Seminarians Reflect on their Time at the Eucharistic Congress

The Eucharistic Congress has reminded me of the unity of the Catholic Church. During the Congress, Masses were celebrated across different areas in the morning and afternoon. The mornings had one Mass in Lucas Oil Stadium and two in the convention center halls. The final Mass was celebrated with everyone together in the stadium. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was held in the stadium each night. A church across the street offered Perpetual Adoration which was attended by many.
 
Another big event was the Eucharistic Procession with thousands lining the streets and following the Eucharist to the final destination for Benediction. During all of this the Lord put the same thoughts on my heart. No matter how many thousands are gathered for stadium Masses or processions or Adoration, Jesus in the Eucharist is the same everywhere. If there is one person adoring in a small chapel in a remote place, He is still fully God with them. He does not pick favorites or choose who He visits. Jesus Christ comes to, and for, each of us in the Eucharist.
 
Each Mass brings us to Calvary. We participate in the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord. The whole universal Church is united around each altar. Each of us is united with all the angels and saints around the sacrifice of the Mass.
 
As big as Lucas Oil Stadium is, it is not enough to contain the full bride of Christ that surrounds each altar. With that comes the other side of the spectrum. If you are in your own parish, early in the morning with only a few people gathered for daily Mass, you are united with the whole Church and Jesus is there.
 
Jesus Christ gave everything for each of us no matter how many or few we perceive gathered around the altar. His love is poured out for us that all might come to deeper communion with Himself and the Holy Trinity, which is ultimately what we have been made for.

• Luke Fuller Immaculate Conception Seminary Seton Hall

When I was first invited to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, I was unsure what the event would be like. I had not done much research at the time, and I did not realize how huge and monumental this gathering would be. When we arrived at the Indianapolis Convention Center and, later, the breathtaking Lucas Oil Stadium, all my expectations were blown away.
 
I was suddenly surrounded by thousands of Catholics from across the country, and while I had never met most of these people before, I immediately knew I was among family. All of us were connected through our love of the Church, our Lord and His presence in the Eucharist.
 
While every moment of the Congress was so beautiful, there was one that really stands out to me. Every night we would have a revival session where everyone would gather in Lucas Oil Stadium for talks, singing and Adoration.
 
The very first of these events started with introducing the groups who had traveled from the North, South, East, and West of the United States in four Eucharistic pro[1]cessions, making a cross across the whole country, and ending in Indianapolis.
 
Each time a new group was introduced, the entire stadium would erupt in applause, cheers, and yells of joy. (There was one very enthusiastic group behind us I recall that left my ears ringing after each group came out!) However, as soon as the last group finished, an announcement was made for everyone to kneel, and a procession came out carrying our Lord in a monstrance. The stadium went totally silent. Not a sound.
 
The people who had just been screaming and cheering a few seconds ago were now silently and reverently worshiping our Lord. That’s the power of our God. That’s the healing we all need in this chaotic world desperately searching for love, peace, and happiness.

• David Watchorn St. Andrew’s College Seminary Seton Hall 

​As 50,000+ Catholics gathered in Indianapolis from around the country, amid the large crowd I asked myself, “Is this a glimpse of heaven?” I couldn’t help but believe it was as we walked into Lucas Oil stadium and adored our Lord in the Eucharist. Bishop Cozzens, Bishop of Crookston, Minn., led exposition the first night with words that touched my heart. “We did this for you Jesus, we did all this for you.” The center of our lives was the center of attention. Meditating on Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist I also pondered on the idea of how the apostles felt with Jesus in their midst. Our human nature struggles with the things we cannot see, could it be that Jesus is just as present to us in this sacrament as he was to his disciples at the last supper?
 
If we believe in His Real Presence, we should run to Him in this sacrament of His love. He waits for us with a longing to be with us, each one of us. He desires us to come to Him and talk to Him as if we are talking to a loved one. Pour your heart out to Him and tell him all your struggles, fears, doubts, anxieties, all your joys, blessings, desires for the future. You can surely pray to Him from your room, but would you rather talk to a loved one on the phone or rather in person face to face? I challenge those who have not been to adoration to visit Jesus who desires to see you very much. Think about it, if the woman with the hemorrhage was healed from just touching the tassel of Jesus’ cloak because of her faith, how much more can Jesus heal us when we consume Him with living faith in the Eucharist? May our Eucharistic Lord bless you all abundantly as we experience the fruits of the Eucharistic Revival in our country. The Revival did not end in Indianapolis: it is only the beginning.

•  Jonathan Abouhayla Immaculate Conception Seminary Seton Hall