2005 Eucharistic Congress: perfectus

Well, it's over. All I can say is, I really hope they do it again! Final attendee count was, I believe, about 7,500. What a moment of grace for this Archdiocese! It really was invigorating to be there with so many people, all professing their love for Jesus in the Eucharist, and wanting to deepen that love even more. If everybody who was there goes home and reflects that love, even just a little bit, this city will already be a much better place.

Archbishop Flynn was gracious and thanked everybody who worked hard to make the event happen. Everybody, that is, except the man who probably had the most input of all: its spiritual director, Fr. Joseph Johnson. But in his humility Fr. Joseph is probably just as happy anyways.

Highlights of the event for me:

• Seeing all the nuns! (especially Mother Theresa's Sisters of Charity)


• The friday night procession from the Capitol to the Cathedral. Public witness of adulation for the Eucharist always lifts me up.


• For the speakers, it was Scott Hahn who stole the show for me. His ability to drive home all of the scriptural foundations for the Eucharist astounds me. Particularly poignant was his emphasis on the point that, after speaking of himself literally as the "bread of life", and then losing many disciples because of such a difficult teaching, Christ then turned to the apostles and said "Do you also wish to go away?" (Jn 6:67) Simon Peter's response "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life" (Jn 6:68) was the correct response, and I pray that it shall always be mine as well.

I took a few photos of the event, and am posting some here for all to enjoy:





The Eucharistic Procession:





Roy Wilkins Auditorium, where many of the events took place:



The Mass was very reverent, and included representative elements from the various cultural communities present in the Archdiocese. Here, the 4th degree Knights of Columbus color guard is visible.




Jim Caviezel rounded out the speakers and got everybody fired up to be spiritual prayer warriors for the faith...