Reviving Our Eucharistic Mission
Most Rev. Charles C. Thompson is the Archbishop of Indianapolis. He is chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis and a member of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church
The Lord has invited the Church in the United States into a season of profound renewal. In November of 2021, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the National Eucharistic Congress as the milestone moment of a National Eucharistic Revival. The Revival officially launched in June 2022 with the goal of rekindling a living faith in the hearts of Catholics across America, and this movement has already borne life-changing local initiatives and unprecedented gatherings.
We believe the Holy Spirit continues to ask Catholics across America to respond to four invitations. The first invitation calls us to a renewed encounter with WHO we worship. The second invitation calls us to discover in greater depth WHY we worship Jesus in the Eucharist and what this incredible gift means. The third invitation calls for a renewed attentiveness to HOW we worship. The fourth invitation focuses on WHAT we do in response—acting on our faith, bringing Christ to others, and spreading the flame of revival.
The 10th National Eucharistic Congress will be a defining moment for this generation and the beginning of a new chapter for the Church in the United States. I am proud that it will be held in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the archdiocese the Holy Spirit has placed under my guidance. For the first time in nearly a century, the Catholic Church from every corner of the United States is about to gather in one place. More than just a retreat or conference, the National Eucharistic Congress will be a pivotal moment in both American history and the legacy of the Catholic Church.
The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is the continuation of the living faith that built the Catholic Church in the U.S., and we now resume the work of sharing the greatest gift humanity has ever received. The Congress will be a high point within the National Eucharistic Revival.
Our Catholic family will gather to experience profound and personal renewal through the power of Christ’s love. Like a new Pentecost, this transformation will flow out from Indianapolis to bring revival in our communities as the Church returns to her first love—the source and summit of our faith and vocation to missionary discipleship. At the Congress, we will all be sent out on a mission to listen and accompany as we share our Eucharistic faith with the world. As beautifully stated by Pope Francis in his Message for World Mission Day 2024:
“The mission for all requires the commitment of all. We need to continue our journey towards a fully synodal and missionary Church in the service of the Gospel. Synodality is essentially missionary and, vice versa, mission is always synodal. Consequently, close missionary cooperation is today all the more urgent and necessary, both in the universal Church and in the particular Churches.”
The Congress offers life-changing encounters with Jesus and incredible opportunities for formation from trusted voices in the Church. You may see the exciting lineup of speakers, and find the schedule. The program continues to develop with new speakers and special events added over time. As you will see, the speakers represent the gift of diversity which is the Church in the United States.
In unity with the Congress, the USCCB Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs is sponsoring the National Encounter for the Asian and Pacific Islanders on July 15-17, 2024, as a pre-event to the National Eucharistic Congress. Whether you join us for one day or all five, the grace you receive will spill out into your community when you return home, deep in love with the Eucharist and excited about the future of the Church in America. Together, we will be healed, converted, unified, and launched into a new chapter of the Eucharistic mission. I hope to see you in Indianapolis, July 17-21, 2024!!