The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is scheduled for July 17-21 in Indianapolis, Ind. It will serve as the launch for the fourth, and final, stage of the Eucharistic Revival initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Congress is intended to be a capstone moment, explained Father Zak Boazman, the coordinator of the Eucharistic Revival for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
“Every movement needs a moment. The congress will be a culmination of the diocesan and parish revival stage, but at the same time, it will launch the Church into a new era of deepening Eucharistic faith,” Father Boazman said.
Describing the goal of the congress, he said, “We want to be set on fire with zeal and love for the Eucharist so that we can bring the message of God’s love back to our parishes, communities, and peripheries of our environments.”
More than 100,000 participants are expected from across the U.S., while thousands are anticipated to journey to the congress on four routes in a cross-country walking pilgrimage.
“As the archdiocese, we hope to have at least 250 representatives from our parishes at the congress,” Father Boazman said.
One of the parishes planning to send a large group of parishioners to Indianapolis is Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond.
“With the state of our world today, we need to gather together with other Catholics to grow our faith and love for the Eucharistic Christ. We believe that the participants will experience and bring back holy zeal, a deeper belief in the Eucharist, and a stronger conviction of the need for greater reverence for the Eucharist within the Church of Christ,” Stephanie Stovall, the adult ministry coordinator at the parish, said.
Encouraging the faithful to be part of this unique and unprecedented movement, Father Boazman said, “It seems apparent that the Lord has provided many graces, opportunities, and resources to the Church in the U.S. since the beginning of the Eucharistic Revival initiative. He wants to transform us, shower us with spiritual gifts and inflame us with love for the Eucharist. Therefore, we want to be a part of it and say, ‘Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.’”
Reflecting on spiritual benefits from participating in the congress, Father Boazman said, “Remember the World Youth Day in 1993 when Pope John Paul II came to Denver. So many people’s lives were changed, even to this day, people are still speaking about how transformative that event was. I have hope that the 2024 Eucharistic Revival Congress will bear similar fruits… and that it will be an event that people remember many years after.”
To learn more and sign up to journey with Archbishop Coakley and other faithful to the congress, visit archokc.org/nec2024.
Additional information about the Eucharistic Revival Congress and the cross-country pilgrimage to Indianapolis can be found at eucharisticcongress.org.
Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.