INDIANAPOLIS — A hush fell over the crowd of more than 50,000 as Crookston, Minn. Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens proceeded to the center of Lucas Oil Stadium bearing a large monstrance. He placed the monstrance upon an elevated altar, and the thousands knelt in worship, while singing “O salutaris hostia.”
The tenth National Eucharistic Congress had begun.
The congress, held in Indianapolis July 17-21, invited Catholic pilgrims throughout the United States to experience a Eucharistic revival. Daily programming offered pilgrims opportunities to receive the Eucharist at daily Mass, attend “Impact” sessions designed for their current season of life, mingle with dozens of small Catholic businesses and large Catholic institutions in the exhibit hall, and attend breakout talks on a variety of topics.
Evening programming at the stadium included Eucharistic adoration and talks by Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.; Sister of Life Bethany Madonna and Father Mike Schmitz, creator of the popular “The Bible in a Year” podcast.
Speakers challenged pilgrims during the first two days to reflect on what a Eucharistic revival means for themselves.
Deacon Richard M. Malebranche, who is preparing for the priesthood, shared that the parishioners at his parish, St. Louis Church in Alexandria, arrived at the congress with “an openness that the Eucharist is going to do something special this week.”
“Even if things are going great, I don’t know that you can overstate the importance of the Eucharist,” he said. “The messaging we’ve received even in just the early part of the week, is that you’re supposed to now go out and bring that Eucharistic Lord to the people. And so I think that the Lord desires deeply for us to bring him to others. And I think a lot of Catholics, including myself, needed that reminder.”
Following Friday morning Mass, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge gathered with nearly 50 Arlington pilgrims outside the stadium. “I am so excited to see so many people here from Arlington,” he said, shortly after blessing the pilgrims. “Because what’s bringing us together? We’re coming together out of our love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and our faith that unites us. We’re not here as tourists, we’re here as pilgrims on a faith journey.”
