The National Eucharistic Congress

By Fr. Jim Berning, SDB

(Chicago, IL – July 31) – The National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in Indianapolis, IN brought some 70,000 participants together from July 17 to 21. The registration showed the enormity of the event; the line extended around the entire Indiana Convention Center. The days began with Masses in the Lucas Arena and in the Convention center followed by “impact sessions” from speakers such as Bishop Robert Barron (priests track) and musician Mr. Steve Angrisano (family track).

The exhibition hall and breakout sessions took place in the afternoons, and the days concluded with adoration in the stadium.

The exhibit booth for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians provided an all-round oratorian experience. With a welcome presence of 14 religious, there were games to be played; handouts to be given out; and an experience of prayer with the relics of Sts. John Bosco, Mary Mazzarello, Francis de Sales, Artemides Zatti, and Dominic Savio. Families often returned to the booth to get another Salesian dose of home, faith and fun.

While participants were both young and old, what was noteworthy about the not-so-young participants was their faithful commitment despite the demands of extensive walking. Some hobbled through it, others waddled, and some were in wheelchairs. They modeled the crowds in the recent Sunday liturgies (Mk. 6:30-34 and Jn. 6:1-15) that sought out to meet the Lord, and in John’s Gospel, the crowds were fed with bread that pointed to a Eucharistic meal.

The NEC was a pilgrimage experience of encounter with the Eucharistic Lord. Over the weekend, the crowds pressed into the Indy streets walking behind first communicants from different dioceses across the nation. With the closing Mass on Sunday, the crowds were sent back to their homes to be missionaries of all they had experienced.