The 10th National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21 in Indianapolis is an opportunity to “come together in faith, as brothers and sisters,” said Jaime Reyna, who is responsible for the congress’ multiculturalism and inclusiveness.
There will be many opportunities to grow in faith, experience personal renewal and praise Jesus in the Eucharist. And many of these opportunities will be available in Spanish, Reyna added as he extended an invitation to the Hispanic community and answered the question that many people who call the organizers’ offices have.
“The congress is going to offer Masses in Spanish, presentations in Spanish,” and the sessions in English will be translated into Spanish, Reyna said. This congress is a great chance, he stressed, “to give glory to our Lord because it was necessary for our Church (to show) that we are all united saying that we love and believe in Jesus in the Eucharist.”
The event is expected to draw tens of thousands of Catholics of all ages to participate in worship, prayer and moments of formation and unity in Christ. It will begin on the evening of July 17 by uniting the four routes of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and culminating with the arrival of the eucharistic Jesus to Lucas Oil Stadium. The opening ceremony will include testimonies (in English), speeches, prayer and eucharistic adoration.
Organizers said each day is designed to facilitate an encounter with Jesus. After morning Mass, attendees can go to impact sessions in the morning — with the themes Encounter, Encuentro, Empower, Renewal, Cultivate, Awaken and Abide — and breakout sessions in the afternoon.
The Encuentro sessions are for Hispanic Catholics “who desire a deeper renewal of their faith and a richer understanding of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, and who are wondering what the next step will be in their faith journey,” according to the conference website.
It also is a time for people serving in different ministries to stand alongside other laypeople from across the U.S. who have the same desire to give glory to God, Reyna said. “I hope these sessions touch the hearts of those present.”
Speakers for the Spanish-language impact sessions include Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas; Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio; Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat of New York; Kathia Arango, director of the Office for Hispanic Catholics of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and chair of the National Hispanic Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the U.S. and Canada; Mabel Suarez, current representative of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Region 8; and Dora Tobar, international speaker and researcher in theology and family ministry.
Andrés Arango, director of evangelization for the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, will moderate the sessions, with Nico Cabrera and Kairy Márquez leading moments of praise and worship. “Aside from the presentations, we want to be united in prayer,” said Reyna, adding that even for bilingual people, having opportunities to pray in Spanish is very important.
By choosing one of the afternoon breakout sessions (July 18-20), attendees will focus on topics like how to explore strategies to ensure that people with disabilities fully celebrate the sacraments and how the Eucharist calls us to listen to the cry of the poor and respond to Jesus’ command in the Gospel to “feed the hungry.”
Speakers for the Spanish-language breakout sessions include theologian Hosffman Ospino from Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry and Marilyn Santos, associate director of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Additionally, well-known Latino speakers, such as singer and guitarist Tony Melendez, will give talks in English.
After the sessions, tens of thousands of Catholics will process through the streets of Indianapolis “adoring our Lord Jesus Christ, as we do on the feast of Corpus Christi,” Reyna said.
The National Eucharistic Congress is part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative launched by the U.S. bishops in 2022 to deepen Catholics’ relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.
In Indianapolis, all attendees may attend evening revival sessions (in English but will be translated) that will feature profound discourses on God’s love and times of eucharistic adoration accompanied by sacred music and moments of silence to contemplate the Lord.
On the closing morning of the congress, Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Miami-based religious order Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and Chris Stefanick, a popular speaker and president of Real Life Catholic, will lead a revival session on how to become eucharistic missionaries. The final liturgy with the papal delegate will be followed by eucharistic adoration. The congress will conclude with a grand commission to joyfully proclaim the Gospel, kicking off the National Eucharistic Revival’s Year of Mission.