A Reflection on the 10th National Eucharistic Congress by Steve Baroni

I spent five days with Jesus in July! I know that is a bold statement, but it is true. I attended the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in Indianapolis July 17 – 21. Called by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the NEC was part of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival which began in 2021. While our nation’s 10^th National Eucharistic Congress, it is the first one in 83 years. Since I was not around for that last one, and not sure if I will be around for the next, I decided to journey to Indianapolis to attend, unsure of what to expect, but open to whatever awaited me.

What awaited me was a transformational moment in my faith journey. As Bishop Andrew Cousins would say to close out the Congress on Sunday, it was a glimpse of Heaven. My daughter and I gathered in Lucas Oil Stadium on the first night with over 55,000 Catholics from all fifty states; all were different ages, races, and backgrounds. The Congress was attended by 200 Bishops and over 3000 priests, religious brothers and sisters, deacons, and seminarians. The evening started with short videos of the four pilgrimages which had begun in mid-May from four different corners of our country – San Francisco, Bemidji, Minnesota, New Haven, Connecticut and Brownsville, Texas. Four dozen pilgrims – mostly young adults, processed from these four locations to converge on Indianapolis on July 16^th. After members of those groups processed into the stadium to loud ovations, the lights were dimmed, and the guest of honor processed in – Jesus. Bishop Cousins led our first Eucharistic adoration by saying he wanted to give Jesus the first word. For those first few minutes of adoration, the stadium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was a powerful and moving experience, and one I looked forward to each of the following three evenings.

The Congress started each day with optional Rosary and Daily Mass in the stadium. Morning and afternoon sessions were led by over 150 speakers and musicians, in two languages, on topics such as the Eucharist and Evangelization. There were breakout sessions for men, women, families, youth, and priests. There was a concert stage, and a bustling exhibit hall with over one hundred exhibitors. St. John’s Parish was right across the street from the convention center, and people went in and out of it all day and night for quiet prayer and adoration.

Each evening, we gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for keynote addresses from Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Religious Sisters, and Lay persons.

The Congress organized outreach to the community. Attendees took time to make thousands of sandwiches throughout the five days to feed the poor and homeless. It was uplifting to see attendees take time to speak with the unhoused people on the street corners and under the bridges near the convention center. I was deeply moved to see one unhoused man that was near the convention center all week, walking in the Eucharistic procession with a group of attendees and tens of thousands of others as it processed through downtown Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

I left the Congress grateful for having encountered Christ in a deeper way in the Eucharist and in other people. I have a renewed hunger to receive our Lord in the Eucharist, and to share Him with others. I have a renewed hope for a revival within our Church.

In closing the Congress on Sunday, Bishop Cousins announced that the next Eucharistic Congress will be in 2033 to celebrate the 2000^th year anniversary of our risen Lord. The crowd roared with approval. I can’t wait.