Young Baltimore pilgrims inspired at National Eucharistic Congress

INDIANAPOLIS – Experiencing Christ in the Blessed Sacrament has been life-changing for Sergio Lou Sacay. The 18-year-old parishioner of Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Mount Washington has felt Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and encourages others to do the same.

Sacay is attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis with approximately 150 other pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Baltimore to help his faith grow even deeper.

“I just know in my heart of hearts that the Lord is real and he wants me to be with him and his calling is the same to every other young person,” said Sacay, who last year attended the Quo Vadis vocations camp sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “Christ loves you and he will work miracles for you.”

In Indianapolis, Sacay has been especially moved by praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He has attended the Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics National Encounter, also in Indianapolis.

“The gift to God for me has been for me to abide in him,” said Sacay, a student at Community College of Baltimore County. “I can pay that forward by bringing other young people to abide in the Lord through adoration – and I was thinking and planning with my friends to begin adoration for young people in our local parish and really cultivate true and holy friendship where people can share their struggles and their challenges.”

Sacay was among thousands of young adults, including some from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, attending the National Eucharistic Congress. Many were moved to tears in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during adoration events that attracted thousands.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, concelebrated a Mass for youths at the National Eucharistic Congress July 19. In an interview with media after the liturgy, he said he was inspired by the presence of thousands of young Catholics.

“The Lord Jesus loves this whole family,” he said, “but I think the Lord has a very special place in his heart for our young people, a special place in his eucharistic heart. And when young people discover the depth of Jesus’ love for them, it is such a beautiful thing as they make their journey through life toward whatever vocation God has in mind for them.”

After the Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, several young adults approached Archbishop Lori and asked him to pray with them. Some whispered special intentions in his ear. The archbishop held hands with them, closed his eyes and offered prayers. One of those prayer requests came from a young woman struggling with infertility.

James Conway, a young adult from St. Wenceslaus in East Baltimore, told the Catholic Review that attending the Eucharistic Congress can be a source of renewal. Conway said he has experienced several personal and professional losses in the last several years beginning with the coronavirus pandemic. He is bringing them to the Lord in prayer at the congress, he said. 

Conway, a Black Catholic, added that he was inspired to see people of all races and backgrounds attending the congress and has had opportunities to speak with many people at the event. 

“The last time I was around this many different religious people was when I was in Rome in 2012,” he said, “and even then, I was just visiting. So, with just being around a whole bunch of people who have a deep spiritual connection to the Eucharist is really, really feeding my soul.”

George Matysek Jr. contributed to this article from Baltimore. 

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