I just returned from the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, and let me tell ya. There is quite a bit to discuss.
The registration line wasn’t long enough
I stood in line to get my badge for an hour and a half. Some people stood in line for two hours. I did not hear of anyone waiting in line for three hours, the same length of time Jesus hung on the Cross. If we want to really make a difference in people’s lives, we need the registration line for the 11th National Eucharistic Conference to be a three-hour wait. Someone in the planning committee, please listen!
There needed to be more kids there
Yeah, there were families who brought their children with them, but we needed more. I only saw one child dancing to praise and worship music.
There weren’t enough clergy there
Processing in for Mass took 20 minutes. We needed more time to sing and praise Jesus as they processed in. I hope that at the 11th National Eucharistic Congress it takes at least a half hour and that there are more than just the measly 1,500 priests there.
It was hard to smell the incense during Mass and Adoration
The senses are great way to be reminded to come back to prayer when distracted. If the incense was more prominent, it would have been easier to focus for this ADHDer. Perhaps, next time, borrow the Botafumeiro from Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
The “Movie Jesus” wasn’t there.
We had real Jesus (in the Eucharist) and “TV Jesus” (AKA Jonathan Roumie), but where was Jim Caviezel?
Bishop Barron dropped too many truth bombs
Yo, Bishop! Give us a chance to breathe. Some of us were taking notes. I couldn’t keep up!
The Eastern Rites didn’t get enough love
We had a Syro-Malabar Qurbana, and a Byzantine liturgy, but there 23 Eastern Rites in the Church! We all are united. Let’s see some more of them represented next time.
The next Eucharistic Congress isn’t until 2033
That’s too long to wait! They need to plan this at a better rate, of every 4 years or so. This was a massive success.
You weren’t there!
There were, by the final Mass, 60,000 people there. But, there are approximately 70 million Catholics in the United States. There was room in the upper-most level of the stadium for you at the final Mass. You could have been there. Don’t take this as a rebuke. Consider it an exhortation. They are doing it again for sure in 2033 and perhaps sooner (there were hints that they were thinking about it). I found myself moved spiritually. I may have “complained” a lot in this post—most of it was humorous jest—but it was a phenomenal experience. I sincerely hope, if you are able, that you consider going to the next one.