National Eucharistic Congress a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Diocesan pilgrims
Originally posted on www.anchornews.org
By Joan Warren
Karen Munroe (r) of New Bedford and Theresa Almeida of Somerset walked in the Eucharistic Procession at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. More than a dozen Catholics from the Diocese of Fall River were among an estimated 60,000 who attended the 5-day event.
FALL RIVER — The city of Indianapolis in America’s heartland was filled with faithful and love for the Lord as 60,000 from across the country and abroad came to celebrate the self-gift of Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist.
More than a dozen men and women from the Diocese of Fall River, hailing from parishes in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Somerset, North Dartmouth, and East Sandwich, traveled to Indiana’s state capital to the Eucharistic Revival.
The majority of the Fall River parishioners traveled with a group from the Diocese of Providence by bus, while others drove or flew in.
It was a pilgrimage that many attendees say was life changing.
Deacon Joseph Harrington, Associate Director of Strategic and Pastoral Planning for the Diocese, Director of Youth Ministry Oscar Rivera Jr., Fr. George Harrison, Fr. Roger Landry and this author were blessed to experience the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC).
Leading up to the Congress was the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage where groups from four corners of the country, accompanied Jesus from city to city across the U.S. It was the first such national Eucharistic pilgrimage in the history of the Catholic Church, with 60,000 reverent Catholics at Mass and Adoration.
Keynote speakers included Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Cardinal Chistophe Pierre, Mother Olga of the Sacred heart, Father Mike Schmitz, Sister Josephine Garrett and Bishop Robert the the history of the Catholic Church, with 60,000 reverent Catholics at Mass and Adoration Each spoke during the nighttime revival sessions, followed by Eucharistic Adoration.
The National Eucharistic Revival movement is a joyful, grassroots response of the Church in the United States by Bishops to the divine invitation to grow in Eucharistic knowledge, faith, gratitude, amazement, love and life. Through the Eucharist, God desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world.
The celebration in Indianapolis was the first National Eucharistic Congress since 1941.
Pilgrims from the Diocese included: Doreen Gonsalves, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James, New Bedford; Laurie-Larsen Silva, Corpus Christi, East Sandwich; Juan and Charlotte Galli, St. Anthony Padua, New Bedford; Debbie and Mark Perry, and Karen Munroe of St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth; Martha McCormack, St. Joseph, Fairhaven, and Theresa Almeida, St. John of God, Somerset and more.
Martha McCormack was instrumental in spreading the word about the trip. McCormack said that she prayed that ‘‘all who are not taking part in this Eucharistic Congress receive many graces and blessings also. Our Church wants it; our Church needs it,” McCormack said.
The itinerary for each day was similar: Morning Liturgy at the stadium, Impact sessions, break-out sessions in the morning and afternoon in the Indiana Convention Center, afternoon Liturgies and evening Revival sessions. Reconciliation was offered until 11 pm daily and perpetual adoration at nearby St. John the Evangelist Church. There were exhibits of the Shroud of Turin, a relics chapel, as well as a Eucharistic Miracles exhibit compiled by Blessed Carlo Acutis.
On Saturday, July 20, a Eucharistic procession and Benediction took to the streets of the city for a 1-mile route, with thousands of spectors on hand to witness the historic event.
Charlotte Galli attended with her husband Juan and said it was awe inspiring.
‘‘It was a watershed event, in my life, for sure, and (I hope, pray and trust), in the life of the Church. You felt you were receiving the fruit of years of dedicated planning and hard work, done with joy and intelligence under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
‘‘It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Singing together was wonderful, but I think I liked the silence best of all. It was a joy-filled silence, a silence of presence, His and ours, and it transformed Lucas Oil Stadium into a Cathedral,” Mrs. Galli said.
‘‘I’m a permanent adorer at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford; I love Adoration–and never has the power of the Blessed Sacrament been so palpable to me. There He was, body, blood, soul and divinity, doing what He always does, bringing us home to the Father, pouring out His love, but on a scale that made it feel like a tiny taste of Heaven.
‘‘Someone asked me what the high pointwas for me. I loved everything about it. The talks, the big families, the endless river of seminarians descending the stairs every morning, having 2,000 priests concelebrate the Mass, those bevies of religious women in all their different habits. The candles, the incense, the joy. The kindness was palpable,” Mrs. Galli said.
Keynote speakers included Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Cardinal Chistophe Pierre, Mother Olga of the Sacred heart, Father Mike Schmitz, Sister Josephine Garrett and Bishop Robert Barron. Each spoke during the nighttime revival sessions, followed byEucharistic Adoration.
Father Schmitz, host of the popular “Bible in a Year” podcast, called on the Catholics gathered to Eucharistic conversion.
“If this is going to be a revival, if it’s going to be a real revival, here’s the reality. In the history of Christianity, you can never have a revival without repentance,” said Schmitz, chaplain at the University of Minnesota- Duluth.
“If the remedy for ignorance is to get to knowledge, and the road to knowledge is truth, and repentance the remedy for indifference is love, and the road to love is repentance,” he said.
Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and superior mother of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth in the Archdiocese of Boston, gave a moving presentation on the miracles of the Eucharistic Christ in the modern world and how Jesus Christ lives in us all.
‘‘He is the same Jesus of yesterday, today and the future. Eucharistic miracles are real and our Lord it truly here. We have him and nobody can take him away from us,” she said and had the crowd of thousands repeating it with her.
Another popular guest speaker was Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus Christ in the television program, The Chosen.
He told the crowd that he had flown in from the set in Utah where he is shooting season five of the series. He had spent the last week filming the Last Supper scene.
The prospect of such a portrayal, he said, had caused him a lot of anxiety.
“As a Catholic, I understand the weight of depicting the institution of the Eucharist that night,” he said. ‘‘I spent alot of time with my spiritual advisor.”
He admired the crowd and was impressed that so many were in attendance.
‘‘If you went through all the effort that it took to get here to Indianapolis, I’m convinced that it was because the Lord called you and appointed you to be here personally,” he said.
“He’s after your heart and my heart. … He’s come for you. He’s come for you because he loves you,” he said.
Karen Monroe, a pilgrim from New Bedford, was pleased to see the actor. She was an extra on the series and the experience was so moving, she plans to go to Utah for future seasons.
‘‘I have to say how blessed I feel to have had the opportunity to attend the NEC and through the grace of God it became possible. From the spiritual experience, the adorations, masses, family rosaries, and music, I left there with fire in my soul. It was beautiful to see so many young people and families. It truly was a Eucharistic Revival bringing the Lord to our nation that is ‘One Nation under God,” she said.
For those who were unable to attend the NEC, go to eucharisticrevival.org. to watch keynote speakers, view photos and learn more.
The Diocese is holding a one-day Eucharistic Revival on September 7 at the former Bishop Connolly School. This will be similar to the NEC, just on a smaller scale. (see story on page 16.)