Seek unity and friendship with Jesus through the Eucharist, Bishop Jugis preaches at closing Mass for 15th Eucharistic Congress
CHARLOTTE — “O God beyond all praising, we worship you today and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay…”
Joyfully singing hymns of praise including “O God Beyond All Praising,” more than 10,000 people gathered inside the Charlotte Convention Center with Bishop Peter Jugis and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte Sept. 7 to conclude the 15th annual Eucharistic Congress.
The annual two-day event featured talks in English, Spanish and Vietnamese throughout the day Saturday, along with Eucharistic Adoration, a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of uptown Charlotte, priests offering the sacrament of confession, vendors offering Catholic merchandise and information, and more.
“Today is a day for us to encourage each other in this great opportunity of worship,” Bishop Jugis said in his welcoming remarks. “May today assist us in growing in awe and amazement in the Eucharist. May our participation in the Eucharistic Congress deepen an appreciation of devotion to Our Lord.”
The Holy Hour featured a homily from the diocese’s new vicar general and chancellor, Father Patrick Winslow.
The events of Jesus’ death and resurrection provide a narrative that illuminates and gives meaning to our lives, Father Winslow said.
On the road to Emmaus Jesus aids the two disciples’ understanding, connecting the facts of scripture, His death and resurrection into a narrative that conveys the Paschal mystery and the story of salvation, Father Winslow said. And the same can be said for us today.
“‘Stay with us’: Here the men say what we all feel. We do not want to return to our confusion and misunderstanding. We want to see. We want to understand. Show us.”
“Like the men on the road and the early Church, we too have to learn a new way of seeing – first through our minds, illumined by the light of faith, the true narrative of the Paschal mystery must take shape. Only then can the events of salvation history and our own particular lives be properly understood.”
“In this way, we can see more. We can see what is hidden but no less present – that for which our hearts burn and long. We can see our story. We can see the larger horizon. We can see our purpose. When we allow Jesus to correct the narrative of our minds, a powerful vision opens before us,” Father Winslow said.
“Even our senses are corrected. One who was crucified is now alive. Bread is no longer as it appears. He is indeed here! He is indeed right before our very eyes!”
Congress goers spoke highly of the event, praising the various speakers, the Eucharistic procession, the ability to go to confession, and the opportunity for fellowship with Catholics from across western North Carolina and beyond.
“The crowd this year was remarkable,” said Eileen Rohan. “I was excited to see so many people there.”
“The joy of the Lord is our strength and we must go through with really letting that shine. The joy of my day was the Eucharist,” said Angela Herigan. “Being together, one body in Christ – He is the head and always will be – it is great to see.”
“I loved it, I loved it even better than last year,” said Lynn Penner. “I went to confession this year. I waited in line for an hour and 20 minutes, I timed it. I go to confession monthly but missed this month so I just thought it would be perfect. I had an hour-long confession; it only took a few minutes for the actual confession part, but it was comforting just talking to the priest. I thought it was wonderful because he gave me the time. What a wonderful grace!”
In his homily for the closing Mass, Bishop Jugis urged people to holiness, pointing them to the Eucharist as the means to remaining close to Jesus.
The annual Eucharistic Congress, coming together as “one family in Christ,” is all about growing in holiness, he said.
“The Eucharist makes our unity in Christ stronger,” he said. The annual celebration, he said, is “a wonderful expression of the unity of all the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte. And this Holy Mass is the high point of the Eucharistic Congress, bringing us together as one to offer the Sacrifice of Christ.”
This year’s theme – “Stay with us, Lord,” taken from the Gospel of Luke 24:29 – is a prayer for holiness, not just for the disciples on the road to Emmaus but for each one of us, the bishop said.
“We make that our prayer to the Lord, too: ‘Stay with us, Lord.’ It the prayer of the heart that is reaching out to Jesus, a prayer of the heart that desires Jesus’ presence.”
“That is what this prayer is all about: You reaching out to Jesus: Stay with us, Lord. You must keep alive a desire for Him in your heart. You must hunger and thirst for the living Lord, Jesus.”
“That is the definition of holiness: a desire to stay in union with Christ,” he said.
At the conclusion of Mass, the bishop announced to a cheering crowd that 2020 will be dedicated as “the year of St. Joseph.” Next year marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX proclaiming the foster father of Jesus as the patron of the Universal Church. "Quemadmodum Deus" was promulgated in 1870.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor, Correspondent Lisa Geraci contributed.
