CHARLOTTE — The 12th annual Eucharistic Congress got off to an enthusiastic start Sept. 9 with a program of sacred music, Scripture, prayer and fellowship.
Hymns and prayer in honor of the Holy Eucharist started off the evening's program at the Charlotte Convention Center, followed by a welcome from Bishop Peter Jugis.
Then the attendees prayed Byzantine Rite Vespers, led by Father Mark Shuey, pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Cary and former pastor of St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Charlotte.
The daily vespers prayers commemorated the post-feast of the Nativity of Mary (which was celebrated on Sept. 8), as well as the Holy Martys Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora at Nicomedia.
Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the Diocese of Charlotte's new St. Joseph College Seminary, then led a Bible study on God's mercy, highlighting this year's Congress theme, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful," taken from Luke 6:36 and inspired by the Church's Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Following the program, the faithful took part in a procession of the Blessed Sacrament from the convention center across the street to St. Peter Church, where Eucharistic Adoration was to take place continually until Saturday morning.
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by John Cosmas, correspondent
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Pictured above: The Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession from the Charlotte Convention Center Friday night across the street to St. Peter Church, where Eucharistic Adoration will continue throughout the night.
