CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis spoke publicly for the first time since August about the recent child sexual abuse scandal that is shaking the Catholic Church in the U.S., addressing the faithful at the opening of the 14th annual Eucharistic Congress Sept. 7. The congress, he said, will be an opportunity to “to beg God… to cleanse and purify the Church of these sins.”
It was the Charlotte bishop’s first public comment since Aug. 17, when he released a written statement in response to recent allegations of sexual misconduct against Church leaders, including a retired archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the release of a Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing decades of child sexual abuse by hundreds of priests in six dioceses of that state.
On Friday evening, during his regularly scheduled welcome remarks to open the congress, Bishop Jugis said this is a time for all Catholics to pray.
“Throughout the congress,” he said, “we want to offer prayers of reparation, because as we all know from the horrible revelations from last month, that the horrible sins of abuse and misconduct and the sins of abuse of power and position have reared their ugly heads in the Church, and for this we are saddened and outraged.”
“During our prayers during this congress, we will beg God to have mercy on the Church, especially praying for these intentions that the Lord God cleanse and purify the Church of these sins which have so seriously wounded the Church and that God will bring healing to victims and help us – all of us, all of the faithful – to rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of holiness of life.”
Bishop Jugis will also join Catholics in praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary during the Holy Hour on Saturday morning – turning what is usually a quiet Holy Hour into a more solemn Holy Hour of Reparation for the healing for all victims of abuse and for the healing of the Church.
The bishop will also focus on the turmoil in the Church during his homily at the closing Mass of the congress Saturday afternoon, Sept. 8.
After Bishop Jugis' welcome, the faithful prayed the Byzantine Rite Great Vespers which were chanted by Father Joseph Matlak, pastor, and Deacon Matthew Hanes, along with parishioners of St. Basil the Great Mission (Byzantine Rite) of Charlotte.
On this, the evening of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Byzantine Rite acknowledges this feast as well as the commemoration of her parents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Following Vespers, author and radio host Trent Horn gave a talk entitled “The Beginner’s Guide to Defending the Faith.”
A Eucharistic procession to St. Peter Church then followed Horn’s address. Nocturnal Adoration is open to the public until Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
Young adults were invited Friday evening to a special College Night program for college students during which Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers of EWTN was scheduled to speak.
Saturday’s congress events kick off at 9 a.m. with a Eucharistic procession that follows a route from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center. A Holy Hour – featuring a homily by Benedictine Father Cassian Folsom, an American-born monk now living in the Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia, Italy – will immediately follow the procession at 10:15 a.m.
An English track, Spanish track, Vietnamese program, youth and other tracks will be offered throughout the day. Bishop Peter Jugis will celebrate Mass at the conclusion of the congress Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. Photos by John Cosmas, Catholic News Herald
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Pray for healing in the Church, bishop preaches at Eucharistic Congress closing Mass
Thousands of people pray rosary for reparation of sins, led by Bishop Jugis
Thousands of Catholics fill the streets of Charlotte
Pray the sorrowful mysteries along with Bishop Jugis
CHARLOTTE — Registration for the youth tracks for the 14th annual Eucharistic Congress Sept. 7-8 at the Charlotte Convention center is now open. Children’s tracks are divided into K-5, middle school and high school.
This year’s congress theme is “I am the living bread.” It is taken from the Gospel book of John (6:51) and is a part of the discourse on the bread of life in which Christ repeatedly explains to His followers that they must eat His Body and drink His Blood if they want to have eternal life.
Every year hundreds of students from across the diocese gather at the Eucharistic Congress. Families, parish groups and individuals participate in morning worship and a vigil Mass. During the middle part of the day, students attend age-appropriate instruction that combines praise and worship with high energy fun.
The Hintemeyer Scholars, students from Belmont Abbey College, will again be leading the Middle School Track for children in grades 6-8. The theme of the track is “Fully Alive, Fully Awake.” Tim and Catherine Przybysz will be the featured speakers at the Middle School Track.
High School Track registration is also open online. High school students may also register the day of the event, Sept. 8, and fill out a walk-in registration.
Youth tracks typically fill up, so early registration is recommended for high school (grades 9-12) students and it is required for K-8 students.
Registration is free.
The registration deadline is Aug. 15.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Go online to register
At www.goeucharist.com: Register by clicking on “K-12 Tracks” and selecting the appropriate youth track for your child from the drop-down menu.