The first National Eucharistic Congress in 83 years drew Arkanasans to Indianapolis July 17-21.
More than 60,0000 Catholics flocked to Lucas Oil Stadium to celebrate Mass in a host of languages, participate in activities and music and listen to some of well-known Catholic speakers.
Diane Hanley, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock, decided to attend the National Eucharistic Congress the moment she heard of it — while reading an article in Arkansas Catholic at the beginning of the three-year Eucharistic Revival.
“I love the Eucharist and wanted to honor Jesus by attending,” Hanley said. “I had been slightly aware of the International Congress back in 1976 … At first, I thought this gathering was going to be the same, but I later learned there has not been a National Eucharistic Congress in the U.S. since 1941. So that made this one a must-see event for my lifetime.”
Hanley, who attended with three friends, said it’s hard to pick a favorite part of the Congress because all of the different experiences came together to make “a beautiful mosaic.”
“The Shroud of Turin exhibit was profound, and the nightly Benediction filled my heart,” Hanley said. “The music was a perfect balance of praise and traditional Latin worship, with charismatic expression and even silence. The huge morning Masses were mind-boggling. In addition to the familiar ‘big name’ speakers we all love, I was stunned by the talk from Msgr. James Shea.
“One aspect that tied it all together was the joy and love shared by just being together with thousands of people who all love Jesus. Many people said it was like a taste of heaven, for that reason. All the fatigue and effort were being offered up to God, so complaints were minimal. Also, it was so encouraging to see the throngs of young vocations and large young families.”
After the Congress, Hanley said she is now more determined to live out her faith.
“I have more determination to be bold in speaking of God’s salvation, and especially of his gift to us in the Eucharist,” Hanley said. “Prayer and Mass are such a privilege. I feel personally beloved by Jesus, our Good Shepherd, and personally called to invite others to share his joy.”
Karen Taylor, a parishioner of St. Mary Church in Saint Vincent (Hattieville), has been following the activities and plans for the Eucharistic Revival from the beginning.
“My interest started with an interview I watched on EWTN with Bishop (Andrew) Cozzens (from the Diocese of Crookston, Minn.),” Taylor said. “I read everything I could find about it on the internet, and when I heard about the Congress, I felt called to go.”
Taylor prayed about it, and eventually sent a group text to her children and grandchildren informing them of her pilgrimage plans. Her middle son Charlie and daughter-in-law Patricia Osborn of nearby Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton made all of the arrangements.
Taylor said she has renewed gratitude since returning home from the Congress.
“I plan to say, ‘Thank you’ to our pastors a lot more often and hope that others will do the same,” Taylor said.
Charlie said he enjoyed the early morning rosary at the Congress, followed by “the most beautiful Mass ever.”
“You could really feel the presence of Jesus throughout the entire Mass,” Charlie said. “This experience has lead me to be a better member of my parish. I work a lot, (and) this conference has opened my eyes to how much respect I have for Father Hart and all the professionals leaders at Sacred Heart. I need to do more!”
Mailelani Lessenberry, a parishioner of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Bella Vista, attended the Congress with her mother, father and three siblings — brothers Noa, 16, and Kai, 13, and sister Alana, 10. The 17-year-old said her favorite part of the Congress was adoration.
“Every night during the Revival Sessions, we’d have about an hour of guided adoration in the Lucas Oil Stadium,” Lessenberry said. “It was an incredible experience. The music was amazing, and being in the stadium with 50,000-plus other Catholics, all adoring and worshiping the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Savior was something that I’ll never get to experience the same way again. It brought us all closer to Christ, and it was the highlight of my time at the Eucharistic Congress.”
“We wanted to attend the National Eucharistic Congress, because we wanted a family ‘vacation’ that would bring all of us closer to our faith,” said mom Jordyn Lessenberry. “If we never get to attend another Eucharistic Congress, this event will forever be the most important and significant experience I have ever attended.”
With the beginning of her freshman year at the University of Dallas right around the corner, Mailelani is more prepared than ever to start class.
“I actually plan on going to daily Mass and adoration as often as I can once I’m in college,” Lessenberry said. “There’s a chapel on campus, and I want to spend as much time there as possible to continue growing closer to Christ every day.”
Anna Woods, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton, attended the Congress with her father, Deacon Richard Papini of Conway.
Woods said she never could have imagined just how the Congress would impact her.
“The Eucharistic procession through downtown Indianapolis was amazing,” Woods said. “Seeing all the seminarians, sisters, priest, bishops and then the Eucharist process in front of you and then you join in the Eucharistic procession that just kept going and going. We are still so thankful and blessed we could be a part of this. Rewatching all the Masses and listening to the speakers, you feel being right there all over again…”
Woods is renewed with determination to be a disciple in her parish.
“Going forward, (I will be) continuing our mission of discipleship, sharing the love of Jesus to all, especially those most in need of his mercy and living a Eucharistic life, committing to the ‘Walk with One,’ — trying to get a loved one or friend to return to Church this year…” Woods said.
Father Stephen Hart, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and St. Elizabeth Church in Oppelo, said he attended the congress because he felt called to help hear confessions.
“Even though logistically I didn’t have everything figured out until a few weeks beforehand, everything turned out great,” Father Hart said. “I was happy to represent our diocese and my brother priests.”
Father Hart said his favorite thing about event is the same as one of his favorite things to do as a priest: hearing confessions.
“Helping people reconcile themselves to God the Father and to his Church makes everything in me light up,” Father Hart said.
Now that he has returned to his parishes, Father Hart is already thinking of ways to bring what he learned at the Congress to life back at home.
“Sacred Heart recently hosted a ‘Theology on Tap’ at a local brewery, and I talked about my experience of the congress,” Father Hart said. “I also invited several other Catholics in our local area to share their impressions as well. As a pastor, I want to help our faithful take the ‘Walk with One’ idea seriously; if everyone found and accompanied just one person who has been away from our Eucharist, what a difference it would make.”
