In what organizers believe may be the largest Eucharistic procession in decades, thousands of pilgrims took to the streets of downtown Indianapolis July 20 to join the final Eucharistic procession of the National Eucharistic Congress. OSV
FIXED ON JESUS
News photo/Bob Roller
FIXED ON JESUS National Congress sends forth Catholics to ignite new Pentecost as Eucharistic missionaries BY PETER JESSERER SMITH OSV News
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s five days of the National Eucharistic Congress concluded with one final revival and a solemn Mass in Lucas Oil Stadium – Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., board chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., stood in Lucas Oil Stadium. “I have a question for you,” he told the crowd. “This is the 10th National Eucharistic Congress – do you think we should do an 11th one?” Some 60,000 Congress participants – representing 50 U.S. states, 17 countries, and various Eastern and Western Churches, and speaking over 40 languages – cheered wildly in the stadium. They also again rose to their feet to give the U.S. Cath-
olic bishops an enthusiastic standing ovation for making possible the five-day Congress with its impact sessions, breakout sessions, special events, revival nights with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction and vibrant Masses. The event reflected the diversity of a Church all united in the same Eucharistic Lord and eager to use their gifts for a new Pentecost in the Church. JOY AND REVERENCE The first day of the July 17-21 Congress began with an evening revival as the 30 perpetual pilgrims, who had walked the four National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes, took their final official steps of their eight-week journey into the stadium carrying icons of each route’s respective patron saints – St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, Continued on 10
August 2024
THE MONITOR MAGAZINE 9