The Eucharist, the center of the Catholic faith, is the source and summit of Catholic belief. Catholics learn to recognize the Eucharist as not just bread and wine but to see it as the body and blood, the soul and divinity of Jesus Christ. Yet, in recent years, the true essence of the Eucharist has sometimes been overshadowed. Many have struggled to fully grasp its profound significance as some don’t recognize or believe that it is the true body and blood of Jesus. In response to this, the Catholic Church decided they needed to create a way to inspire its disciples to continue to find love in the Eucharist.
Matt Cannaday, Religion Educator and Holy Cross Formation participant, said “The Congress itself was an effort on behalf of the bishops to try to cultivate that Eucharistic spirituality to the American church.”
The Eucharist beckons every Catholic to reflect, connect, and embrace its transformative power in their life. Understanding the importance of the Eucharist is a crucial aspect of the spiritual journey of all individuals. Dr. Robert Bridges, President of Cathedral, said, “The Eucharist calls us to see everyone as sisters and brothers, and to treat them with love and respect, even, and especially, those who see the world differently than us.”
Indianapolis became the place to be for many Catholics around the world all with diverse and different backgrounds but sharing one thing in common: their love for the Eucharist, a sacred ritual that lies at the heart of Catholic tradition. Bridges says, “Our world, our country, and our city need more love and respect right now, and that is what the Eucharist is all about.”
The National Eucharistic Congress is more than just an event–it’s a significant uniting force of Catholics and non-Catholic alike, striving to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist. This year’s gathering, held in July of 2024 in the heart of Indiana, marked the long-awaited return of a tradition that had been on hold for over 80 years due to the onset of World War II–since the last Congress in 1941. This monumental event shined a light on a path to unity and renewal throughout the Catholic community.
Mark Matthews, Vice Principal for Academics, said “The Eucharist is always important, but this was an opportunity for people across the United States to come together to pray, experience the Catholic community, and discover new ways of worshiping Jesus.”
Beginning with a vibrant Eucharistic Procession from the 4 corners of the nation, the event featured a grand convergence at Lucas Oil Stadium, where nearly 60,000 attendees awaited. Processions from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, another from the southern border with Mexico, one from Minnesota that worked its way through Wisconsin, Michigan, and Chicago, and even one on a boat outside the Statue of Liberty all carried the blessed sacrament, emphasizing the powerful sense of unity.
The first night marked the end of the pilgrimage, with people arriving from every corner of the country to participate in Eucharist Adoration. The atmosphere was serene, illuminated only by the lights shining on the monstrance and accompanied by worship hymns. Each morning featured Masses: One at Holy Rosary and another at the convention center. One morning there was a Syro Malabar liturgy, which comes from Indiana, instead of the Roman Catholic Church. This showcased the diverse nature of the Church. Cannaday said, “Contrary to other beliefs, the revival wasn’t just attended by older, upper-middle-class American white people; there were Filipino communities, Indians, immigrant communities, as well as Latinos and Africans. It truly was a beautiful representation of the diversity of the Church, as they also estimated 1,200 nuns in attendance.”
With another pilgrimage hoping to start in May, starting here in Indianapolis and extending to different parts of the country, Catholics are beginning to see a resurgence in this more traditional deviation to the Church, which resonates across cultures, languages, and social classes. Cannaday said, “What was amazing was to see the Franciscan friars who were various groups of nuns ministering to people in downtown Indianapolis on that hot summer day. They are not sightseeing, they are sightseeing as ministering to the poor, which is what we are called to do as a Church.”
Throughout the five-day long Congress, attendees selected an impact session for the morning and a breakout session for the afternoon. However, the most anticipated part of the day came in the evening when the entire assembly gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium to experience the powerful revival sessions. Bridges had the opportunity to volunteer at the Congress and spent time checking in with the vendors and exhibitors. The diversity that is presented at the Congress highlighted the many beauties of the Catholic Church, as it united people from various different backgrounds in shared faith and worship. Bridges said, “I saw a wide variety of people all day long! The variety of our Catholic Church is a large part of its beauty! Religious sisters from all over the country checked in, as well as priests and brothers from all different orders came through the line, and so many lay people, men, and women, old and young, with children and not. It was great to see.”
The Eucharistic Congress was a powerful reminder of how important the Eucharistic is in everyone’s day to day life. It brought together people from all over the world to celebrate the central part of the Catholic faith, which is how Jesus is present in the Eucharist and that it can strengthen connections to God and to others. The event wasn’t just about listening to the talks or going to Mass, rather it was about experiencing the love that the Eucharist has to offer. For many, it was a chance to reflect on their own faith and find new ways to live out what they believe. Moving forward, the lessons Cathedral staff and students learned through this event about community, service, and the real presence of life, can help them live with more purpose and a deeper understanding of their faith-filled lives.
