by Joe Bollig
joe.bollig@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan — This coming July more than 80,000 Catholics from across the United States will be in Illinois for a once-in-a-lifetime event — and you can be part of it.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and about 200 archdiocesan Catholics will be among the thousands who will gather July 17-21 at the Lucas Oil Dome in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
The event’s purpose is “about encounter and mission,” according to Deacon Dana Nearmyer, archdiocesan director of evangelization.
It’s about Catholics going boldly on mission to invite the world to a life-changing relationship by being “healed, formed, converted and unified” through a renewed encounter with the Eucharist,” he said, and then being sent on mission for the Year of Mission, June 2024-June 2025.
“Archbishop Naumann would like to see representatives from each of our parishes go to Indianapolis for this week of equipping,” said Deacon Nearmyer. “The top teachers and preachers in the country — men, women, lay, clergy, consecrated — will all be there.”
The archbishop hopes those archdiocesan Catholics who accompany him will bring back more than great memories.
“[The archbishop] hopes that they’ll bring back that energy and learning into their parish and be able to use that time of equipping as a springboard for them to host learning events [and other things] that are transformative,” said Deacon Nearmyer.
There will be plenty to do and see every day at the congress. Those who attend will choose impact sessions with speakers for the morning and breakout sessions in the afternoon. Each evening will have revival sessions. There will be daily opportunities for Mass, eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation.
The exposition hall will feature displays of all sorts of apostolates, ministries, religious orders, publishers and other vendors. And there will be opportunities to see a bit of the town.
Evangelization is a big part of this.
“We’re evangelizing ourselves and all of our loved ones,” said Deacon Nearmyer. “We’re trying to draw near to the Lord. We don’t see it as this binary switch for most people. It tends to be a slide switch where we gradually get closer and closer to Jesus throughout our lives.
“We don’t think it’s just us bringing this God who is foreign to people into their lives. They were created by Jesus, so this spark of divinity is in everyone. But we want to help people draw it out and recognize the miracles that surround them.”
The congress has allotted 200 tickets to the archdiocese and so far, 110 have been bought. To help local Catholics attend the event, the archdiocese is working with a Catholic-owned travel agency to offer a bundle that includes congress event passes and downtown accommodations. (See below.)
Join the Eucharistic Congress
Sign up to join the archdiocesan group at the Eucharistic Congress and take advantage of a customized package.
The bundle includes a round-trip motorcoach option from Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kansas, to the event. The motorcoach details may be found in the registration process.
For event registration (for the first 200 to register), adult pricing is $879 for a triple/quad persons; $1,079 for a double; and $1,579 for a single. Family pricing is $100 off the adult prices for children ages 3 to 18, and free for “lap children” up to 2 years old when rooming with two paying adults in double occupancy.
To register for the archdiocesan package:
Click here, then, click on the “Link to Register” button which will take you to the Corporate Travel page. Enter the required information.
Next, return to the “2024 Eucharistic Congress” page, scroll down to “3 steps for You” and hit the “Link to Secure Hotel.” Enter the required information.
Return to the “2024 Eucharistic Congress” page again and follow the instructions under “3 Steps for You” beginning with STEP ONE.
More information is available in the four-page flyer “Pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress” at the bottom of the page.
To access the 10th National Eucharistic Congress official website, go online to: www.eucharisticcongress.org.
