Eight Decades Later, a Celebration of Faith Renewed
More than 50,000 American Catholics gathered at the first National Eucharistic Congress since the 1940s.
Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to celebrate the Eucharist, marking the first National Eucharistic Congress since the 1940s. The event aimed to rekindle enthusiasm for the Holy Communion sacrament and serve as a pivotal moment for the Church. The stadium, usually bustling with the commotion and clamor of football fans, fell into a reverent hush as the crowd knelt in anticipation. A spotlight illuminated a four-foot, ornate star-shaped gold vessel that held the simple wafer Catholics believe becomes the true presence of Jesus Christ upon consecration. For Camille Anigbogu, a 22-year-old attendee from Houston, it was a profound moment of divine connection.
The congress, a response to the declining observance of the ritual and waning faith among American Catholics, attracted more than 50,000 participants. Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., held the gold vessel, known as a monstrance, and slowly proceeded to an altar on the stadium floor. For an hour, the congregation engaged in prayer and song, blending 13th-century Latin hymns with contemporary worship music. Attendees described a sense of peace, euphoria, and a reinforced belief in the centrality of the sacrament to their faith.
The Eucharistic Congress, with its roots in the late 19th century, has witnessed a sporadic history. While early gatherings were predominantly attended by clergy, the 1930s saw lay Catholics invited to join in Omaha. The 1935 congress in Cleveland drew over 80,000 participants. However, the momentum was disrupted by World War II, and apart from a large international gathering in Philadelphia in the 1970s, there were no dedicated national events until the recent congress.
The event unfolded amid a tumultuous political season, with the country reeling from an assassination attempt on a former president and concerns surrounding the current president's health. Bishop Cozzens' prayers for unity and peace echoed the prevailing mood. The five-day congress offered a rich program, including morning liturgies, confession opportunities, renowned speakers like podcaster Mike Schmitz, a downtown Indianapolis procession, and an expo featuring items like Lego priest sets and holy water bottles reminiscent of luxury perfume.
The diverse Catholic community in America was well-represented, with Masses in Vietnamese, Spanish, and Latin, and liturgies from traditions such as the Syro-Malabar Church of India. The attire ranged from formal Sunday best to casual jeans and T-shirts bearing religious messages. American bishops had envisioned this congress for years, investing $22 million in the project and hoping to attract 80,000 worshipers. They drew inspiration from World Youth Day in 1993, when Pope John Paul II captivated a massive crowd of young Catholics in Denver.
While Pope Francis did not attend the recent congress, he conveyed his well-wishes and blessed the large gold monstrance that graced the stadium each night. The Catholic Church's influence in American life has diminished since the last century, with membership declines following revelations of clergy sexual abuse and an increasingly secular cultural landscape. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey further highlighted the challenge, indicating that only one-third of American Catholics believe in the bread and wine's transformation during Mass.
However, the bishops seized this moment of concern as an opportunity for a three-year "Eucharistic revival," with the congress as its centerpiece. This initiative also resonated with young, traditionally-minded Catholics who have shown renewed interest in Eucharistic adoration, a meditative practice in the presence of Jesus. Marina Frattaroli, a 26-year-old law school graduate and recent Catholic convert, was among those who embarked on a two-month pilgrimage to the congress, walking and driving across the country along four routes. She described the steady stream of students engaging in adoration at a chapel near her campus.
The congress in Indianapolis stood as a beacon of spiritual unity and peace, providing solace amidst a turbulent political climate. Speakers like Sister Josephine Garrett, a nun and podcaster, emphasized the providential nature of the gathering. While partisan politics was largely absent from the stadium, the main stage featured figures like anti-abortion activist Lila Rose and Sister Bethany Madonna of the Sisters of Life, an order dedicated to protecting human life and discouraging abortion.
Attendees like Alex Trotter, a 45-year-old from Oakland, Calif., attending with his family, spoke of intertwining faith, family, and political reflections. Having voted for Biden in 2020 while his wife supported Trump, Trotter now contemplates letting prayer guide his choices, even considering not voting at all. The congress, he said, strengthened his faith and underscored God's centrality in his life.
The gathering in Indianapolis served as a powerful reminder of the enduring significance of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith, bringing together a diverse community of believers in a shared spiritual experience.
The congress, a response to the declining observance of the ritual and waning faith among American Catholics, attracted more than 50,000 participants. Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., held the gold vessel, known as a monstrance, and slowly proceeded to an altar on the stadium floor. For an hour, the congregation engaged in prayer and song, blending 13th-century Latin hymns with contemporary worship music. Attendees described a sense of peace, euphoria, and a reinforced belief in the centrality of the sacrament to their faith.
The Eucharistic Congress, with its roots in the late 19th century, has witnessed a sporadic history. While early gatherings were predominantly attended by clergy, the 1930s saw lay Catholics invited to join in Omaha. The 1935 congress in Cleveland drew over 80,000 participants. However, the momentum was disrupted by World War II, and apart from a large international gathering in Philadelphia in the 1970s, there were no dedicated national events until the recent congress.
The event unfolded amid a tumultuous political season, with the country reeling from an assassination attempt on a former president and concerns surrounding the current president's health. Bishop Cozzens' prayers for unity and peace echoed the prevailing mood. The five-day congress offered a rich program, including morning liturgies, confession opportunities, renowned speakers like podcaster Mike Schmitz, a downtown Indianapolis procession, and an expo featuring items like Lego priest sets and holy water bottles reminiscent of luxury perfume.
The diverse Catholic community in America was well-represented, with Masses in Vietnamese, Spanish, and Latin, and liturgies from traditions such as the Syro-Malabar Church of India. The attire ranged from formal Sunday best to casual jeans and T-shirts bearing religious messages. American bishops had envisioned this congress for years, investing $22 million in the project and hoping to attract 80,000 worshipers. They drew inspiration from World Youth Day in 1993, when Pope John Paul II captivated a massive crowd of young Catholics in Denver.
While Pope Francis did not attend the recent congress, he conveyed his well-wishes and blessed the large gold monstrance that graced the stadium each night. The Catholic Church's influence in American life has diminished since the last century, with membership declines following revelations of clergy sexual abuse and an increasingly secular cultural landscape. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey further highlighted the challenge, indicating that only one-third of American Catholics believe in the bread and wine's transformation during Mass.
However, the bishops seized this moment of concern as an opportunity for a three-year "Eucharistic revival," with the congress as its centerpiece. This initiative also resonated with young, traditionally-minded Catholics who have shown renewed interest in Eucharistic adoration, a meditative practice in the presence of Jesus. Marina Frattaroli, a 26-year-old law school graduate and recent Catholic convert, was among those who embarked on a two-month pilgrimage to the congress, walking and driving across the country along four routes. She described the steady stream of students engaging in adoration at a chapel near her campus.
The congress in Indianapolis stood as a beacon of spiritual unity and peace, providing solace amidst a turbulent political climate. Speakers like Sister Josephine Garrett, a nun and podcaster, emphasized the providential nature of the gathering. While partisan politics was largely absent from the stadium, the main stage featured figures like anti-abortion activist Lila Rose and Sister Bethany Madonna of the Sisters of Life, an order dedicated to protecting human life and discouraging abortion.
Attendees like Alex Trotter, a 45-year-old from Oakland, Calif., attending with his family, spoke of intertwining faith, family, and political reflections. Having voted for Biden in 2020 while his wife supported Trump, Trotter now contemplates letting prayer guide his choices, even considering not voting at all. The congress, he said, strengthened his faith and underscored God's centrality in his life.
The gathering in Indianapolis served as a powerful reminder of the enduring significance of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith, bringing together a diverse community of believers in a shared spiritual experience.