This past July, thirteen FMA from the North American Conference participated in the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. This powerful five-day event was part of the three year Eucharistic Revival initiated by the United States Catholic Council of Bishops in 2022 with the objective to deepen Catholics' love for Jesus through encountering Him in the Eucharist.
It kicked off with a Eucharistic pilgrimage for the two months leading up to the Congress with our Eucharistic Lord making His way from four different routes starting in California, Minnesota, Connecticut and Texas. The pilgrimage involved many dioceses along the way, gathering people for processions, Mass, and adoration, and rekindling the unity of the Church around the source and summit of our faith: Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.
The opening session of the Congress began with the perpetual pilgrims who had walked with Jesus for the past 60 days, accompanying him into the huge football stadium to be adored by over 50,000 people in Indianapolis, IN. There was a tangible sense of awe and hunger for renewal in the silence of those gathered in prayer together, and also an awareness that this was just the beginning.
Each evening there were testimonies from those who had been transformed by their encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, followed by keynote speakers filled with zeal for his real presence, and then the whole crowd united together to rekindle the fire in their hearts with praise and worship of our Eucharistic Lord present in the monstrance during adoration.
Every morning offered the opportunity to gather as the body of Christ to celebrate the Mass in different languages and rites. It was incredible to see the number of seminarians, priests, bishops, religious sisters and brothers, young people and families in attendance - participating and receiving our Lord with such expectation and reverence.
The days were filled with different break-out sessions led by Catholic speakers, theologians, evangelists, apologists and musicians sharing their stories and offering encouragement with practical ways to revive the faith. Prominent speakers included Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Bishop Robert Barron, Father Mike Schmitz, Matt Maher, Sister Miriam James Heidland SOLT, and Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart.
Another highlight was the Eucharistic procession through the streets of bustling, downtown Indianapolis. The police blocked off the main roads as Jesus in the Monstrance, once again made his way out of the Church and broke into the daily life of onlookers as they paused from their shopping, eating, or walking, often kneeling in reverence and prayer as He passed by surrounded by thousands of congress participants. The smell of incense, the sound of joyful singing and fervent voices praying, the sight of many young children in their first communion
dresses and suits and throngs of religious congregations and families, the feel of vibrations from the drums and dance steps of different cultural groups, lingered even after He passed by to arrive for a brief time of public adoration and ending with Benediction from the steps of the Indiana World War Memorial.
There was also a huge exhibition hall filled with booths promoting different religious communities, universities, apostolates, and businesses. Assisting in our Salesian booth provided an encounter with so many beautiful souls: past pupils, benefactors, families and friends of our Sisters, many with great devotion to St. John Bosco and happy to learn about St. Mary Mazzarello and our Salesian Family. They often found us by following the scented bubbles (many of whom had heard Sr. Elfie’s mini-catechesis to spread the sweet fragrance of Christ) and were able to ask and learn about our charism, play games and pray with the relics of our Salesian Saints. We also were able to share the story of Don Bosco’s vision of the two columns and his great devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary, Help of Christians.
It was truly a time of renewal and revival, recognizing Christ present in our brothers and sisters in need, to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit to set our hearts ablaze with his love and to proclaim it in the world.