The 10th National Eucharistic Congress took place in the US city of Indianapolis from July 17 to 21, with more than 55,000 pilgrims joining in the 5-day event. The Shalom Catholic Community in Boston and New York sent a group of more than 25 people to experience together with the crowd of Catholics the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Father Cristiano Pinheiro, the Local Responsible person of Shalom in San Damiano Mission in the Diocese of Brooklyn remarks “This is the “tenth” edition of a National Eucharistic Congress in the USA. Around 44 years ago, a “tenth National Eucharistic Congress” was held in my home country, Brazil, in the city of Fortaleza. Pope St. John Paul II was present there, and during the offertory of the Mass, a 22-year-old man, Moyses Azevedo, presented a unique gift to the Pope: the offering of his own life for the Church, for the youth, and for mankind. He committed himself to evangelizing all people, especially young adults far from Christ and His Church. This moment was pivotal in the foundation of the Shalom Catholic Community a few years later.
In these past few days, at another tenth Eucharistic Congress, here in the USA, we had the chance to renew this life-offering experience. As a missionary in Brooklyn, New York, for nearly four years, I could revive this foundational moment for the Shalom Community’s Charism. I did this not alone but with a delegation of young adults who have already embraced the “Shalom Charism” here in the United States. This was truly an unparalleled experience, which I believe will bear many vocational and missionary fruits in the life of our Community in NYC and throughout the US, infused with the spirit of evangelization and holiness.”
The Eucharistic Congress was a true and profound experience with Jesus and His pilgrim Church in all its beauty and diversity, each moment was a great opportunity of growth, learning, and of sensing the power of the Holy Spirit, Pamela came from Queens, in New York and she states “Be part of the National Eucharistic Congress was such a great and unforgettable experience in my life, I would emphasized the profound significance of the Eucharist and its role in fostering unity and spiritual revival, Jesus in his divine condition became bread and wine to feed us. The Eucharist is an immense gift for unity and it transforms lives and helps the Church grow in unity and become more fruitful in its mission.
Looking at more than 50,000 people gathering to give glory and honor to the only one who saved us from death and gave us the promise of resurrection was completely outstanding. I felt the real presence of the Holy Spirit in every adoration, I cried, I surrendered everything to him, I offered my life, my gifts to him, and he answered to my prayers through the talks of all the people who spoke with wisdom, through every homily, through sharing with my brothers and sisters, through the adoration and songs, also in the silence of my prayer, and I would say my heart was touched by Jesus in his real presence through the Eucharist.”
Attending the Eucharistic Congress was a true experience of renewal in faith, through the Eucharistic Celebrations, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, talks, receiving the forgiveness of God through the sacrament of reconciliation and all the more the Congress had to offer.
Finally, the pilgrims rejoice with the fact that the pilgrimage does not end with the closing of the event in Indianapolis, the fruits of this experience are to bear fruits in their houses, colleges, and wherever they may go, the group of young adults of the Shalom Community felt this prompt of the Spirit to go forth, as Cardinal Tagle\ warmly expressed to all “We have received the gift of Jesus, let us go to proclaim Jesus zealously and joyfully for the life of the world”. Ibelin, the youngest pilgrim of the group, from the Bronx in New York, wants to respond to the Cardinal’s appeal as she affirms “My experience at the National Eucharistic Congress was one that cannot be forgotten. It was a truly visible and tangible expression of the Catholic faith and how significant it is to each and every one of our lives. Seeing the multitudes testifying to the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist spoke volumes on the love of Christ and how He calls us to live out our mission in this life. My faith has been strengthened and renewed and I am ready to go out and be a witness to our Lord who is ever present in the Eucharist.”
“Here I am lord, is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night I will go Lord, if you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart.” – Dan Schutte
