Message from Bishop John
August 2024
CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Diocesan pilgrims gather for a group photo before an evening revival session at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 19, 2024. More than 50 parishioners from across the diocese attended the event.
National Eucharistic Congress
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Last month about fifty Catholics from the Diocese of Marquette and I attended the National Eucharistic Congress. More than 50,000 Catholics from across the country gathered in Indianapolis for 5 days to worship the Lord and give thanks for the ineffable gift of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. It is inspiring to worship the Lord with over 50,000 Catholics from across the country.
During the Congress, Masses were offered in English, Spanish, Latin, and in the Byzantine and Syro-Malabar Rites. Adoration was available at a church across the street from the convention center throughout the congress, and the church was full whenever I went in. Confessions were available for several hours every day, and there were many different speakers to choose from. Each evening there was a revival session in the football stadium that consisted of a holy hour, talks and music. On a Saturday afternoon, it was estimated that 40,000 people participated in a Eucharistic procession through downtown Indianapolis, which concluded with Benediction. The Congress closed with a Mass in the stadium on Sunday morning.
The Congress came at an important time for us. How many people are suffering from deep hurts and wounds in their lives? Does our country not need peace and healing? Through Jesus and the gift of the Eucharist, we can receive God’s love, peace and healing. Let us invite him into our lives! Let us ask him to heal our hearts! Let us ask him to heal our land!
One of the speakers referred to an important passage of Sacred Scripture in this regard: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
This passage outlines for us important steps for the Eucharistic Revival to be effective.
First, we need to humble ourselves. We need to recognize how much we need God. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot solve the world’s problems by ourselves. We need Him!
Second, we need to pray and seek the Lord’s face. We see His face in the Holy Eucharist. Let us devote ourselves to the reverent celebration of Holy Mass every Sunday and Holy Day! Let us take time to gaze on his face in Eucharistic adoration!
Third, we need to repent of our sins. Let us look at our own sins, not the sins of others. Let us not be obsessed with the speck in our neighbor’s eye when we forget the beam in our own (cf. Matthew 7:3). Healing and peace begin when we turn away from sin with God’s help and turn to the Lord. There will be no lasting healing and peace without repentance.
One can have a taste of the Congress by watching a number of the sessions that are available on YouTube. More content is available here:
Let us pray for the continued Eucharistic Revival in the United States.
+Most Reverend John F. Doerfler
Bishop of Marquette
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