No Eucharist, No Church: A Call to Be Missionaries following the National Eucharistic Congress

As the National Eucharistic Congress drew to a close, the resounding theme that echoed through the hearts of attendees was clear: “No Eucharist, no Church.” This profound statement from Pope Francis, reiterated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan during the opening Mass, set the tone for a powerful five-day event held in Indianapolis from July 17th to 21st, 2024.

The Congress began in Lucas Oil with absolute silence: tens of thousands of people dropped to their knees to adore Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He told Jesus that the tens of thousands of Catholics in the stadium had gathered there to give him thanks and praise and to be changed into “missionary disciples, people filled with the joy of the Gospel, people so grateful for the salvation you purchased for us.”

He prayed for deeper conversion for individuals, peace in war-torn countries, those affected by abuse, and unity in both the country and the Church. Bishop Cozzens invited attendees to share in silence their desires with Jesus and then asked them to pray that the Lord would also reveal his desires for them.

“Jesus, I trust in you,” he prayed, and the stadium resounded as people echoed his prayer.

“Lord, we have come here because we want a revival, a Eucharistic revival, and we want every Catholic to realize that you are alive in the Eucharist, and to encounter your love.”

Present at the stadium were the 30 perpetual pilgrims who during eight weeks this summer walked across the United States in the Four National Eucharistic Pilgrimage routes.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre encouraged everyone to surrender their hearts to the Lord over the next few days. “How will we know that we are experiencing Eucharistic revival?” the papal nuncio to the U.S. asked in his keynote speech on July 17th. “When we are truly revived by the Eucharist,” he said, “then our encounter with Christ’s real presence in the sacrament opens us to an encounter with him in the rest of our life” and then “spills over in our daily life, a life of relating to others, our way of seeing others.”

On Thursday, Cardinal Dolan, president of the Board of Directors of The Pontifical Mission Societies USA, emphasized the essential role of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. “Without the Eucharist,” he said, “there is no Church. It is the source and summit of our faith, the wellspring of our missionary zeal.” His homily was a clarion call to the faithful to embrace their role as Eucharistic missionaries, drawing inspiration from the very presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

On the second night, close to 50,000 Catholics prayed together, listened to touching personal testimonies, and were invited to reflect on how to turn away from the obstacles that dampen the fire of their love for Jesus Christ.

While Father Mike Schmitz and Mother Mary Olga of the Sacred Heart moved participants with their inspiring keynote exhortations — the last word was given to the Eucharistic Lord. With only beams of white light illuminating the Blessed Sacrament, the darkness and the Latin chants set to Eastern-style melodies led one to forget the bleachers and flags of the stadium that is home of the Colts.

“Too often we say, ‘We have the real presence,’ but our hearts are far from Him. Too often, we just don’t care,” Father Mike said, speaking rapidly and with his characteristic energy.

The remedy to indifference is love, he said, and the road to love is repentance.

One of the most moving testimonies of the gathering came from Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, a petite yet fiery nun from Iraq. Her witness was a testament to the transformative power of the Eucharist. Growing up amidst the turmoil of four wars, she endured unimaginable hardships, including bombings and abuse. Despite suffering from PTSD and chronic nightmares, her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and His Real Presence in the Eucharist has been her anchor. “The Eucharist is my strength,” she shared passionately. “In the darkest times, it is Jesus in the Eucharist who gives me hope and the courage to continue.”

During her session, Mother Olga recounted several powerful stories, including that of a little girl whose mother was dying of cancer. In each instance, the Eucharist was a source of healing, comfort, and strength. Her stories resonated deeply with attendees, underscoring the Eucharist’s role in bringing Christ’s love to those in desperate need.

“All these years of suffering led me to the foot of the cross because I thought the one who had suffered so much would understand my suffering,” she said. “As I was kneeling at the foot of the cross, crying my heart to Jesus to help me bear the crosses of my own life, I encountered the pierced heart of Jesus — and that’s what I heard in my heart on that day: That even on the cross and through the cross, we can still choose to love.”

The five-day Eucharistic Congress, the first one in eight decades, drew some 70,000 people, some for the entire event, others only for the weekend. They represented 50 U.S. states, 17 countries, and various Eastern and Western churches, and spoke over 40 languages, showing the diversity of the Church, which by its very nature is universal.

The closing Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, further reinforced the mission of the Congress. Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to undergo a “missionary conversion,” to let the Eucharist transform their lives and propel them into the world as bearers of Christ’s love. “The Eucharist compels us to go forth and be missionaries,” he said. “We cannot receive the Body and Blood of Christ and remain unchanged. We are called to be His hands and feet, to bring His love to the ends of the earth.”

Throughout the Congress, several bishops and lay leaders shared their insights and calls to action. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles spoke about the indispensable task of being Eucharistic missionaries in each diocese. “We must open our hearts to Jesus in the Eucharist, knowing that He is truly present and calls us to be His apostles in the 21st century,” he said.

Brandon Whitmore, a young adult leader from the National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, expressed his hope and excitement. “Seeing the passion, zeal, and devotion of people here when receiving the Eucharist is inspiring,” he said. “Being missionaries starts with our Catholic friends. Inviting them back to Mass or Church activities can have a snowball effect on their faith.”

Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, highlighted the Marian dimension of this mission. “As children of Mary, we are called to be missionaries of the Eucharist,” he explained. “The Eucharist is the enduring presence of Christ’s sacrifice, and we must announce this sacrifice as the principal nourishment for our souls.”

Bishop Jorge Rodriguez, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, emphasized the transformative power of the Eucharist. “The Eucharist must necessarily make us missionaries,” he stated. “If we have lived the Eucharist well, we are compelled to share what we have received.”

As the faithful returned to their parishes, the call to be missionaries of the Eucharist remained at the forefront of their minds. The National Eucharistic Congress was not just an event but a catalyst for renewed missionary zeal, reminding all that with the Eucharist at the center, the Church is alive, vibrant, and ready to bring Christ’s love to the world.

“Commit yourself to walking with one person,” petitioned Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens in closing the Congress. “Commit yourself to becoming a Eucharistic missionary, someone who lives deeply a Eucharistic life, and having received that gift, allows themselves to be given as a gift.”