The 10th National Eucharistic Congress: The Beauty of the Church and the Power of the Eucharist

May the Heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time.

BISHOP
KEVIN J.
SWEENEY

In the past 12 months, personally, I have been very blessed. Last August, I was able to visit Fatima for the first time and participate in World Youth Day with Pope Francis (and 500,000 of our “closest friends”). This past May, thanks to the generosity of the Order of Malta, I was able to visit Lourdes for the first time. As beautiful and enriching as those experiences were, the past five days, July 16–21, participating in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis has been one of the most blessed, joyous, and hope-filled experiences I have ever had.

I believe that all of the more than 50,000 people, who participated in the Eucharistic Congress, could testify that the presence of the Holy Spirit was tangible and that the fruits of the Eucharistic Revival in our country were beautifully visible, for all to see, feel, and hear. As I thought and prayed about trying to describe this experience in words, I realized that, in the coming weeks, I should seriously consider writing at much greater length and in more specific detail about this experience. To share with readers, some sense of how truly “awesome” and uplifting this experience was, I have come up with a “Top Ten List.” I could easily write a column or chapter on each of these, but, for the moment, in order not to take up too much space and, especially to complete the column before the deadline, I will offer just a few words on each point.

Here are 10 highlights, not in any particular order because any one of them could be in the “Top 3,” from the 10th National Eucharistic Congress:

1. It was a powerful experience of what it may have been like to be part of the “early Church,” the Church of the Acts of the Apostles, in the weeks and months after Pentecost: “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42 These words of Scripture accurately describe what took place during the past five days in Indianapolis. 
2. A Beautiful Spirit of Joy and Peace, Unity, and Patience — This part of the experience is very difficult to describe in words. In every encounter, in meeting people from all over the country, in the wonderful diversity of the participants, there was a truly beautiful spirit of JOY, a strong sense of Peace, a feeling of true unity (communion), and, with huge crowds, long lines, challenges to find food (at times), it seemed that no one complained and no one lost their patience. 
3. The gift of Servant Leadership — Bishop Robert Barron first introduced the idea of a “Eucharistic Revival” in the fall of 2020, during his time as the chairperson of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. In 2022, Bishop Andrew Cozzens succeeded Bishop Barron as the chair of that committee and he took on the responsibility of planning and organizing the Eucharistic Congress. Some said that it couldn’t be done. Some thought that it wasn’t the right approach or was too expensive. Bishop Cozzens and many, many other leaders in the Church persevered and accomplished, in the words of St. Mother Teresa, “something beautiful for God.” 
4. People of Faith, from all parts of the Church, generously shared their gifts and talents. The musicians and singers, the speakers and homilists, the “IT” and technicians, the thousands and thousands of volunteers, the priests, deacons, women and men religious, the group leaders, and many, many more all found a way to work together to “produce” this five-day, four-night event. They offered their talents and gifts in order to gather more than 50,000, first and foremost in communal prayer, so that they may be renewed and encouraged in living their faith as missionary disciples. As St. Paul speaks of the “many gifts and one Spirit” and “many parts, but one body” in the 12th Chapter of his 1st Letter to the Corinthians, that was a beautiful part of the experience at the Congress. 
5. A greater appreciation for the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation as instruments of healing. We are sinners, living in a world and culture that seems to be more and more damaged by sin. We are all, in some way, in need of healing and many in our world (in our families and communities) are desperately in need of healing. Throughout these five days at Mass, during Eucharistic Adoration, by the sharing of testimonies, and, especially, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, countless people received spiritual, emotional, and other forms of healing, the healing that leads to Peace, the Peace that only Jesus can give. 
6. The Beauty of Family Life, the Domestic Church — It was Amazing to see how many families, some with four, five, six, or more young children, attended the Congress. Our Church needs a greater number of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated Religious Life, but most of all, our Church needs saints. “Vocations come from families” and many saints come from parents and families of faith. We live in a time and culture when the Vocation of Marriage and the Vocation of Family Life are under attack and undermined. I wonder if the next “Revival” we need is a “Revival of Family Life and Families of Faith,” but, after the past five days, I believe that the “Family Revival” is already well underway! 
7. Vocations to Priesthood and Consecrated Religious Life are “alive and well.” Some said that there were 1,000 priests and 200 Bishops in attendance at the Congress. If I had to guess, I would say that there were over 1,000 women and men religious and 500 or more seminarians. At the Eucharistic Procession on Saturday and the closing Mass on Sunday, the women and men in consecrated life and the seminarians processed and were seated together. It was a beautiful sight to see and a “sight for sore eyes,” filling all in attendance with great Hope for the present and future of the Church in our Country. 
8. A Great Sign of HOPE — It is possible, at least theoretically, that many will return home after the Eucharistic Congress, feeling re-energized in their faith and that will last for a little while, but then daily problems, in the Church, the world and our own lives will lead us back to where we were before and the Congress will have no “lasting effect.” Those of us who attended feel and believe that the Holy Spirit is doing something wonderful and lasting in the Church in the United States and that we will see the “good fruits” of the Congress in the months, years, and generations to come. The problems and challenges remain, but those of us, who attended the Congress have no doubt that there are many, many reasons for us to have Hope that a new “Springtime,” a new Pentecost, is taking shape in our Church and our land. 
9. The Beauty of the Church and the power of the Eucharist — these words were in my mind and on my heart during the days of the Congress. There are other Christian denominations and religions that could gather 50,000-plus people for a Conference in the United States in 2024, but I don’t think that any of them could do what the Eucharistic Congress did. The Congress was an expression of the Beauty of our Catholic Faith, “ever ancient and ever new.” Others may disagree with me on this point, saying that the Congress was “just another large gathering.” I would be happy to have that conversation. If we reflect on what we believe about the gift of the Eucharist, given to us by Jesus, 2,000 years ago at the Last Supper, and the Gift of the Holy Spirit, given on Pentecost and realize that it is the same Eucharist, the same Holy Spirit, and same Church, joined by the Communion of Saints and with the Mystical Body of Christ, that gathered for these days in Indianapolis, we can see a powerful witness that Jesus continues to keep His promise:”… And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Mt 28:20 
10. Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — I have hardly mentioned the inspiring witness and moving content of so many of the speakers at the Congress, which was a wonderful gift and blessing. For me, there was one speaker who “stood out.” If you can take the time to watch and listen to her testimony, I believe it will move you to tears. More importantly, who she is and how God is working through her can inspire us to live our faith more fully. I had never heard of Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart of Jesus before I arrived at the Congress. We were blessed to hear the testimony of a person of true holiness. You can find her talk online (see the link below). I hope and pray that you will take the time to watch and listen. If you do, I believe that you will have a better sense and understanding of all that I have tried to share about the experience of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. 

While not all were able to participate in the Eucharistic Congress, we all take encouragement from the Holy Spirit who makes all things new. The Eucharistic Revival continues in our local church of Paterson as we draw life from the Body and Blood of Christ to be his witnesses in the world. Together we pray, “O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Amen.” Please know that during the Congress you were all remembered in prayer, especially before our Eucharistic Lord, whose Real Presence gathers us as one family in faith. As we reflect upon the experience of the Congress, we find hope in knowing that the Lord remains with us always in the Blessed Sacrament.