The Catholic Mom Team Looks Back at the National Eucharistic Congress

Members of the Catholic Mom Team share their memories of the National Eucharistic Congress.

Several members of the Catholic Mom leadership team, along with coworkers from Family Rosary, attended the National Eucharistic Congress last week to greet visitors from the Catholic Mom/Holy Cross Family Ministries exhibits as well as the Catholic HoM interactive experience, sponsored by HCFM. We also had the chance to greet some of our writers while we got to know some of our readers and introduced new readers to Catholic Mom, Holy Cross Family Ministries, and Venerable Patrick Peyton.

"An unforgettable moment"

From Margaret Dwyer Hogan, Catholic Mom Manager: Experiencing Adoration with 50,000 people was truly an unforgettable moment in my life. I loved how every evening Adoration was different — one evening it featured more contemporary music, the next evening Gregorian chant — always extended periods of silence in between songs and reverence for the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. During these moments of silence, it was truly silent! Unbelievable with SO many people! 

While I had experienced Adoration at Steubenville conferences with two thousand teens – never 50,000 and here there were people from all over and all ages and more religious than I had ever seen in one place! Best line for me came from Father Mike Schmitz: “Knowledge leads to greatness, but only by love do we become a saint.”  

The Lord spoke to me and said in that moment, “If you love me with your whole heart and soul, Margaret — I will take care of the rest of it. Do not hold back even one small part.”  

"Exhausting but Exhilarating"

From Allison Gingras, Director of Digital Content: I was so honored to be there representing Family Rosary USA and Catholic Mom. To sum it all up: It was exhausting but ever so exhilarating! 

I only got to one session, as I was not an attendee. I went Wednesday evening to see Mother Olga, whom I am blessed to know personally, and Fr. Mike Schmitz — who definitely speaks as fast in person as on his podcast! 

"A pivotal moment"

From Maria Morera Johnson, Catholic Mom Media Editor: I experienced one of the most powerful confessions and I was just sharing with my sister that others also shared how powerful their experience with the sacrament of reconciliation was, and I am certain that it had to do with the powerful prayer experiences surrounding the Congress.

Maria continued: Daily Adoration is the big picture, but actually working in the HoM exhibit where we had a mini Adoration chapel for the children and families made me feel like Jesus was my co-worker! There was an understood theme that the Congress was both Repentance/Penitential and Eucharistic, and THAT changed many hearts! (You'll really hear this in Sister Josephine's address. It was a pivotal moment.) 

Maria took this video in the exhibition area. The women performing are from Cameroon originally; now they live in different places in the USA. A spontaneous moment of praise:

"Beautiful and uplifting"

From Victoria Hassan, a member of the Holy Cross Family Ministries marketing team: I am incredibly blessed and grateful for the opportunity to attend and work at the National Eucharistic Congress. I had the privilege of working with hundreds of children and families in the craft area of the CatholicHOM exhibit. The most special part of the experience for me was Adoration. It was truly beautiful and uplifting to share this sacred moment with over 50,000 others united in the Eucharist. 

Catch up on the National Eucharistic Congress Videos

If you weren't able to attend the National Eucharistic Congress in person, here is where you can watch the Masses and videos of keynote speakers:

EWTN videos from National Eucharistic Congress

Relevant Radio videos from National Eucharistic Congress

Did you attend the National Eucharistic Congress? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: courtesy of Holy Cross Family Ministries, all rights reserved.