Eleven diocesan, parish and ministry leaders made up a small delegation that joined Bishop Barry C. Knestout at the National Eucharistic Congress. Members of the diocesan group returned home, feeling spiritually strengthened in seeing the diversity – yet unity – in the Church.
Cristy Barton, the bilingual associate director for the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, said the closing Mass “felt like heaven – there was no division among the people present. There were people from different cultures and backgrounds. Hearing different voices in different languages was so powerful and moving, and people were so welcoming to strangers!”
“Regardless of your preference of worship style, we all have a place in the Church, and we all are gathered for the same purpose: the Eucharist,” said Claire Bebermeyer, communications specialist for the diocesan Office of Communications.
Bebermeyer noted the different rites of liturgies, languages, and styles of music at adoration, calling it a learning experience. “It was a beautiful representation of the universality of the Catholic faith,” she added.
Diane Atkins, minister of outreach and pastoral care at Church of the Redeemer, Mechanicsville, said she was overwhelmed by the sheer number of pilgrims.
“To see so many Catholics gathered to pray, to trust and believe in the one True Presence, to sing and praise him, to believe that our days together can change each of us, and in turn, change our world – that was powerful,” said Atkins. “There was intentional diversity and yet it all brought us all so much closer together, united in our beliefs.”
Tina Wandersee, director of the diocesan Office of Social Ministry, painted a vivid picture as Holy Communion was distributed in Lucas Oil Stadium during daily Mass on Thursday.
“As the Precious Body was brought out by the priests, vested in white, it went out in one solid, unbroken line that I watched go out and up, level by level, all the way to the tallest part of the stadium,” Wandersee explained. “This happened on both sides of the stadium, reaching out from the altar. It appeared to be two arms reaching out to bring even those farthest away, as close as those nearest to the altar.”
Barton said she did not expect to see so many religious orders represented or so many priests. More than 1,100 priests attended the congress. “Priests sacrifice so much, and it is so difficult for them to take time away from their parishes. Thus, seeing so many priests was beautiful,” she said.
Julie Nguyen, RCIA coordinator/Pre-Cana teacher at Church of the Vietnamese Martyrs, Richmond, and member of the diocesan Ethnic Ministries Advisory Committee, said she had never seen so many bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, and religious sisters in one place.
Dan Harms, associate director of Marriage, Family, & Life for the diocesan Office for Evangelization, was struck by the “profound gentleness and humility” of Sister Josephine Garrett, of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She was one of the keynote speakers, and during one revival session, she invited the Church to a night of repentance.
“It was beautiful, it was hopeful, it was honest, and addressed each vocational station in life,” said Harms. “Most powerful to me was when Sister Josephine turned and spoke directly to her (and our) spiritual fathers, the bishops. She reminded them of their priesthood, of the love the Father has for them, and … she invited them to healing and repentance.”
“Bishops were everywhere throughout the week,” Harms added. “Their presence galvanized in me a sense that the Church was truly gathered, united, and pursuing the heart of Christ together.”
Harms quoted Father Mike Schmitz, the popular priest-podcaster, from one of the keynote addresses: “What I’m going to say to you is nothing new.”
Harms said that while everything at the congress felt new and exciting, “that statement, however, acknowledged that the messages being shared about our faith were not new, but a recapitulation of the enduring reality, the truth of God and humanity.”
Daniel Villar, director of the diocesan Office of Ethnic Ministries, recounted the most powerful moment for him was during adoration the first night. “I felt this unexplainable peace come over me. I felt Jesus speak to me for the first time in many years deep in my heart. It was a very intimate moment and I lost track of time in it,” Villar described.
Nguyen also shared a very personal moment during adoration on the last night. She said as she watched the Blessed Sacrament being held up high, “an overwhelming emotion took over and I started to cry. I was in tears with joy … [a] feeling that I had never felt before.”