2024 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress
Thousands of people take part in a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Uptown Charlotte in what is a signature part of the Diocese of Charlotte’s annual Eucharistic Congress. This year’s Eucharistic Congress will take place Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at the Charlotte Convention Center. (File | Catholic News Herald)
Youth and young adults invited to Friday night concert, movie premiere and reception with the bishop
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s 2024 Eucharistic Congress is shaping up to be an exciting two days of powerful personal stories, prayer and praise – and it’s all free for everyone to attend.
The two-day event – the largest of its kind in North Carolina – begins Friday, Aug. 30, at the Charlotte Convention Center with an evening of music, drama and saintly inspiration.
Headlining this year’s Eucharistic Congress will be Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv. On Friday night, he will give a keynote address to young people, followed by a “meet and greet” reception.
Friday night will also feature a performance by Dove Award-nominated artist Sarah Kroger, fresh off her performance at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
There will also be a free premiere of “Triumph of the Heart,” the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s last days in Auschwitz. Its writer/director Anthony D’Ambrosio will share his powerful conversion story that inspired him to make the movie.
There will also be appearances by Adoration Ultra runner Jimmy Coleman, former professional soccer star Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, and more.
The Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey will lead evening prayer.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, events begin with a dramatic Eucharistic procession through the streets of Uptown Charlotte into the Charlotte Convention Center. Thousands of parishioners, Catholic groups, clergy, religious and 2024 First Communicants will follow Bishop Martin carrying the Blessed Sacrament – the Real Presence of Jesus – for all to witness.
The procession will conclude with Holy Hour and a homily delivered by Father Juan Miguel Sanchez.
Eucharistic Adoration and the sacrament of confession will be offered all day Saturday.
Saturday’s talks will feature Jesuit Father Robert Spitzer, Father Hilgenbrinck and emcee Pete Burak. There will be additional programs in Spanish and Vietnamese, plus lots of food, music and Catholic vendors offering unique merchandise.
Saturday afternoon will also have special programs for middle and high school students, families, and special needs individuals.
The 2024 Eucharistic Congress will end with Mass, offered by Bishop Martin and the priests of the diocese.
— Catholic News Herald
More online
At www.goeucharist.com: See the full schedule of Eucharistic Congress events, speaker profiles, a sneak peek of “Triumph of the Heart,” and more
Register now for special programs, volunteer sign-ups
Middle / High School Track
This year’s event will feature a special afternoon program just for middle and high school students (rising sixth graders to 12th graders): “Conversion: What’s your story?” Guest speakers Marcellino D’Ambrosio and Jimmy Coleman will share their stories of conversion.
D’Ambrosio is the co-founder of a Catholic creative marketing firm and involved with the production of “Triumph of the Heart,” a feature-length movie about St. Maximilian Kolbe’s final days in Auschwitz that will premiere Friday night at the Eucharistic Congress.
Coleman is a member of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte who conceived of “Adoration Ultras” – ultramarathons that involve running from church to church for Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament to raise awareness of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. His Adoration Ultras have attracted other runners to join him, most recently for the National Eucharistic
Congress in Indianapolis, and the effort has drawn local and national media attention.
The teen program will also include trivia, music provided by Belmont Abbey College students, a talk by newly ordained Father Matthew Harrison, small group breakout sessions, adoration, and
the opportunity to receive the sacrament of confession.
Advance registration is required at www.goeucharist.com/schedule/high-school-middle-school-track
Note: There will be no children’s track at the Eucharistic Congress this year.
Special Needs Track
This year’s event will also feature an afternoon program designed for special needs individuals and their families. Participants will spend their time exploring what it means to remain in Jesus through movement, games, crafts and stories. Advance registration is required at www.goeucharist.com/schedule/special-needs-track.
2024 First Communicants
A highlight of the annual Eucharistic Congress is a mile-long procession through the streets of uptown Charlotte on Saturday morning. It starts at St. Peter Church at 9 a.m. and ends inside the Charlotte Convention Center, where the day’s program is held.
Children who have received their first Holy Communion this year are invited by Bishop Martin to participate in the procession. Registration is encouraged. For details and to register, go to www.goeucharist.com/schedule/procession.
Volunteer sign-ups
Become a volunteer and make new friends, have fun and get a behind-the-scenes look at how this incredible two-day event comes together. Sign up by Thursday, Aug. 15, at www.goeucharist.com/get-involved.
‘Remain in Me’
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis has announced the theme for the 20th annual Eucharistic Congress to be held Aug. 30-31: “Remain in Me” – which comes from the Gospel of John.
Part worship experience, part diocesan “family reunion,” the annual Eucharistic Congress at the Charlotte Convention Center is an opportunity to deepen our faith and be inspired by Christ’s love for us.
The theme comes from the Last Supper discourse in the Gospel of John 15:4.
In announcing the theme, Bishop Jugis noted the integral connection between the love of Christ and the Eucharist:
“Our Synod listening sessions revealed a desire on the part of our parishioners to renew and anchor our lives in the Holy Eucharist, where Christ Jesus remains truly present with us in the Blessed Sacrament,” Bishop Jugis said. “In St. John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Remain in Me” (Jn 15:4). Why does Jesus want us to remain in Him, to anchor our lives in Him and stay united to Him?
“It is in order to produce the good fruit of the Kingdom. The Lord says: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches; whoever remains in Me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without Me you can do nothing.’ It is especially through our union with Christ in Holy Communion that we remain in Christ and anchor our lives in Him. He assures us: ‘Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him.’
“And so, we joyfully respond to the Lord’s call, ‘Remain in Me,’ and with deep faith we receive Him in Holy Communion in order to constantly renew our lives and produce good fruit as His disciples.”
In addition, this passage from scripture reveals the depth of our Christian life and the vital importance and need to stay connected to our true vine, our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a treatise on John’s gospel, St. Augustine explains Jesus’s words: “(The disciples) are not in Him in the same kind of way that He is in them. And yet both ways tend to their advantage, and not to His. For the relation of the branches to the vine is such that they contribute nothing to the vine, but from it derive their own means of life. … For when the branch is cut off, another may spring up from the living root; but that which is cut off cannot live apart from the root” (Tractate 81, 1-2).
Get updates about the 2024 Eucharistic Congress online at www.goeucharist.com.
— Spencer K.M. Brown
Your DSA contributions at work
Your DSA contributions at workThe diocese’s Eucharistic Congress is funded in part by contributions to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.
Learn more about the DSA and how you can contribute at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.