United in the Eucharist
CHARLOTTE — For the second year in a row, the Diocese of Charlotte’s annual Eucharistic Congress shifted to an online and parish-based program. Organizers changed the annual event in an abundance of caution because of the COVID-19 pandemic and elevated reported cases of the Delta variant of the virus.
Instead of the annual Mass celebrated with thousands of Catholics in the Charlotte Convention Center, Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated two Masses livestreamed Sept. 18 and 19 from St. Patrick Cathedral.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis shared that, despite the changed format, “We are happy to go ahead with this celebration this year, to keep alive our tradition of the annual diocesan Eucharistic Congress. We hope to return next year to the in-person format of the Congress as soon as the pandemic subsides.”
He noted that the Eucharistic Congress has tremendous spiritual value in strengthening our faith in our Eucharistic Lord. “The Congress brings us together as one Catholic family from parishes across the entire diocese. The Eucharist is the sacrament of unity. The Holy Eucharist makes us one body in Christ, united in one faith, as we all partake of the one Body of the Lord.”
Bishop Jugis gave thanks to God “who is so close to us that He even lives with us in the Holy Eucharist: the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we live our faith and profess our faith in Jesus’ Real Presence every time we take part in the celebration of Mass, every time we adore Him in the Holy Eucharist, every time we say to Him at Communion time: ‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’”
The bishop then reminded the faithful that at Mass we are celebrating our faith in Jesus’ Real Presence. “It is as if we are making our profession of faith in Him and His Real Presence by being at Mass with Him,” Bishop Jugis said.
Reflecting on the ongoing pandemic, he acknowledged the coronavirus is still with us, making our lives very difficult.
“It is a constant worry and burden on our minds,” Bishop Jugis said. “Jesus has the remedy for us in the present situation, and the remedy, the solution, is Jesus Himself. He says: ‘Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.’” (Mt 11:28-30)
Bishop Jugis emphasized that Jesus is where our burdened and worried souls find rest in this pandemic. “Jesus is always with us, and He is waiting for us at Mass; He is waiting for us in Eucharistic Adoration; He is waiting for us in the tabernacle; He is waiting for us to make visits to the church to pray. He wants you to come to Him.”
He encouraged the faithful to share Christ’s Real Presence with others. “After you have spent time with Christ, bring others to experience the peace you have found at Mass and at Eucharistic Adoration. Bring your children, bring your family members, bring your friends. Be Eucharistic missionaries of the peace of Christ. Being with Christ brings you peace, so make yourselves missionaries of His peace to others,” Bishop Jugis said.
Parish-based events
Many parishes around the diocese marked the Eucharistic Congress weekend with special events.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe was among those that offered Mass, Adoration and a Eucharistic Procession. More than 250 parishioners participated in the Sept. 18 activities.
“When we celebrate the Eucharist, we enter into heaven,” said Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor. “When we receive Holy Communion, we experience heaven and we are prepared for heaven. Our time of Adoration prepares us to celebrate the Eucharist and to receive Holy Communion.”
Father Roberts noted it was important to offer the worship opportunity at the parish – particularly for First Communicants and their families.
“This was their only opportunity to participate in the procession in this way. It is a unique moment for them. I have been in the Eucharistic Procession every year we’ve had the Congress. To offer something for my parishioners at our parish was a special grace.”
Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury offered Mass, Adoration, confessions and a talk by Father John Eckert, pastor, Sept. 18.
“The yearly Eucharistic Congress is a diocesan-wide retreat, and I know people really look forward to it,” Father Eckert said. “Any time we can step back and spend a little extra time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is always good.”
“Even if we can’t all gather, which is what we have been doing over the past year and a half or more, and things are a little bit different, we have to cling to Our Lord, who continues to make Himself available to us in the Eucharist. It was important for us to gather and get that extra time with Him,” he said.
St. Ann Church in Charlotte offered a Solemn High Latin Mass, Adoration and Eucharistic Procession that drew more than 150 parishioners Sept. 18.
“The Eucharistic Congress is such an important event in the life of our parishioners every year, and so I felt it important to have a Eucharistic celebration,” said Father Timothy Reid, pastor. “It’s important that we be able to show our love and devotion for the Eucharist, and doing so in a public way helps strengthen our faith, deepen our hope, and enliven our charity. Having a parish-based event also helps to unify the parish.”
St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa offered Adoration, a Holy Hour of Reparation, a Eucharistic Procession and a Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist.
“The Eucharistic Congress has brought such fruits to the diocese over the years,” noted Father Brian Becker, pastor. “I wanted take advantage of the opportunity we had this year and to introduce this event for those in my parish who hadn’t yet attended it.”
St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva offered Adoration, Solemn Vespers, Mass, a Eucharistic Procession and viewing of recorded talks from the Eucharistic Congress over the weekend.
Father Paul Asoh, pastor, told parishioners, “What could be more helpful to many than the opportunity to talk to the Lord face to face? It (Adoration) is seeking His authority on how He wants us to use the talents He has given us.”
Before the Blessed Sacrament we receive “spiritual radiation that heals any cancer of our spirit and at times restores us even physically,” he said. “It is also presenting our ailments, failures, fears, anxieties and storms for calm, and offering our broken self and nation for healing. It is also sharing with Him our joys, successes and thanksgiving.
“It is an opportunity to implore His mercies to bring this pandemic to an end. Brothers and sisters, let us make more time to spend more time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”
— SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald
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Eucharistic Congress organizers have also pre-recorded talks of the speakers originally scheduled to appear at the in-person event, and have published them on the diocese's YouTube channel.
More information, including a 2021 Eucharistic Congress “At-Home Guide” for families, is available in the Sept. 10 issue of the Catholic News Herald, or online at www.goeucharist.com.
Parish-based Eucharistic Congress events
Parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte gathered together for Adoration and Eucharistic Procession. The in-person Eucharistic Congress shifted from a gathering at the Charlotte Convention Center, to smaller gatherings at the Churches and a virtual event. See a gallery of pictures.
SPEAKERS, MASSES FEATURED ON YOUTUBE
The Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel features recorded talks by the speakers originally scheduled to appear in the English and Spanish Tracks at the Eucharistic Congress. Information about the speakers can be found on the official Eucharistic Congress website: www.goeucharist.com.
And don’t miss the livestreamed Mass for the virtual Eucharistic Congress on YouTube at: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, or 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19. Subscribe to the channel or follow the Catholic News Herald on Facebook and Twitter to get a reminder alert when the Masses are live.
Eucharistic Congress shifting to virtual/parish-based program
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s 2021 Eucharistic Congress shifted to an online and parish-based program over the weekend of Sept. 17-19 because of the worsening pandemic.
North Carolina public health officials reported that as of Sept. 3, 14,708 people have died from COVID-19 and 3,800 people remain hospitalized. Approximately 61 percent of eligible North Carolinians have been fully vaccinated.
In a message sent Sept. 4 to clergy, volunteers and others who help to organize the annual diocesan event, Father Roger Arnsparger, chair of the Eucharistic Congress planning committee, noted the rising rates of infection as the reason for the decision to cancel the in-person event.
The annual Eucharistic Congress typically attracts 10,000 to 15,000 people to the Charlotte Convention Center.
The City of Charlotte, which owns the convention center, currently does not have a limit on mass gatherings that would prohibit the in-person event, but Eucharistic Congress organizers said the high risk of virus spread was of grave concern. In addition, safeguarding people’s health at a large indoor gathering would be difficult – especially with logistics involving enforcement of the city’s indoor face covering mandate and implementing multi-layered health measures in the crowded exhibit hall space.
This is the second year the in-person Eucharistic Congress has been canceled. The 2020 event was also held online and in parishes because of the pandemic.
Father Arnsparger noted that parishes may look for ways to celebrate during the Eucharistic Congress weekend of Sept. 17-19, to foster unity and devotion to the Eucharist.
“Keeping in mind local public health guidance and exercising prudence, ideas from last year include leading a Holy Hour or outdoor Eucharistic Procession with your First Communicants, giving a talk, or sharing a written message on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist,” he wrote in his message to clergy.
As he did last year, Bishop Peter Jugis will offer Mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, and 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, which will be streamed live from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte on the diocese’s YouTube channel.
Eucharistic Congress organizers are also working to produce pre-recorded talks of the speakers originally scheduled to appear at the in-person event, and publish them on the diocese's YouTube channel.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor