July 19, 2023 // Diocese

How the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Plans to Participate in the National Eucharistic Congress

Claire Kenney

Freelance Writer

For the first time in almost a century, the Catholic Church in the United States will host a National Eucharistic Congress. Discerned and approved by the nation’s bishops and overseen by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which Bishop Rhoades is an active member, the event will take place next summer in Indianapolis.

At a time when many parishes have seen a decline in regular Mass attendance and active participation in the Catholic faith, the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress seeks to revive and rekindle a fervor for the faith.

As the movement’s official website, eucharisticrevival.org, states: “In an age marked by division and doubt, the Holy Spirit is inviting the United States to find unity and renewal through a grassroots National Eucharistic Revival. This movement – discerned and approved by the bishops of the U.S. – is critical to rekindling a living faith in the hearts of Catholics across America, unleashing a new missionary chapter at this pivotal moment in Church history.”

A 2019 Pew Research study of self-described Catholics across the country found that approximately one-third believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Additionally, because of the pandemic, during which many became accustomed to watching Mass online, significant numbers of the faithful have not returned to Mass.

With a mission “to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist” and a vision “to inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist,” as stated on the Congress website, the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress runs from July 17 to 21, 2024. Some 80,000 Catholics, adults and children alike, are expected to participate in the event’s speaker sessions, Mass, adoration opportunities, and other faith-based activities.

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is actively working with its parishes to make this opportunity possible for as many parishioners who hope to attend.

Chris Langford is coordinating the diocese’s overall effort to work with its individuals and families who would like to attend the National Eucharistic Congress. “The response and engagement of our pastors, parishes, and faithful has been truly gratifying,” he said of the effort to date.

He anticipates that the close proximity between the diocese and Indianapolis will generate
a tremendous response from its members to attend. “And looking forward, there is a lot of excitement and anticipation for the National Eucharistic Congress, right in our own backyard, so to speak,” Langford said. “Yet a full year before the event, hundreds from our diocese have already purchased passes to the Congress.”

To facilitate as many local parish members to attend as possible, the diocese has reserved a block of 400 passes and 400 hotel rooms that can be purchased at a discounted rate. These discounted passes can be purchased from the diocese at diocesefwsb.org/eucharist.

Members of the diocese have already claimed half of the passes and many of the hotel rooms have already been accounted for. “More than half of the 400 discount passes have already been purchased, so the faithful are encouraged to purchase from the remaining available passes while they last,” Langford said. “The passes are transferrable, so someone else could use them if the original user is no longer able to attend.”

The passes provide access to all Congress events across the five days, but do not include food, lodging, or transportation. Single day passes are not offered. To be eligible for a discounted hotel rate, one must have purchased their pass(es) from the diocese.

For questions about the Congress, email [email protected].

“The National Eucharistic Revival has already been a tremendous blessing in our diocese,” said Langford. “We are eagerly looking forward to a really large participation from our faithful and to the life-changing impact the Congress will impart to the souls in our diocese and across the country.”

For a detailed schedule of National Eucharistic Congress events, visit eucharisticcongress.org/schedule#schedule.