The dynamic spiritual impact of our Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, held two weeks ago at St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee, was truly remarkable.
Experiencing more than 1,300 people gathered to draw closer to Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist, seeing and feeling the graces and inspiration given in so many ways, drawn into the power of the Gospel through the sacramental and prayer life of the Church, I palpably witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit!
Memorable moments
Certain moments stand out for me.
Fr. John Riccardo spoke on Friday night about our need to witness our faith in Christ through reconciliation, reminding us that politics will not unify or heal our country.
He pointed to the prophetic examples of Rosa Parks, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, and the Polish priest who met with Rudolf Hess, the commandant of Auschwitz, before the latter’s execution.
Only the love of Jesus Christ can heal and reconcile our broken world.
Fr. Craig Vasek reflected on the moment when he personally realized that the Eucharist is truly God in physical form and the difference this astonishing spiritual insight made in his life.
The Book of Revelation has many fantastic scenes and images — supernatural battles between God and Satan, the final judgment of the world, pools of sulphur and fire, but it ultimately details the liturgical life of Heaven, as the angels and saints, vast multitudes of people, and indeed, all of creation, worship, glorify, and praise God with the Lamb at the center of the throne. The Eucharist is the center of our relationship with God.
Fr. Agustín de la Vega and Andres Arango spoke to the Hispanic community about the Eucharist as sacrifice, Real Presence, and communion, reinforcing the intimate link between the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, the total giving of Jesus on the cross, and His risen presence, all of which continue through time and space in the power and mystery of the Mass.
Helen Alvaré witnessed to the Eucharist as the sacred place where the divine meets the human, where eternity enters into time, and the invisible world becomes profoundly apparent to us in the complete gift of Christ’s self-offering.
Reflecting on the recent loss of her husband, she connected our experiences of loving human relationships with the desire of God to be in an eternal union with us, a communion consummated in the total sacrifice of the Cross.
The Masses were stunningly beautiful, with exceptional music from John Sittard and the diocesan choir, excellent preaching from Fr. David Carrano and Msgr. James Bartylla, the seminarians serving with reverence and attention, and hundreds and hundreds of people profoundly praying the Mass and entering into the worship of God with a love and devotion that were a sheer joy to behold!
Scores of our priests made themselves generously available for Confessions, and they were busy all three days, celebrating the gift of Jesus’ forgiveness and mercy with His people.
Hundreds of volunteers helped to direct, feed, counsel, and pray with the attendees.
In the dozens of conversations I had during the Congress, everyone exuded joy, enthusiasm, faith, and peace, many with tears in their eyes, as they related how the weekend had deepened their Eucharistic understanding, belief, and gratitude.
Many thanks
I profoundly thank Deacon Todd Burud who spent 18 months organizing, preparing, and leading the massive effort to make our first diocesan Eucharistic Congress such a beautiful reality.
Many thanks to his team; the Office of Worship; Fr. Greg Ihm; Msgr. James Gunn; Frs. Joe Baker, Enan Zelinski, Simon Tipps, and the staff and parishioners at St. John the Baptist Parish; our priests, deacons, and Religious; the presenters; our seminarians; the hundreds of volunteers from the Knights of Columbus, the Men of Christ, the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; and everyone else who helped in any way!
As we continue in the spirit of the Eucharistic Revival, we ask the Lord Jesus to set our hearts on fire, as assuredly as the hearts of the disciples on the road to Emmaus were set on fire, as they listened to Jesus proclaim the Good News of the Scriptures to them.
We also ask the Lord that our eyes may be opened to the wonder of the Eucharistic mystery, as the disciples’ eyes were opened when the Lord took the bread, blessed, and broke it at the end of that day.
Like those two disciples, we go forth to joyfully proclaim the power of the Resurrection, made manifest to us in the Eucharist.