A very successful Eucharistic Congress occurred in Indianapolis, USA from July 17 to 21. About 60,000 people attended. They came from all 50 states in the US and from 17 other nations, speaking over 40 languages. In addition, there were Catholics present from many of the Eastern Rites in the Church. The Congress met at the stadium of the Indianapolis Colts American football team. One end of the stadium had a huge stage with screens which had images making people feel they were in a great church.
The Congress opened with processions of the Blessed Sacrament coming to the city from the north, south, east, and west. On the way, some went by boat, others on trucks, and often walking as on a pilgrimage. Each of the four processions carried an icon representing the patron saint of the route. These were St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, St. Junipero Serra, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
During the Congress, there was a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Indianapolis. About 60,000 people joined the procession, which was a little less than 2 kilometers long. During the Congress, more than 25 Masses in different rites were celebrated. Confessions and prayer ministry were ongoing throughout the gathering.
There were many speakers and presenters, including Bishop Robert Barron, the actor Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus in “The Chosen,” Fr. Mike Schmitz, US Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Bishop Joseph Espaillat, and many others. There were main sessions, breakout sessions, many Masses in different languages and Rites of the Church, praise and worship sessions, youth sessions, and evening adoration and revival sessions.
In the evenings, there were powerful revival sessions which included praise and worship music very familiar to us in the Renewal, along with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Musician Matt Maher, well known in the Renewal, who wrote “Lord I Need You,” led some of the praise and worship sessions. Some of the most moving times were in these revival moments when it moved from exuberant praise and worship, familiar to all charismatics, to almost complete silence in the stadium when the Eucharist was exposed.
These nightly revival sessions created a sensory experience of awe around the Eucharistic Lord, as tens of thousands prayed in silent contemplation before the Eucharist on the altar which was illuminated in the dark stadium by spotlights. Adoring Jesus in the stadium, concluding with Benediction, was the high point of each evening.
The closing Mass had over 1,000 priests, over 100 bishops, and well over 50,000 people present. Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presided and preached. He also brought greetings and blessings from Pope Francis.
“We should not keep Jesus to ourselves,” he said, exhorting them not to use their time in Church to escape others, but to “share Jesus’ tender love” with “the weary, the hungry and suffering… the lost, confused and weak.” “Go and share Jesus’ gift of reconciliation and peace to those who are divided,” he said, emphasizing, “Let us proclaim Jesus joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!”
“Those who choose to stay with Jesus will be sent by Jesus,” he said. “The gift of his presence and love for us will be our gift to people. We should not keep Jesus to ourselves. That is not discipleship. That is selfishness. The gift we have received we should give as a gift.” “A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people,” he said. “Let us proclaim Jesus joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!”
The Congress concluded with a call for a new Pentecost. Participants were asked to consider joining the “Walk With One” initiative by identifying a person they can accompany to better know Jesus.
For information on the Walk with One initiative go to this link: Walk with one
For a good selection of articles and reports go to this link: Eucharistic Congress Revival
For a selection of videos of the sessions and many presentations go to this link: Eucharistic Congress
Monsignor Peter Leslie Smith
CHARIS Ecclesiastical Assistant
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Photo: Facebook National Eucharistic Revival
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Photo: Facebook National Eucharistic Revival
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Photo: Facebook National Eucharistic Revival
