Dear Friends,
Did you follow the National Eucharistic Congress that took place in Indianapolis last month, from July 17-21? It was an inspirational and awe-inspiring event that created a sensation among the 50,000 plus Catholics present there and so many others who heard about it from them and from the media coverage.
There were many key-note speakers, break out sessions, exhibits, conferences, Mass, adoration and many other activities. In the evening, at Lucas Oil Stadium—a massive indoor and very cool-looking stadium of exposed girders and pipes and catwalks, a brilliant theater set of a stadium—thousands of people knelt in the half dark in adoration of the Eucharist as a simple song played quietly in the background (“Set a fire down in my soul, I want more of you God. No place I’d rather be than here in your love…”).
All these were meant to create a sense of Eucharistic fellowship and a greater understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist – not only for those present in Indianapolis, but also for all Catholics. Here are two ways in which it can happen:
First is through the “Walk with One” Initiative. At the sending-forth Mass on July 21, Pope Francis’ special envoy to the congress, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, delivered a homily with warmth, joy and humor that made participants both laugh and feel inspired as he told them, “A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people.” At the close of the congress, the Year of Mission was launched, during which the bishops are encouraging Catholics to take on the initiative of “walk with one” by accompanying and helping another person to better know Jesus. This “Walk with One” initiative of the Congress invites each Catholic to commit oneself to walking with one other person. Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, MN, board chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress, exhorted: “Commit yourself to becoming a Eucharistic missionary, someone who lives deeply a Eucharistic life, and having received that gift, allows themselves to be given as a gift.” You and I can do that by being a Eucharistic missionary to any one person we choose.
Second is through the witness of those 50, 000 who were at the Congress. They were fired up with power of the Holy Spirit to become Evangelizers of the mission of Jesus Christ. Some people described this event as a “mountaintop experience,” but it was not meant to be a spiritual high to be looked back upon with nostalgia and move on. Instead, the graces received at this great event are meant to go out, spiritually irrigating a parched land of the Catholic parishes of the United States.
We are very happy that two of our own parishioners – Bill Grippo and Emile Capuno – were there in person to attend this great event that was taking place in the US after 83 years! I requested them to share their reflections with us. So each Sunday, you will find portions of what they wrote in our bulletin. Kindly read it and let us all get a taste of what they experienced, and share in their enthusiasm.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal