by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
Recently, my wife, daughter and I visited family friends on the island of Maui.
As part of that experience, we went to Mass at St. Theresa Church in Kihei. The church was beautiful and full of welcoming, island hospitality.
We were very moved by the beauty of the music and the participation of the people in all phases of the Mass. The highlight of the Mass for me was the reverence, kindness and sincerity of the worshipers in response to the Scriptures, the Eucharist and each other.
While I cannot invite each of you to St. Theresa, I can invite you to an experience of great reverence, kindness and worshiper sincerity in response to the Scriptures, Eucharist and each other at the National Eucharist Congress, the first one in 83 years.
The National Eucharistic Congress will have liturgies with tens of thousands of Catholics that are worshiping with their whole hearts, minds and souls.
Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, Brothers and Sisters and all walks of lay faithful will be side by side for several days of study, worship and fellowship.
Our home parishes are precious, familiar eucharistic centers that fuel our hearts and family life, and we are grateful for our home parishes. But we are also part of a global church.
The National Eucharistic Congress will be a national experience of a global church. Every day at the congress is designed to facilitate a life-changing encounter with Jesus, regardless of where you are on your faith journey.
Attendees will select their preferred series of impact sessions for the morning as well as breakout sessions for the afternoon. Then, gathered together as one, the whole assembly will experience the powerful revival sessions in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis each evening.
In addition to national experiences, several regional Eucharistic Amazement experiences are also available.
Camp Tekakwitha will offer eucharistic catechesis and outdoor adventures to youth and families all summer. In May, “Behold KC” will be held at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. Both Kansas City dioceses are hosting this free evening of music, Mass and eucharistic adoration for families.
On June 25-29, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage is coming to Atchison, Topeka, Leawood and to the cathedral. All are invited for Mass, eucharistic adoration, testimony, fellowship, and to enkindle greater love of Jesus.
On July 17-21, the National Eucharistic Congress will bring 80,000 pilgrims together to grow as missionary disciples. Extensive information is available online at: archkck.org/eucharistic-revival.
