Bishop Peter Jugis leads Holy Hour at Eucharistic Congress
Patrick Schneider PhotographyCHARLOTTE — Thousands of people from across western North Carolina gathered with their bishop and clergy to celebrate their Catholic faith at the Eucharistic Congress – the Diocese of Charlotte’s “annual family reunion.”
The Eucharistic procession from St. Peter Church through uptown Charlotte culminated with a Holy Hour led by Bishop Peter Jugis in the Charlotte Convention Center.
During his homily, the bishop welcomed people back to an in-person celebration after two years of events held virtually and in parishes due to pandemic restrictions. Saturday was also the feast of the Transfiguration, he noted, and the day’s events offered everyone a chance to be transformed by an encounter with the Eucharistic Lord.
“This feast has something important to say to us during our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. At the Transfiguration, Jesus took His apostles Peter, James and John by themselves up a high mountain and was transfigured before their eyes,” he said.
“And so this morning, we can say that Jesus again has taken us, His disciples, off to a place by ourselves where we also can be alone with Him in this Holy Hour.
He is really, truly and substantially present with us in this holy sacrament, and we gaze upon Him in adoration.”
The bishop continued, “At the Transfiguration, St. Peter spoke to the Lord in words that are just as appropriate for us to say now in this moment of Adoration: ‘Lord, it is good that we are here’,” referring the scripture passage in Matthew (17:4).
“It is good that we are here with You in Your presence,” he said.
The Lord’s presence was a focal point of the Synod listening sessions held throughout the diocese earlier this year, Bishop Jugis said.
“In the Synod, people said that the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives are Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist and confession and prayer. They also acknowledged that their faith is nourished by their family life, by participation in parish life, by the good example of our priests and deacons, by Scripture study, and by works of mercy and service to others.”
“It is evident that across the diocese faith is strong, and that we desire to be with the Lord and to be close to Him,” he said. “And so we are with Him now. May these moments of Adoration nourish our souls and bring us Christ’s peace.”
When they witnessed the Transfiguration, St. Peter wanted to build three tents – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah to dwell in, the bishop added. “But now let us instead prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in our hearts once again. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks, and wishes to enter.
“Let us welcome Him into our hearts.”
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by James Sarkis, Patrick Schneider Photography, SueAnn Howell, Amy Burger, Liz Chandler and Giuliana Riley.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis' full homily:
Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.
This morning the Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and this feast has something important to say to us during our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. At the Transfiguration, Jesus took his apostles Peter, James and John by themselves up a high mountain and was transfigured before their eyes. The Lord’s face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.
And so this morning, we can say that Jesus again has taken us, his disciples, off to a place by ourselves where we also can be alone with him in this Holy Hour.
He is really, truly and substantially present with us in this holy sacrament, and we gaze upon Him in adoration.
At the Transfiguration, the voice of God the Father was heard to say: This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. (Mt. 17: 5). Those same words of the Father can now apply to us in this moment of Eucharistic adoration: This is my Beloved Son. The Beloved Son of the Father is really present with us in the Holy Eucharist. “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Yes, the Beloved Son of the Father is really, truly and substantially here with us in this Holy Sacrament: Jesus’ Real Presence.
This is the Mystery of the Eucharist. This is the Mystery of Faith. This is the Beloved Son of the Father.
At the Transfiguration, Saint Peter spoke to the Lord in words that are just as appropriate for us to say now in this moment of Adoration: “Lord, it is good that we are here” (Mt. 17: 4). It is good that we are here with you in your presence. Saint Peter wanted to build three tents – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah to dwell in – but now let us instead prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in our hearts once again. Let us welcome Him into our hearts. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks, and wishes to enter. If anyone hears his voice and opens the door, then He will enter in and dine with him (Rev. 3: 20).
At the Transfiguration, the voice of the Father was heard to say: “This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” With joy we do listen to what Jesus tells us, and we believe. In this Gospel reading He told us: “I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6: 51). We listen to Jesus as the Father commanded, and we believe. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. Jesus gives his own flesh – his body and blood – for the life of the world, for your eternal life. This is the Eucharistic Faith of the Church.
In our Synod listening sessions this year we learned that in the Diocese of Charlotte, the Eucharistic Faith of our parishioners is strong and vibrant. In the Synod, people said that the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives are Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist and Confession, and prayer. They also acknowledged that their faith is nourished by their family life, by participation in parish life, by the good example of our priests and deacons, by Scripture study, and by works of mercy and service to others. It is evident that across the diocese faith is strong, and that we desire to be with the Lord and to be close to him.
And so we are with Him now. May these moments of Adoration nourish our souls and bring us Christ’s peace. We profess our Eucharistic Faith in the Lord’s Real Presence that this is the Beloved Son with whom the Father is well pleased.
See highlights from the Holy Hour
See highlights from the Eucharistic Procession
