“The Eucharist is medicine for the faith – the medicine that sustains the mind, the life and the soul.”
This was the message Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, who leads the Archdiocese of San Antonio, delivered during the Encuentro Impact session the morning of July 19. He gave his remarks in Spanish to a joyful crowd of Spanish speakers, not long after the conclusion of Spanish Mass in the Indiana Convention Center.
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez was the chief celebrant at Spanish Mass, which began at 8:30 a.m. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the special envoy appointed by Pope Francis to the National Eucharistic Congress and pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, was one of many concelebrants at the Mass.
At Lucas Oil Stadium, Wilton Cardinal Gregory celebrated Mass in English. Bishop Barry C. Knestout was one of dozens of bishops and priests who concelebrated with Cardinal Gregory. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who leads the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, celebrated the Mass for the youth.
“There’s a real expression of the diversity of the Church [at the congress], but it feels unified,” said Sarah French, director of faith formation at St. Anne, Bristol. French traveled to the congress with her husband Andrew and her three young children.
“So often, the different groups in the Church are set against each other, but that’s not how it should be – we should all be together,” French continued. “I’m impressed. It’s a hard thing to do, but here, they’ve done it well.”
French and her family have been attending the many family-oriented sessions at the congress. After attending the “Cultivate: The Family Experience” Impact session in the morning, her daughter Catherine said she was looking forward to exploring the Good Shepherd Atrium, a space for children to play interactive catechetical games while learning about Jesus.
Though the littlest ones needed naps in the afternoon July 18, French said, “We stayed the whole night last night, and everyone had fun.”
“It’s important to address all the age groups in a particular way,” said Archbishop Broglio. “If we want to pass on what we have received, we have to make sure we have a specific direction for the younger generation as well.”
Gabriel Sudarma, a parishioner at Asencion, Virginia Beach, traveled to the congress with his parents and his older sister. Sudarma took note of the number of young people at the congress.
“It’s inspiring to see so many young adults here,” he said. “There is hope for the Catholic Church.”
Sudarma attended the “Empower: Practical Tools for Evangelization” Impact session in the morning and the “Taste and See: Incarnating the Eucharist” breakout talk in the afternoon. Active in Catholic Campus Ministry at Hampden-Sydney College, Sudarma said that what he has learned will help him evangelize back home.
“I have loved the breakout sessions,” he said. But his favorite moments each day have come during adoration.
“There was adoration within fifteen minutes of the first day, and I was so glad,” said Sudarma. “Most conferences and events, even Catholic ones, don’t start with adoration instantly.”
“The Lord has a very special place in his heart for young people, a special place in his Eucharistic heart,” said Archbishop William E. Lori, who leads the Archdiocese of Baltimore. “When young people discover the depth of Jesus’ love for them, it is such a beautiful thing.”
Father Matt Kiehl, vicar for vocations, is attending the congress with three friends from his time in seminary. They have been attending sessions geared toward priests, including the Impact session “Abide: The Priestly Experience.”
“The four of us go on vacation every year,” said Father Kiehl. “This year, instead, we all wanted to come here, so we got an Airbnb.”
“There’s so much to see,” he continued. “You want to be everywhere at once.”