Arizonans reflect on National Eucharistic Congress

August 27, 2024

Dozens of Catholics from the Diocese of Tucson attended the National Eucharistic Congress this July in Indiana. They joined over 50,000 Catholics from across the nation in a revival of relationship with Christ present in the Eucharist. Below, enjoy reflections from local Catholics:

"The Catholic Church is alive and well" by Rob Weierman, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Tucson
"Bringing the Eucharistic Revival home to Arizona" by Teresa Marchuk, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Yuma
"National Eucharistic Congress was a time of healing" by Michele Dominguez, Immaculate Conception Parish, Yuma
"‘We are ready’ to evangelize during the Eucharistic year of mission" by Fr. Emilio Chapa, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Yuma
"Eucharistic Adoration allows Christ’s love to ‘spill over into daily life’" by Gricelda La Turco, Santa Cruz Parish, Tucson

The Catholic Church is alive and well

By Rob Weierman, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Tucson

The National Eucharistic Congress was truly amazing! Anyone who is concerned that the Catholic Church is on its last leg, I can assure you it is alive and well!

The first thing that struck me was that, everywhere I looked there were flocks of nuns of all different religious orders, priests galore, and families who took time off from work and made this their family summer vacation. Centered around Christ in the Eucharist, the Masses packed Lucas Oil Stadium. Some sat on hard bleacher seats and even knelt on concrete in Adoration of the Greatest Love the world has ever known.

I pray that everyone in my parish will come to know this Love and make it a priority to receive Him in the Eucharist every Sunday and maybe even commit to spending some quiet one-on-one time with Him in Adoration on Wednesdays. Doing so will transform your lives. I guarantee it.

Bringing the Eucharistic Revival home to Arizona

By Teresa Marchuk, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Yuma

The National Eucharistic Congress was a big blessing, and I was even more blessed that our Lord allowed me to attend. I returned home to Yuma with many teachings, blessings, and miracles that I received during the Congress, hearing all of the speakers, including the Priests and Sisters preaching with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Being on fire for Jesus is how he expects us to be always.

Fr. Mike Schmitz said, "From Ignorance to Knowledge." Yes, this is how our Lord expects us to be knowledgeable not ignorant on his word. His

preachings of the existing Jesus in the Eucharist were so powerful. What also impacted me as well is hearing Sister Olga’s testimonies about the Miracles in the Eucharist healing, I never doubted before that Jesus is in the Eucharist, but this assured me even more of what I already knew before.

In one of the classes I attended, it was taught that scientists have proven that the body and blood exists in the Eucharist. Also, the Sanctus (Chant Mass) given by a bishop from India on Saturday was incredibly beautiful.

The procession on Saturday was very well organized and beautiful too. During this Congress, it was amazing experience to see many priests, nuns, sisters, bishops, and cardinals.
I will bring the whole Congress with me, and it will stay in me forever. Everything it was amazing, even though, it was over 50,000 people at the Congress, it was not enough, and I believe the National Eucharistic Congress should happen more often.

National Eucharistic Congress was a time of healing

By Michele Dominguez, Immaculate Conception Parish, Yuma

I attended the National Eucharistic Congress with Fr. Emilio Chapa and Fr. Roberto Villablanca. I was compelled to attend after watching the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage across the United States.
When we were there, we were ‘in the world’ but in a Catholic bubble too. Everyone was cordial, respectful, patient, and there was no foul language. The speakers were awesome, and everyone can see their talks online.

I was in the encounter session on healing. The emcee, Katie McGrady, said,

"God runs after us." Patrick Madrid followed up with, "You have been chosen," Then Tony Melendez sang, "We need to just breath HIM in. He doesn't want something from me, He has something for me." Dr. Mary Healy and Fr. Marhis said, "He wants to heal our deepest wounds/sins. Most of all physical healings are the result of spiritual healing. So pray BIG."

I also enjoyed the session titled “Gift and Grit” with Dr. Andrew and Sarah Swafford. They spoke of looking at your spouse as a gift and having the grit to get through the tough times because there will be tough times. Also, looking inward, are we afraid of being seen with Jesus or by Jesus?It was a wonderful experience, and my pastor wants us to meet to make plans for activities so we can share our experiences with the rest of our community.

‘We are ready’ to evangelize during the Eucharistic year of mission

By Fr. Emilio Chapa, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Yuma

The National Eucharistic Congress was incredible, and it definitely accomplished what it intended to accomplish: a revival in faith and love of the Eucharist. The event was so powerful in so many ways and it will take weeks if not months and years to unpack the graces that we all received. Ten of us attended from Yuma. There were so many wonderful speakers, of course, Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Cardinal Luis Tagle, and so many more. We had many grace-filled moments of Eucharistic Adoration, in silence, in procession, and in worship.

There were the relics of Saint John Paul II, Saint Maria Goretti, Blessed Carlo Acutis (who is the first beatified Millennial), and so many others. Blessed Carlo called the Eucharist, "My highway to heaven," and he said, "People who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints." We were blessed with the musical talents of Matt Maher, who is one of my favorite musicians. He sang for our Saturday evening time of Adoration. It was so moving because I love his songs; they move the soul up to the Father in Heaven in my view.

There were two moments that stood out to me:

First was the Eucharistic procession with over 50 thousand people participating by walking through downtown Indianapolis with the Eucharist in a decorated float. Little children who had just made their First Communion led the way in their First Communion clothes and spread flower pedals on the streets that the Eucharist would pass through. Then came the religious sisters and deacons and priests. Finally, the bishops and the float with the Eucharist, followed by all the lay people. I heard there were between one and two thousand priests, all wearing an alb or cassock and surplice and a white stole. I was of course with the priests and, as we walked by, some of the people lining the sides of the streets would say things like, "Thank you, Fathers!"

"Thank you for bringing us Jesus. God bless you!" We very much appreciated the affirmations, but mostly it is a tribute to the gift of God in the priesthood, which no one deserves, but is a blessing to us all.
The second moment was a talk given to us priests by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota. Bishop Cozzens was one of the main organizers of the Congress. He gave a powerful testimony of some of his struggles when he was a new Bishop at a very difficult time in his diocese, and how he had to rely on prayer and placing his struggles and fears on the paten as he celebrated Mass, to get him through that difficult time. It was in uniting his sufferings to

the sacrifice of Christ at the Mass that he drew the strength to carry on. He said it in such an eloquent and meaningful way to us priests. There were of course many other moments but, as I said, it will take much time to continue to reflect on them. The final point is that those of us who were blessed to attend are ready to bring new ideas and opportunities for revival in our own community. We have much work to do still, we cannot keep these blessings to ourselves, but as was mentioned in the Congress, we must share these blessings now with all we encounter. We are ready to do it!

Eucharistic Adoration allows Christ’s love to ‘spill over into daily life’

By Gricelda La Turco, Santa Cruz Parish, Tucson

I was blessed to have the opportunity to attend the National Eucharistic Congress this past July in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jesus was there!

For five days, we spent time with our Lord in Adoration, prayer, and worship. It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by more than 60,000 faithful Catholics united by the love of the Eucharist.

The National Eucharistic Congress was a historic movement for our Church. It was an experience like no other.

We began each day with a daily Rosary and Mass and participated in daily breakout and impact sessions where we learned more about our faith and how we can share the love of the Eucharist in our lives. Many priests were available all day, every day to provide an opportunity for all to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This was a beautiful reminder that the healing we seek through the body of Christ begins with repentance.
It was an amazing experience to gather with so many people in praise and worship. Words cannot express the love of Christ that filled the Lucas Oil Stadium and downtown streets of Indianapolis during these days. I was awestruck seeing the B

lessed Sacrament slowly process into the Lucas Oil Stadium every night, surrounded by so many faithful in Adoration. I realized that spending this intimate time with our Lord in Adoration, we invite His love to spill over into our daily life and how we see and treat others. This was truly reflected in all the pleasant and joyful people we encountered at the NEC.

The Saturday outdoor procession of the Eucharist was also a pivotal moment of the Congress, where over 50,000 of our Catholic brothers and sisters lined and walked the downtown streets of Indianapolis, publicly professing our faith in His Real Presence in the Eucharist.

Attending the NEC was a transformative experience. I learned that Jesus is not only present in our church tabernacles, during Adoration, but also within the hearts of all believers who receive Him at Mass. We go to Mass to receive Jesus and become living tabernacles, bringing Jesus out into the world. Nowhere are we closer to Jesus than in the Eucharist. He unifies us in His Real Presence where He heals and transforms us. I hope to continue to spread this message by spreading His love through my own actions and encouraging my family and friends to return to Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We need to transform our world into a world that loves as Jesus loves, and that love begins with you and me.

Our Lord is alive in the Eucharist and that is where we encounter His love.