National Eucharistic Congress: A true blessing

What is your initial reflection on what happened at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis?

It was a unique experience. To see 50,000-plus people gathered together, praising God and honoring the Eucharist, was amazing. That’s what this National Eucharistic Congress was all about – calling to mind that the risen Lord Jesus Christ comes to us every time we receive the Eucharist. It is his body and blood that we share. He comes to us in a unique way through the Eucharist, and that attracted 50,000 people to Indianapolis from around the United States and beyond.

What are your hopes for what will happen now for the people who attended?

My prayer is that we will go forth, not only fed with the Eucharist, but with greater faith and greater love for one another. During these five days, it was clear to me that the Lord Jesus is alive and well in us, and we honor him in the Eucharist as he sends us forth to feed others with faith, love and compassion.

A National Eucharistic Congress had not been held in 83 years. Were you amazed by the turnout?

Yes. The team that was putting this together kept saying in the months before the Congress that they didn’t know how many would come. We heard figures of maybe 40,000. But, it went far beyond that. People are hungry for the Lord Jesus!

What about the local representation from the Archdiocese of New Orleans?

It was wonderful. I had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass in the Indiana Convention Center on the second day of the congress, and we had 45 members of St. Peter Parish in Reserve and St. Joan of Arc in LaPlace – as well as parishioners of other River Parish churches. I was able to meet with them after the Mass and thank them not only for coming, but also encourage them to bring back what they had seen and heard to their fellow parishioners. The choir from St. Peter Claver in New Orleans sang for the Mass and helped us give praise to Christ, the bread of life. Father John Marse, Father David Ducote and Father Ajani Gibson were also present for the congress. We had several members of our archdiocesan staff attend – Deacon Michael Whitehouse and Deacon Lawrence Houston of the Department of Catholic Education and Faith
Formation; Betty-Ann Hickey of the Office of Worship; Chris O’Neill and James Behan of the Office of Marriage and FamilyLife; and Dominican Father Manuel Solorzano of the Office of the Hispanic Apostolate. I know there were several other directors of religious education and other families from the archdiocese who attended. It was a fruitful experience.

What are future plans for the National Eucharistic Congress?
Bishop Andrew Cozzens announced that we will have another congress in 2033 – which is 2,000 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. There is also some conversation about not waiting nine years to hold another congress. That’s under discussion right now. I’m so thankful for Bishop Cozzens’ leadership in spearheading this historic event that required the hard work of thousands of people. It no doubt will bear much fruit and draw us closer to Christ in the Eucharist and allow us to bring the Risen Christ to others.


There was a major controversy over a profane depiction of the Last Supper that was part of the opening ceremonies last Friday at the Paris Olympics. What was your reaction?

Words can’t fully express my shock and anger. A week earlier, thousands had united in prayer and adoration before the Eucharist, asking the Lord to heal and forgive us for our sins. Then, seven days later, nearly 1 billion people across the world witnessed the public mockery of the Mass. The Passover, which begins at the Last Supper, is one of the most sacred moments in the life of Jesus. He offered his life for us so that we could share
his divine love forever. The Olympic skit publicly defamed the Paschal Mystery, which is encompassed in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is our duty as Christians to
respond to this profound evil, and we should do so with love and charity. As we are told in the Gospels, some demons are cast out only through prayer and fasting. I ask all believers to pray and fast in reparation for this sin.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to [email protected]