The 10th National Eucharistic Congress is being widely hailed as a resounding success. The gathering, held in Indianapolis on July 17-21, saw more than 60,000 Catholics participate in joyful days of prayer and celebration. Here’s a quick list of facts that every Catholic should know about the historic event.
1. 83 years
The 10th National Eucharistic Congress was held on July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis, 83 years after the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress was held on June 23-26, 1941, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
2. More than 60,000 attendees in procession
According to the Indianapolis Police Department, more than 60,000 Catholics participated in the Eucharistic procession in downtown Indianapolis. The procession route, which stretched from the entrance to the Indiana Convention Center to the Indiana War Memorial Museum, was 1.2 miles long.
3. 200,000 hosts consecrated
Congress organizers told Our Sunday Visitor that more than 200,000 hosts and 12 cases of altar wine were used in more than 25 liturgies, which were part of the official events of the National Eucharistic Congress. Additionally, more than 200 charcoals and a gallon of incense were used during the various periods of Eucharistic Adoration throughout the congress. More than 750 ciboria were borrowed from partner ministries and dioceses to use to distribute holy Communion.
4. Only 14 people worked for the National Eucharistic Congress, Inc.
The official organization that hosted the National Eucharistic Congress, the National Eucharistic Congress, Inc, had only 14 employees at the time of the congress. The rest of the support and staff for the congress was contracted or volunteer.
5. One of the largest Holy Qurbanas ever celebrated in the U.S.
More than 20,000 attended the Eucharistic liturgy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Lucas Oil Stadium, making it likely one of the largest such liturgies ever held in the United States.
6. A symphony played the closing Mass
Thanks to a generous grant, the National Eucharistic Congress was able to hire the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to perform at the closing Mass of the National Eucharistic Congress. Their repertoire included Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus” and an original score written by David and Lauren Moore titled the “Mass of Peace.”
7. The congress featured world-class speakers
More than 143 presenters spoke at official congress events, including powerful morning impact sessions and afternoon breakouts. All of the sessions required registration, and many were packed to capacity. The sessions touched on practically every imaginable subject, from Scripture to Catholic universities and gender dysphoria to Catholic virtues for business. The congress also included special breakout sessions for priests and deacons.
8. Jonathan Roumie arrived at the congress just after filming the Last Supper
In his speech to congress attendees in Lucas Oil Stadium, actor Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the blockbuster series “The Chosen,” shared that he had just finished filming the Last Supper. He then read a passage from John’s Gospel (in character), including a verse of particular importance to Roumie (Jn 6:53) that has not been included in the series. He told Our Sunday Visitor the T-shirt he wore, which featured a quote from Flannery O’Connor on the front and Jn 6:53 on the back, was designed by him.
9. A 4-foot-tall monstrance
The 4-foot-tall monstrance used in liturgies in Lucas Oil and the procession through the streets of Indianapolis was made for the Eucharistic Congress. Commissioned from Articulos Religiosos San Jose, a liturgical firm based in Guadalajara, Mexico, the monstrance weighs more than 20 pounds. Pope Francis blessed it during a private audience with congress organizers in Rome on June 19, 2023. Hosts were specially fabricated to use in the monstrance.
10. The Jubilee Year of Redemption, 2033
At the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Congress, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minnesota, and chairman of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., announced that plans have begun to host the next National Eucharistic Congress in 2033, the Jubilee Year of Redemption. He did indicate, however, that congress leaders were open to discerning whether the next congress should be held sooner.
