By Father Norman Carroll
Diocese of Wilmington
Tens of thousands of Catholics made pilgrimage to Indianapolis for a pivotal event in the life of the Catholic church in the United States.
Our eight seminarians and I made the journey and had the experience of a lifetime when Lucas Oil Stadium was transformed into the largest cathedral.
Having participated in World Youth Day in Denver in 1993 I knew the impact such an event would have on those on the road to priesthood. For the seminarians to experience the applause of priests and religious as they passed by for the processions or to hear the people along the Eucharistic Procession yell: “Thank you for your yes” or “We love our seminarians” is just an experience that these men will carry with them.
I told them on the way to be prepared for Catholic Disneyworld, an experience of the best-known representatives and personalities of the Catholic church, a gathering of ministries and missions to be shared with you, and a crowd of joyful and happy people who will take over the city and make it magical. All will be gathered in the love of the same Jesus Christ who loves each of us so much that he made himself present to us.
Watch the magic happen.
It was more than magic. It was real. The National Eucharistic Congress brought together pilgrims from across the country of every age. There was a significant number of families and small children as well as many young religious sisters and brothers. If you wanted a picture of the church’s future it was there, and our seminarians experienced it.
Another draw was the exhibit hall filled with every imaginable Catholic resource. Taking that in was an experience. There is obviously a lot going on in the Catholic church. The laity that are making it happen were visible and full of enthusiasm for the mission. Add to that the presence of Catholic colleges and universities and an array of religious communities to inspire vocations. I am sure that the experience strengthened our seminarians and other discerners present. I believe that it will bear fruit for future vocations from those who saw the Church so big and filled with possibilities, support, and a clear mission to proclaim Christ present in the Eucharist. When that takes root in the heart a response will come. History tells us that a high percentage of vocations have been inspired by participation in such a national gathering like WYD, NCYC or SEEK.
The days were filled with what would appear to be the components of entertainment: motivational talks, great music, ritual and the power of silence. But at this event the focus of all of these important pieces was Jesus Christ. His Eucharistic Presence was clearly at the center. It was such a big experience, but the invitation was clearly a relationship with Jesus Christ offered to each and to all.
Jesus offers and wants intimacy with us, for us to know him and to realize how much he knows our hearts. Those who have responded to a call to priesthood all have some experience of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Through the style of music that speaks to them and the words read or listened to, they have been drawn to know him who is already looking at them.
Fundamental to Eucharistic Adoration is believing that God wants us to rest with him and them be encouraged by him to go and be the disciple he has called each of us to be.
Equally, fundamental to the reception of communion is an appreciation that this sacrament will satisfy our hunger as we encounter him and experience him in a way that we want others to know.
It was so appropriate to arrive home after such and experience and hear the story of Mary Magdalane on her feast. She encountered the Risen Christ and was challenged, while running, to figure out how she would articulate the news once she arrived in the presence of the disciples.
She powerfully says: “I have seen the Lord.”
She must then do her best to describe the experience so that others will be moved to seek the relationship themselves and jump into the excitement of the good news. Dennis, Eric, James, Tibor, Joe, Kaya, Anthony, Jakob and I will be unpacking this experience to ultimately make his Presence real so that his people will receive the gift offered.
Amen!
Father Norman Carroll is vocations director for the Diocese of Wilmington and pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Bear.
