On Pentecost Sunday, four Eucharistic processions began making their way from different regions of the United States—Minnesota, Connecticut, California, and Texas—to converge on the final destination of Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress from July 17-21.
As a representative of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, I was blessed to attend the kickoff of the Marian Route procession in Bemidji, Minnesota, at the Star of the North Eucharistic Congress organized by the Dioceses of Crookston and Duluth. The congress featured addresses from Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and founder of Word on Fire, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Father Mike Schmitz of the Diocese of Duluth and “Bible in a Year” fame, and several other prominent speakers.
The message of the congress was clear: the three-year Eucharistic Revival initiated by the USCCB can only bear fruit if the faithful are able to revive a personal devotion to the Eucharist and joyfully share the truth of Christ’s sacrifice with others.
This means you. And me. And the 2,000+ pilgrims who descended on Bemidji to attend the conference and join the beginning of the Eucharistic procession at the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Standing at the Word on Fire sponsor booth, I interacted with many attendees while handing out free copies of Bishop Barron’s book on the Eucharist entitled This Is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival. We have already distributed 1.4 million copies of this brief book that expounds on the Catholic belief in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. We hope to distribute a total of 2 million before the National Eucharistic Congress concludes.
From the number of people who declined the free book because they already read it or previously received it from their parish, it was clear that this was a “home team” event. Everyone here already had a deep devotion to the Eucharist—deep enough to travel many miles up to remote Bemidji and for many families to bring their four or six young children along!
There were strollers and baby carriers as well as wheelchairs and walkers. There were long lines for confession and a lineup of Catholic organizations and apostolates hosting booths. An angelic choir of sisters from the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus led us in liturgical praise. This was Catholic Woodstock, with Bishop Barron as Jimi Hendrix and Father Mike Schmitz as The Who.
But the point of the event was not the event itself—it was all about what happens next. This pep rally for the Eucharist was just a prelude to the big game: How do we share our joy in the Eucharist with the world?
Bishop Barron suggested that we use the Eucharist as a source of strength in carrying out God’s will for our lives and “stay close to the fire” through frequent reception of the Eucharist and the regular practice of Holy Hours. If we truly believe what we say we believe, we should want to spend time with Christ in the Eucharist.
Father Mike Schmitz reflected on the well-known Emmaus gospel story, stating that the road from Emmaus–when Cleopas and his companion returned to Jerusalem after meeting the risen Lord—is far more important and instructive than the road to Emmaus. Once you know the truth, you must go out and share it with others.
And Bishop Cuzzens, leading a beautiful outdoor Mass at a park near the headwaters, offered a challenge on Pentecost: commit to monthly confession and allow this moment in the life of the Church to ignite a “personal Pentecost” within you—emboldening you to proclaim Christ among your family, friends, parish, and community.
Participating in the events associated with the revival is a logical first step. Being surrounded by this “cloud of witnesses”—young and old, religious and lay—who share a depth of faith to which I aspire, undoubtedly sparked the personal Pentecost in me that Bishop Cuzzens intended when he organized this event.
I hope you will seek out the Eucharistic processions if they are coming anywhere near you on their way to Indianapolis, and consider attending the national congress as well. I have no doubt that the power of seeing Jesus in the streets and witnessing the public devotion of fellow believers will gain enough attention that hearts will be changed and conversations, and maybe eventual conversions, will be initiated.
This is a chance for the Catholic Church to shine brightly as a beacon of peace, hope, and healing in a broken world. It’s also an opportunity for you to revitalize your own Eucharistic devotion, learn from those who are further along in their spiritual journey, and share the joy of our faith with those around you.
Don’t stay behind in Emmaus.
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I was in the Juan Diego route walk in the sweltering, sauna-like heat of our beloved Emerald City where ranch lands meet the Gulf of Mexico, (Actually by a miracle it was cloudy and wind blew in from the bay). What a joyous event it was to see a packed Cathedral with Catholics from all over South Texas – Don’t miss it my fellow Hurricane Alley Catholics as route moves into Bayou country. We need to support these wonderful kids on their journey to Indianapolis as they are the representatives of the next generation of Catholics.