After the final Mass of the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) July 21, Alyssa Ambulo watched the clergy process out of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, listened to the 60,000 in attendance sing Salve Regina, and was filled with expectant joy.
“All these people who have experienced Jesus in a profound way, now they’re on fire, and able to share that with their parishes,” said Ambulo, who worked as contract project manager for NEC in the year leading up to the congress. “That was my moment of, ‘Alright, all the work, the sleepless nights … helped lead to that moment of missionary sending.’”
All in attendance at the congress were commissioned by Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens July 21 to share the good news of Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist.
On Aug. 28, at Holy Spirit, Virginia Beach, seven pilgrims who attended the NEC spoke to an audience of over 50 people about their experience. The speakers were invited by Sisters in Faith, a women’s group at Holy Spirit that organizes parish activities, including monthly speaking events.
“We weren’t meant to keep our experience in Indiana,” said Kimberlie Petrulis, a parishioner at St. Luke, Virginia Beach, who spoke at Holy Spirit. “We were meant to go out and get people involved.”
Bringing the experience home
Ambulo, who grew up a parishioner at Holy Spirit, heard about the Aug. 28 event from Katrina Cruz, former director of religious education at the parish and a family friend.
“I spoke about the journey of how I got to know about the job, and what the congress means to me,” said Ambulo.
“The quote that really stood out throughout my time in ministry was by St. Teresa of Calcutta: ‘When you look at the crucifix, you see how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the sacred Host, you see how much Jesus loves you now,’” said Ambulo.
Cruz said that her message to the audience at Holy Spirit was that the congress was like a foretaste of heaven, and that she wishes she could have brought them all to the experience. However, said Cruz, “My encouragement to them was: The revival is not over.”
“There are lots of events that go on, like the Eucharistic procession at the oceanfront, on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, which happens in October,” said Cruz. “I encouraged them to participate and show the world how much we adore our God.”
Kimberlie Petrulis and her 16-year-old daughter Josie both shared their experience at the NEC with the group at Holy Spirit.
Kimberlie spoke about how the congress was a moment of personal healing for her. She was not expecting to attend the congress, since her father was sick. When he passed away June 11, she was devastated, but after his June 20 funeral, she decided to travel to Indianapolis, certain that she wanted to spend four days with Jesus in the Eucharist.
Noting that it had been 83 years since the last National Eucharistic Congress, Kimberlie said, “My dad’s birthday was July 20, the day of the Eucharistic procession in downtown Indianapolis. He would have been 83.”
Josie said she wasn’t afraid to admit that she’d been “volun-told” to go to the NEC by her mother – but as the date approached, she realized how important it was to go, and now, she’s very grateful she attended.
“I absolutely cherished it,” said Josie. “Your faith is like a plant: you have to water it and give it sunlight, or it will die. I didn’t want that to happen to my spiritual relationship with Our Lord.”
Josie also described her experience of relief and comfort during adoration. “I was overthinking a lot, but during adoration, I snapped out of it, and thought, ‘I need to be present in his presence,’” she said.
Planning for the future
Kimberlie said that other topics of discussion that night included expanding adoration times at St. Luke, Holy Spirit, and St. Matthew, Virginia Beach.
“We’re very blessed to have access to adoration in Virginia Beach,” she said. She and a group of friends go to adoration Mondays at St. Matthew; Tuesdays at St. Nicholas, Virginia Beach; Wednesdays at St. Luke; Thursdays at St. John the Apostle, Virginia Beach; and Friday at St. Gregory the Great, Virginia Beach.
There have been some changes in recent years, though, especially after the COVID pandemic. St. Matthew used to have perpetual adoration 24 hours a day, but now the chapel is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Kimberlie said there was discussion on how to help the parish return to 24 hours a day.
She said she also wants to spread the word about the already plentiful options for adoration in the area. At St. Luke, for example, adoration is available from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays.
“When I first came to St. Luke, I had no idea St. Luke had adoration that many times a week,” said Kimberlie. “I’ve been trying to meet with people one-on-one, to go to adoration together or pray the rosary together. I want to continue that ministry outside the Congress.”
That goal, said Ambulo, meshes with a new NEC initiative, the Walk with One campaign.
“Now that we have commissioned Eucharistic missionaries back in their local parishes, the Walk with One campaign really encourages people to invite someone back to Mass or adoration, and trust that God will work in that space,” said Ambulo.
On the NEC website, interested participants can sign up to be part of a prayer group and receive instruction on how to meet and accompany others on their spiritual journey to Jesus.
On Sept. 3, NEC also launched the Society of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, which raises money to support revival efforts during its Year of Mission. Members receive a copy of Bishop Cozzens’ book, “For the Life of the World: Invited to Eucharistic Mission,” as well as access to an NEC app featuring all talks from the congress and other content related to the Eucharist.
“I’m so grateful I was able to be a part of this,” said Ambulo, “and I’m very excited to see what the revival in local parishes looks like now.”