INDIANAPOLIS – Many of the approximately 150 pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Baltimore who attended the National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21 in Indianapolis are leaving the historic gathering renewed in faith and more determined to spread devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in their home parishes and local communities.
The first national Eucharistic Congress in 83 years concluded with a July 21 Mass at Lucas Oil Stadium that attracted more than 50,000 people. In the days leading up to the culminating liturgy, celebrated by papal envoy Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, participants attended various liturgies, eucharistic adoration, special talks and a massive eucharistic procession on the streets of downtown Indianapolis.
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was present throughout the week, along with Baltimore Auxiliary Bishops Adam J. Parker and Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
“This Eucharistic Congress is such a beautiful event – full of God’s grace, full of blessing,” Archbishop Lori said, noting that pilgrims came to the congress from every corner of the country. “These are days we adore the Lord, celebrate beautiful liturgies, confirm one another in faith and encourage one another to be eucharistic disciples.”
Archbishop Lori said he was “so proud that this event is happening in our country, but also proud that so many from the Archdiocese of Baltimore are taking part in it,” including those who followed the congress virtually.
Bishop Parker said fellowship with other believers on fire for the faith had a “huge impact” on him.
“This has been a revival for me personally – just being re-energized in the faith and the hope of what we are about in the mission that our Lord gave us in telling us to make his name known to the nations,” Bishop Parker said.
The revitalization comes at a time when Baltimore and some surrounding communities in Baltimore County are creating new parishes as part of the Seek the City to Come initiative, Bishop Parker said. It is also happening at a time when the nation is polarized, he said.
“It’s time for us to really seize this moment and help others to come to know Christ,” Bishop Parker said.
Marek Lawera, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a parishioner of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, said eucharistic revival is “very needed in the church.” He was especially touched by a talk given by Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minn., on the importance of the obligations of the lay faithful to share their faith. Bishop Barron is also the founder of Word on Fire, a ministry that produces popular video series, books and other material.
“I think a lot of people here are taking that very seriously, which is incredibly inspiring to see and just kind of gives me the motivation that I need to work hard for the people of God,” he said, calling it “truly awe-inspiring” to see 50,000 Catholics witness to their faith.
Many pilgrims used the week to delve deeply in prayer, especially during eucharistic adoration.
Jennifer Yeung, a parishioner of Sacred Heart in Glyndon, attended the event with her husband, Deacon Christopher Yeung, and their two children. She spent a lot of time writing in a prayer journal.
“When I am having a down day, a moment where the drudgery of day-to-day life or a challenging moment of encountering something painful in life, I can look back on these journal entries and see the Lord at work and know that he’s continuing to weave the fibers of his love and mercy through my life,” she said.
Father James Bors, Archbishop Lori’s priest-secretary, had a profound experience while praying the rosary during eucharistic adoration July 20 at St. John the Evangelist in Indianapolis.
It was during that prayer that he learned that his mother, Joyce Elaine Clift Bors, died in Florida. His mother had been ill and Father Bors was praying the rosary for her, as were four family members in Florida and his son in Maryland.
One hour after learning of his mother’s passing, Father Bors participated in the eucharistic procession on the streets of Indianapolis.
“I was thinking of my mother’s love for me and my brothers and sisters and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, thanking God for the gift of her life,” Father Bors said. “I felt great peace.”
Father Bors recalled that when the eucharistic procession reached the Indiana War Memorial, people were praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. An announcement on a loudspeaker encouraged everyone to pray for all those who have died or who will die that day.
“It was a moment of grace,” said Father Bors, who will offer his mother’s funeral Mass at St. Andrew by the Bay in Annapolis within a week.
Brian Rhude, a campus minister at the Newman Center at Towson University, said the Eucharistic Congress reminded him that revival begins in one’s own heart.
“If we’re not taking our lives of faith seriously and going to the sacraments, then we’re not going to be well-equipped or well-prepared to walk onto campus and be the face of love and mercy for someone else who we want to encounter the Lord and the Blessed Sacrament in our service, in our liturgies, in our dinner, in our gatherings,” he said.
Helen Fielding, a 15-year-old parishioner of St. Bartholomew in Manchester, called it “amazing” to see many young people all desiring to grow closer to God.
“We need to help others – those who never met Jesus,” she said. “You actually have to get out of your comfort zone to talk to them to influence them to grow the church.”
Edward Herrera, executive director for the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Institute for Evangelization, said it’s time to keep the excitement and enthusiasm of the congress going in the parishes.
“We’re going to be having ongoing conversations with those leaders to give them some practical tools for being able to share that excitement, that joy and that love for the Lord with others,” he said.
Deacon Daniel Cajigas of St. Margaret in Bel Air agreed.
“It’s reassuring my faith and the fire in my heart that Christ is truly alive and present in the Eucharist, which is the best gift ever, ever, ever,” he said, adding that the Eucharistic Congress has been the best experience of his life.
Kevin J. Parks contributed to this report from Indianapolis and Matysek reported from Baltimore.
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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