so much gratitude for what God has done, and really the power of the Holy Spirit that’s present here.’
‘It’s hard to put into words what the whole experience has been, from the beginning to the end, so beautiful and such a sense of God renewing his Church,’ he said. ‘I’m so grateful for what God has done.’
Banner image: Pilgrims cheer as Dave and Lauren Moore and others perform on 19 July during the revival night of the National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo: OSV News/Bob Roller.)