August 2024

By Fr. Tony Cecil

In mid-July, about 60,000 people from across the country gathered in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress – the first event of its kind in 83 years. The Congress served as a launching point for the third year of the National Eucharistic Revival – a movement to rekindle our faith in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist, and the transformative effect this reality can have on our own lives.

This Congress launches the Church in our country into a year of mission. Cardinal Luis Tagle, who was the Holy Father’s representative to the Congress, spoke well of this in his homily at the closing Mass, saying, “A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people. We have received Jesus! Let us go proclaim Him joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!” As followers of Christ, we are not meant to keep our relationship with Jesus to ourselves – as Bishop Robert Barron said at the Congress, “Your Christianity is not for you! It is for the world!” If we desire to be true disciples of Jesus, we must share Him with the world around us.

There were many ways this took shape at the Congress: I’ve heard several stories of Uber and Lyft drivers who were positively impacted by the joyful witness of those attending the Congress – participants packed hundreds of thousands of meals for those in the area experiencing food insecurity – but the most striking example, to me, was a simple moment during the Eucharistic Procession.

With the help of local police, a large portion of downtown Indianapolis closed down, with well over 50,000 people lining the streets of the procession route. Children who recently made their First Holy Communion led the procession, dropping rose petals on the ground as they walked. Following the children were hundreds of religious sisters, seminarians, deacons, priests, and bishops – all leading the Eucharist through the city, with the people lining the streets joining the procession as it passed by.

As we were walking, I was particularly struck by one woman in the crowd. She was wearing a chef’s hat and kitchen uniform – evidently an employee of a downtown restaurant, who came outside as the priests were passing by. The look on her face revealed so much: she at once probably had no idea what was going on, and yet at the same time, could tell that it was something special and holy, was captivated by it, and wanted to be a part of it. After the procession ended and I was walking back to the stadium, I passed that same restaurant, and inside, saw the same woman with a big smile on her face, speaking with Conference participants who were now coming in for an early dinner. I’m convinced that through the love, celebration, and reverence shown to Jesus in the procession, that woman encountered Him and His love for her that day.

This is what our faith is all about: realizing how deeply Jesus loves us – and loves us personally – while at the same time, realizing that we simply cannot keep that love to ourselves. As the Church in our country enters into this year of Eucharistic mission, let’s approach our Eucharistic Lord in a new way: not simply moving through the motions as we may fall into, but instead, opening our hearts to the transformation that He desires, and sharing His love with all that we encounter.

St. Raphael the Archangel, where Fr. Tony Cecil is pastor, is hosting a follow-up event for those who attended the National Eucharistic Congress. Click here to learn more.

See Fr. Bill Hammer, pastor of St. Margaret Mary and St. William Parishes, and Jason Hall, Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, join Dr. Brian Reynolds, Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Fr. Bill and Jason discuss elections and what the Church says about Catholic involvement in voting and in public affairs.

New episodes of What's New in ArchLou will be available on the first Tuesday of each month here.

Below is the reflection given by Archdiocesan Archivist Tim Tomes at the Prayer Service for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as the pilgrims passed from our Archdiocese into the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.