By the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Praised be Jesus Christ dear Sisters! This day was filled with gratitude to be together as one family, adoring and loving the Eucharistic Jesus. What an incredible end to an awe-inspiring Congress. We were reminded repeatedly by all this morning’s speakers that this is not the finish line, but rather the starting line. This revival fire must reach the ends of the earth for it to mean anything at all. Popes all the way back to Paul VI have been saying for decades that we need a new “Pentecost” in today’s Church. We began the morning with the family rosary, led by Fr. Rocky. It was so beautiful to see the many intentions families mentioned in between the decades of the rosary.
Our Emcees, Sister Miriam James, Fr. Josh Johnson, and Montse Alvarado introduced today’s theme “to the ends of the earth.” Mike Hopkins, an astronaut, shared his story of marrying a Catholic but choosing to not practice the faith. When his dream came true to be in the “Astronaut Class XX” he still felt something was missing. He was getting ready to travel to space and knowing that 17 astronauts had previously died in similar missions, he realized he was not spiritually ready for that level of risk, so he prayed, and God pointed to him the door of the Catholic Church. He went through the process of entering the Catholic Church and received Holy Communion for the first time and at that moment his life changed forever. He had permission to take a pyx to space and receive Holy Communion during his mission.
Chris Stefanick then presented on the joy of the gospel and the good news of God, who gives purpose to our lives and God himself is LOVE. God gives us everything and every time we hear “body of Christ,” this demands a radical response, by becoming a saint and sharing the gospel with confidence. The Gospel is made for every human heart. We are amid a love story and need to communicate and invite others into this love story by reminding them that Jesus LOVES them and died for them and will never leave their side. Afterwards, Mother Adela, foundress of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary also sent forth the people to proclaim the gospel with boldness. She encouraged us to be Marian missionaries of the Eucharist with renewed zeal, new ardor and new generosity.
The National Eucharistic Congress closed with a beautiful and reverent Holy Mass, presided by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church currently serving as the Pro Prefect for the Section of Evangelization of Dicastery for Evangelization since June 5, 2022, and as the President of Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious since December 8, 2019. Our Holy Father Pope Francis appointed him as the Special Envoy to the National Eucharistic Congress. He delivered a very beautiful homily on the gift that we receive in the Holy Eucharist and the gift that we receive in each person. We receive the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist and need to keep receiving Jesus in each other. He exhorted us to not stay but GO and share the good news of this gift. Being sent forth to proclaim the Gospel and be a light for our world. This Mass was a foretaste of heaven: The Indianapolis Philharmonic orchestra played the music for the liturgy and to witness just the procession itself was impressive. The procession was at least 30 minutes with hundreds of deacons, about two thousand priests and 300 bishops. There were 60,000 people in attendance for both the closing Mass and last night’s impact session and Eucharistic Adoration. That is exactly what we prayed for during the closing Mass- all 60,000 of us!
Imagine what could happen in the Church if each of us committed to walking with one person as we discover or rediscover Jesus in the Eucharist! We are being sent out from here as Eucharistic missionaries like our Blessed Mother… and as Bishop Cozzens joyfully announced, we are looking forward to welcoming Jesus into the streets of Los Angeles on Corpus Christi of 2025!
Bishop Cozzens also announced the 11th National Eucharistic Congress, in honor of the Jubilee year in 2033. We can look forward to next year’s Eucharistic pilgrimage from Indianapolis to Los Angeles!
When Mother and the Sisters saw Archbishop Gomez afterwards, he said, “I will need your help.” Mother and the sisters responded with open hands! Jesus is coming!
We met so many people and fellow pilgrims at different gates and airports. One family that is staying at the same hotel as we taught us an acronym: P.O.P.E. This is all Part Of the Pilgrimage Experience!
God bless you Sisters, and we can’t wait to see you soon!