More than 10,000 turn out for Eucharistic Congress

Two-hour procession culminates in Holy Hour, with message to ‘Remain with God and in God’

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of people streamed through Uptown Charlotte Saturday for the signature procession of the annual Eucharistic Congress – singing, praying, strumming guitars and following Bishop Michael Martin carrying the Blessed Sacrament.

The two-day event opened Friday night with a rousing praise-and-worship concert and keynote address from Bishop Martin, then resumed Saturday with a solemn yet joyful procession. An estimated crowd exceeding 10,000 people from across the western half of North Carolina walked in the two-hour procession from historic St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center, where the congress is taking place.

The procession featured children in their First Communion outfits, hundreds of clergy and consecrated religious, apostolic groups, ministries and all of the diocese’s 92 parishes – carrying 105 banners and walking together in public witness behind Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist.

Afterward, thousands filled the Convention Center for a Holy Hour led by Bishop Martin. This is the 20th annual Eucharistic Congress and the bishop’s first since being ordained for the Charlotte diocese in May.

“A hundred years from now, not one of us will be here. But guess who will? If we remain in God, we remain in Him who remains with us at all times.” — Father Juan Miguel Sanchez

Addressing a standing-room only congregation estimated at 10,000 people, Father Juan Miguel Sanchez – priest-secretary for Bishop Martin – delivered the Holy Hour homily in English and Spanish.

In his homily, he recalled a moment from his childhood when he saw his mother cry after receiving the Eucharist and that he came to understand why as he got older. He told the story to help illustrate the distinction between true faith and appearances.

“We don't pray to be seen, but it is good to be seen praying,” Father Sanchez said. “We don't make a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to be seen in the streets of Charlotte, but it is good to be seen in the streets of Charlotte walking with our God. My mom was not crying in front of Our Lord to be seen by her children, but it was certainly good for me to see my mom being so close to God.”

Father Sanchez’s overall message was shaped by the Gospel reading about the vine and branches (Jn 15:1-8) as he encouraged the congregation to remain close to Jesus.

“In the Gospel, Jesus is saying I am the true vine, and we are the branches, and He eagerly invites us to remain in Him,” he said, echoing the theme of the Congress, ‘Remain in Me.’ “But in being branches we can be two different ways: those who are joined, at least by name, but there are no fruits, and those who are joined and yield fruit and are capable of yielding even more.”

He continued, “The invitation of Christ is to remain in Him. He is not saying remain a Christian in name and that would be enough or even remain somewhat close to me, but in Me. Jesus speaks of a remaining that implies, not just a closeness, but an intimate union to Him, with Him and in Him.”

Father Sanchez said this invitation is what the sacraments are all about and the teachings of the Church have as a goal.

“The more we adhere to Jesus’s Divine Will, the more we will be able to give fruit and the more we will be one with Him,” he said.

Then he connected his message to the sacrament that brought so many of the faithful to Charlotte for the weekend.

“The Eucharist, unlike any of us, will have a mysterious, remaining, permanent presence in the world, at least until the end of times. Think about it. A hundred years ago none of us were here.

“But guess who was here? A hundred years from now, not one of us will be here. But guess who will? If we remain in God, we remain in Him who remains with us at all times.”

— Annie Ferguson. Photos by Patrick Schneider, Troy Hull, Binh-An Nguyen and Giuliana Polinari Riley.

More online