Pilgrims from the ‘Four Corners’ from all walks of life —babies, children, youth, young adults (massive numbers of them), adults and the elderly gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium ‘to place Jesus Christ in the Eucharist at the centre of our lives’ to quote Bishop Andrew Cozzens.
Bishop Cozzens of Crookston, Minn is the Chairman of National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21. Tens of thousands of Catholics are gathering in Indianapolis for this historic event. The last Eucharistic Congress in the U.S .was 80 years ago.
The primary purpose of this gathering is to worship Jesus in the Eucharist as one Church. We will have Mass every day of the Congress, as well as powerful opportunities for Eucharistic adoration and procession.
The 10th National Eucharistic Congress comes at a particularly powerful moment in the history of the Church in the United States. Through the National Eucharistic Revival movement, the Holy Spirit is calling every Catholic in America to a greater encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist in preparation for a new apostolic chapter.
On July 17, more than 40,000 pilgrims adored Jesus in Eucharist at Lucas Stadium, focusing on the Eucharistic Revival which began two years ago in the United States.
On July 18, the first full day of Congress, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York led the Eucharistic celebration with more than 100 bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and religious sisters. Cardinal Dolan reminded the congress that the Eucharist as a ‘meal’ where we gather in the divine meal to celebrate the saving action of God.
The first day of the Congress focused on the “Greatest Love Story”. Internationally known speakers are leading teachings sessions on the themes of Encounter, Empower, Renewal, Cultivate, Awaken & Abide at Indiana Convention Center. Eucharistic Miracles and Shroud Exhibitions, vendor exhibits and concerts occupy the rest of massive spaces.
Across the street from the convention centre, St John the Evangelist church hosts the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.
“Into Gethsemane” is the theme of the second full-day of the National Eucharistic Congress. The theme for July 20 is “This is My Body’.
Deacon Gem Mella is a permanent deacon and the diaconal formation lead for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He and his wife Dada are attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.