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July 21, 2024By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
Jesus features prominently in experiences shared by people from the Worcester Diocese who are attending the National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21 in Indianapolis.
“I’m learning a lot ... wanting more to know Jesus,” Mathews Souza, a 17-year-old from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford, told The Catholic Free Press by telephone Friday.
“They expose Jesus [in the host in the monstrance]. They start singing. For me [that] was the best part.”
He is with Mission Make Me Holy, a Brazilian program started at St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish in Worcester. Mission Make Me Holy took to the congress seven people from there and St. Mary of the Assumption, in a group of 16 that also included members of other dioceses, said Lucas Lima, one of the leaders.
“Everyone was here for the same purpose,” Mr. Souza said. “They’re not here because someone sent them. They’re here because they really want to meet Jesus ... and learn about him. I cried every single day I was here ... happy tears. ... Everything’s been so good.”
Breakout sessions of smaller groups that participants could choose from, he added.
“I have no words – it's such a tremendous experience,” said his fellow parishioner Evelyn Ferreira, 18. “I put my knees on the floor as soon as I received Jesus [in Communion]. I just started to cry. I got touched right away.”
She said this was her first time attending such a big event, with so many people from around the United States.
“I’ve learned so much,” she said. “God has talked to me. I’m so grateful that God has brought me” to experience it.
At night members of her group gather in the living room of their Airbnb and tell how Christ talked to them during the day, she said.
“I really wish that everyone could come here and experience this,” she added. “We’re not just here to meet people; we’re here to have a deeper experience with the Lord, a deeper knowledge” of him.
As a Mission Make Me Holy leader, she’s usually serving God and other people, but at the congress she is getting blessings for herself too, she said. She said one of the speakers talked about praying for yourself and receiving what the Lord has for you.
Miss Ferreira said she hopes to tell others how incredible the congress was; “I really want people to know God has so many plans for us.”
This was probably the first large event “I’ve been to without a pope,” said David Dziena, 53, of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, who has served at or attended World Youth Days, papal visits to the United States and a gathering at the Vatican for newly married couples.
“The Church in the United States is doing this on our own,” and still got a large crowd, he said of this week’s congress. “We’re here for Jesus,” he said, adding that papal events are about Jesus too, but the pope’s presence also draws people.
As vice president of publishing for Bayard Inc., the U.S. publishing arm of the Augustinians of the Assumption, Mr. Dziena is helping staff Bayard’s booth at the congress, but also got to attend some events there. (Bayard’s main U.S. office is at Assumption University in Worcester, and they seek Bishop McManus’ imprimatur for most of their publications, to ensure doctrinal accuracy, he said.)
For sale and viewing at their congress booth are some of their products, including devotionals like “Living Faith,” pastoral resources, sacramental preparation materials, and a religious education curriculum, Mr. Dziena said. An advertisement displayed on a large screen invited congress participants to enter a contest for a free trip to France with Bayard Pilgrimages in 2025.
Bayard is partnering with the Bernadette of Lourdes musical. A preview was shown at the Eucharistic Congress Thursday and some of the actors came and sang songs from it in English, Mr. Dziena said.
He also got to attend other parts of the congress. At eucharistic adoration he marveled at seeing an estimated 50,000 people, most able to kneel, keeping silence between songs.
“It was pretty intense, no talking, everybody was really in the moment ... praying together,” he said.
Some crying babies broke the silence, and Mr. Dziena rejoiced at the universality of the Church displayed at the congress.
“There are lots of young families ... lots of young people. ... You have young and old together,” he observed. “There’s such a mix of spiritualities,” with Masses in different rites and languages, and music ranging from Catholic praise and worship to Latin chant. Speakers included lay men and women, religious sisters, priests and bishops, he said.
He especially appreciated a talk by Father Michael Schmitz, known for his “The Bible in a Year” podcast, and other presentations of the faith.
“It’s the first time I heard him speak in person,” Mr. Dziena said. “For a very popular priest speaker, he seemed extremely humble. ... He was really believing what he was saying, talking about faith in Jesus and the Eucharist.”
