CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte's annual "Catholic family reunion" – the Eucharistic Congress – returned Friday night to the Charlotte Convention Center.
Bishop Peter Jugis opened the first in-person event since 2019. This year’s theme is “Faith More Precious Than Gold,” which is taken from 1 Peter 1:7 to coincide with the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The 18th annual Eucharistic Congress – a free, two-day event celebrating our Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist continues Saturday.
“I’m so happy to be back at the Eucharistic Congress after that long delay," said Mary Sample, a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte. "It's wonderful to be with your parish and the whole diocese again. I have a strong devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and one of the key elements of the Fatima message is to do the first Saturday devotion.
"It's so powerful and so special that this Eucharistic Congress is on the First Friday and First Saturday. We’ll be able to do it together, and I know that will please Our Lady. My hope is that more and more people will start making it a practice. I haven't missed a Eucharistic Congress for the past 10 years at least. It’s just wonderful to be here for the 50th anniversary of the diocese and to see all these seminarians running around!"
After Byzantine rite vespers were prayed, Vinny Flynn, who is known to many as “the man who sings the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN,” took the stage at Hall A to share "Faith in the Promise of Eucharist."
A father of seven, Flynn has been involved in a ministry of mercy for over 40 years, using his gifts of speaking, writing, counseling and music to help people understand the teachings of the Church and open their hearts to the healing touch of God’s love. His personal, straight-forward style makes theological concepts and the teachings of the Church come alive with new meaning.
As a teacher and counselor, Flynn experienced first-hand how much healing is needed in the world. He began using his gifts in full-time religious ministry. His powerful teachings on Divine Mercy, Mary, the sacraments, and the Father’s love have made him a popular speaker.
He has written several books – most notably, a series of “7 Secrets” books starting with 7 Secrets of the Eucharist. It has remained on the Top 10 Best Sellers list for Ignatius Press since it was published in 2007. Now in its 23rd printing, it has sold over 100,000 copies.
After Flynn's talk concluded, nocturnal Adoration continued at nearby St. Peter Church until 7 a.m. Saturday.
“I’ve attended the Eucharistic Congress twice as a seminarian and three as a layman before seminary. For us seminarians, it's fantastic because it's a way for us to meet people from around the diocese and to be present, to get to know them and to see the pastors from across the diocese. And honestly, it's just great to be here after two years off," said Nicholas Kramer, a seminarian from St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa.
"It’s great to watch the diocese grow and continue to mature as a young diocese. It's just great to be part of that. It's great to be a witness to the laypeople of the diocese who have helped make that a reality. I think that’s something that can’t be understated. The clergy who put in work with so many laypeople of our diocese.
"It has really borne fruits, which we see now in the exploding number of Catholics in our diocese, which is fantastic. The Eucharistic Congress helps make you feel like you're part of a greater Catholic community, which you are, because too often I think it's easy to get stuck in the mindset of, ‘I'm in this parish, and this is my life. I don't get out of this parish because it’s a long drive to the next parish from where I am,’ and so for us, it's great. For me, it is great coming here because I really get to know people from across the diocese."
Saturday’s events kicked off with a Eucharistic procession that follows a route from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center.
A Holy Hour – featuring a homily by Bishop Peter Jugis, fourth Bishop of Charlotte and founder of the Eucharistic Congress – immediately followed the procession at 10:15 a.m. Saturday inside the Charlotte Convention Center. Read the story.
Programs in English, Spanish and Vietnamese will be offered throughout the day. Bishop Jugis celebrated Mass at the conclusion of the congress Saturday. Read the story.
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by James Sarkis and Travis Burton
