Celebrating our Catholic Faith

The crowds are enormous, and you find everything: the homeschool family with kids in matching dresses and shirts, a priest on a Segway, one with a pierced ear, and another with a cassock. Girls with pink-green striped hair dressed in shorts, others with a long dress. Youth groups with matching T-shirts and ladies in designer clothes on high heels.
 
All are here for the same purpose: to witness that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, to celebrate their faith, to witness, to invite others, and to deepen their insight and knowledge. There is 24/7 adoration, long lines for confession, and energizing music. It is like a feast for the whole family of Christ.
 
In the evening, the 50,000 participants gathered in the Lucas Oil Stadium for a preview of the musical Bernadette, which premiered in France and will come to the U.S. next year. Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, the founder of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, shared powerful conversion stories based on the faith in the Eucharist.
 
In the middle some prominent names: Fr. Mike Schmitz, who invites the audience to reflect on the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “You know the story.” Jesus explained to them why He had to sacrifice Himself for our salvation, and the eyes of the disciples were opened. And today? “We often have the knowledge, but we just don’t care.” The remedy for indifference is love, “and the road to love is repentance – you can never have a revival without repentance.”
 
Jesus is present to transform our hearts, “but I need to repent.” Fr. Mike Schmitz invited everyone to think about returning home after the Congress: “What are the ‘fire extinguishers’ in your life?” meaning, what hinders each one to keep our hearts on fire for the Lord.
 
The evening culminated in Adoration with chants sung by Floriani, a men’s vocal ensemble dedicated to liturgical music.
 
Friday started with the same depth and energy at the same time – the rosary in the stadium, and Mass with Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. In his sermon, he highlighted that the Eucharist prompts us to live with the compassion of Christ. The Eucharist calls us to reverence, but also to service, “otherwise we fail to capture the essence.” Despite all the challenges that we face, “Christ will never leave us, He stays with us as a companion and food for the journey.” Deacon Javier Ebertowski and Deacon Luis Lozano were among the deacons serving at the Mass.