‘We beg God to have mercy on His holy Church’
CHARLOTTE — Thousands of people knelt intently on the cold concrete floor of the Charlotte Convention Center Saturday morning, as Bishop Peter Jugis led them in praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary.
The unprecedented move – a first for the Diocese of Charlotte’s Eucharistic Congress – was prompted in response to the turmoil that has shaken the Church in recent weeks, as revelations of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and abuse of power by some Church leaders have been in the news.
“We are saddened, outraged and disgusted by these sins,” Bishop Jugis said before beginning the rosary during the Holy Hour of the Eucharistic Congress Sept. 8. The 14th annual event drew thousands of Catholics from across western North Carolina, but the usually joyful occasion took on a more penitential, somber tone this year.
This year’s Eucharistic Congress, Bishop Jugis said during his opening remarks Friday night, would be a time for all Catholics to pray, make reparation for sins, and encourage each other in pursuing holiness.
Looking at the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar inside the convention hall, the bishop said, “We want to bring before Him prayers of reparation for the horrible sins of abuse and misconduct upon the part of some leaders in the Church, as was revealed to us last month.”
The rosary of reparation was “offered for sins against purity,” he explained to the crowd gathered inside the convention center. “We offer the holy rosary of reparation for sins committed against chastity. We offer the holy rosary of reparation for sins committed against chaste Christian living. We offer the holy rosary of reparation for sins of abuse of power and authority in the Church. We beg God to have mercy on His holy Church.”
“Let us ask Him to cleanse and purify the Church from this open wound,” he continued, “and to bring healing to victims, and ask Him to help us all to dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of holiness.”
Bishop Jugis then took out his rosary from his pocket and knelt in front of the Blessed Sacrament, exposed on the altar for the entire Holy Hour of Reparation.
Making the sign of the cross, he began, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” The thousands of people inside the convention center dropped to their knees and crossed themselves, joining him in prayer.
The Holy Hour was held after a Eucharistic Procession in which thousands of people followed the Blessed Sacrament, carried by Bishop Jugis, and clergy and religious on a mile-long route through the streets of uptown Charlotte from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center.
Benedictine Father Cassian Folsom gave the Holy Hour homily, meditating upon the Holy Hour reading from the Book of Daniel (Chapter 3): known as the Canticle of the Three Young Men.
He explained that this canticle is a Eucharistic prayer of praise and thanksgiving, by all of creation to the Creator. Similarly, we give thanks and praise during the Mass, the Eucharist, Christ’s sacrifice to redeem the world,
“When you gaze at the Blessed Sacrament. exposed as the Host, you are gazing upon the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,” he said.
— Catholic News Herald. Photo by John Cosmas, Catholic News Herald
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Pray the sorrowful mysteries along with Bishop Jugis
CHARLOTTE — The faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte are invited to the 14th annual Eucharistic Congress – a free, two-day event celebrating our Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist Sept. 7-8 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
In what has become an annual gathering of the Church in western North Carolina, the Eucharistic Congress is expected to attract more than 15,000 people from around the state and the Southeast.
This year’s Eucharistic Congress theme is “I am the Living Bread,” which are the words Christ spoke in the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel (Jn 6:51).
The congress will include Mass; a Eucharistic procession through uptown Charlotte; the sacrament of confession; speakers and programs geared especially for adults, children and college students; vendors offering Catholic merchandise and information; and more.
It will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday with a time of quiet reflection and chant, then a welcome at 6:45 p.m. from Bishop Jugis in Hall A of the Convention Center. At 7 p.m. Byzantine rite vespers will be prayed. This will be followed by a talk at 8:15 p.m. by Trent Horn entitled: “The Beginner’s Guide to Defending the Faith.”
Trent Horn is a convert to the faith and serves as staff apologist for Catholic Answers and specializes in teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them. He models that approach each week on the radio program “Catholic Answers Live.” Horn is the author of three books: “Answering Atheism,” “Persuasive Pro-life” and his latest book, “Hard Sayings: A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties.”
After Horn’s talk, there will be an evening Eucharistic procession to St. Peter Church starting at 9:15 p.m., where Adoration will take place all night. There will also be a special College Night program for college students during which Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers of EWTN will speak.
Saturday’s congress events kick off at 9 a.m. with a Eucharistic procession that follows a route from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center. A Holy Hour – featuring a homily by Benedictine Father Cassian Folsom, an American-born monk now living in the Monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia, Italy – will immediately follow the procession at 10:15 a.m.
An English track, Spanish track, Vietnamese program, youth and other tracks will be offered throughout the day. Bishop Peter Jugis will celebrate Mass at the conclusion of the congress Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Know before you go:
- Parking decks are located at The Green (adjacent to St. Peter Church) and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Flat parking is available at 510 S. Caldwell St. and 510 S. College St. You can also park along the Lynx Blue Line and get off at the 3rd St./Convention Center stop.
- The Charlotte Convention Center prohibits outside food from being brought inside. The prohibition includes coolers and other containers of food. Food service options are available in the building, and many restaurants are located around the Convention Center.
- Over 80 commercial and informational vendors will be on hand inside the Charlotte Convention Center, from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday night, Sept. 7, and on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.
More information online
At www.goeucharist.com: See the full schedule of events, read more about the featured speakers and activities, get parking information and more
Speakers
Trent Horn: ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Defending the Faith’
8:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7
Staff apologist for Catholic Answers, lecturer on the Catholic faith and co-host of “Hearts and Minds,” a weekly radio program. Author of “Answering Atheism,” “Persuasive Pro-life” and “Hard Sayings: A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties.” Find out more at www.trenthorn.com.
Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB
Holy Hour homilist, 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8
Started his religious life at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana and founded the Monastery of San Benedetto in Rome before moving the community to Norcia (the birthplace of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica) in 2000. The monastery there had been closed since 1810, but now the community has grown from three members to 17, and they follow a full observance of the Rule of St. Benedict. Learn more at www.en.nursia.org.
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers: ‘Truth, Freedom, and The Human Person: Understanding Our Life in Christ’
12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8
Known as the “Dynamic Deacon,” a passionate preacher whose no-nonsense approach proclaiming the Catholic faith is sure to inspire. Host of several popular series on EWTN and author of “Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality.” Learn more at www.deaconharold.com.
Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, FSGM: ‘The Catechism: A Gift to Prayer and Catholic Life’
1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8
One of the leading catechetists in the U.S., member of the theology faculty at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Advises the U.S. bishops’ conference on evangelization and catechesis, and has served the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. Author of “Mentors for the New Evangelization.”
Eucharistic Procession
9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8
The Eucharistic Procession, in which Bishop Peter J. Jugis carries a monstrance containing a consecrated host – the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – is a highlight of the two-day Eucharistic Congress.
Join the Eucharistic Procession through uptown Charlotte to the Charlotte Convention Center, where the Eucharistic Congress will be held. It will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at St. Peter Church at 507 S. Tryon St. Line up along the procession route as noted at right and join in with your parish once its banner passes.
The 2018 First Communicants will lead the procession along with Bishop Jugis. (They and their parents or guardians, clergy, religious and banner carriers should gather as directed on Tryon Street north of St. Peter Church no later than 8:30 a.m.) Parents must walk alongside their children throughout the procession.
The Eucharistic Procession will culminate inside Hall A of the convention center, where a Holy Hour will be celebrated starting at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.
Mass
4:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8
Join Bishop Peter Jugis and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte for the celebration of Holy Mass at the conclusion of the 2018 Eucharistic Congress, starting at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, inside the Charlotte Convention Center.
Vendors
Commercial vendors
ABCatholic
Angela’s Religious Gifts
Angelluz Religious Jewelry
Apostoles de la Palabra
Augustine Institute / Lighthouse Catholic Media
Bayleaf Signs and Wonders
Bethlehem Christian family
Bless Buy Enterprise
CATgear
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Writers Guild
CatholicMatch Institute
CatholicMatch.com
Fiats Imports
Fundacion Ramon Pane
Gifra
Glorious Jerusalem Products
Got Mary? / Got Mercy?
Holy Kids
J.S. Paluch
Ladybug Legend Rosaries
Lifetouch Photo Directories
Lourdes Martinez
Magnificat
March for Life Charlotte
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, Monroe, N.C.
Pauline Books & Media
Religious Medals OMG
Reverent Coverings
Saint Benedict Press / TAN Books
St. Joseph College Seminary
Shepherd Field Group
The Beckert Group at Merrill Lynch
The Catholic Shoppe at Belmont Abbey College
Tiny Saints
Tradition Family Property
Wallick Investments, LLC
Information vendors
African American Affairs Ministry
Belmont Abbey College
Catholic and Care for Our Common Home
Catholic Campus Ministry
Catholic Charities
Catholic News Herald
Catholic Pro-Life Action Network of Charlotte (C-PLAN)
Catholics and Capital Punishment
Catholics and Immigration
Catholics and Racism
Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group
Charlotte Latin Mass Community
Divine Mercy
Divine Will
Education Vicariate - Diocese of Charlotte
Eucharistic Congress
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Family Honor
Franciscan Passages
Glenmary Home Missioners
Grupo de Consagrados a Jesús a través de María
Helpers of God’s Precious Infants
Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center
Knights of Columbus N.C. State Council
Lay Dominicans
Legion of Mary / Our Lady of LaSalette Western Carolina Curia
Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools
Mary’s Sons
MiraVia
Missionaries of the Poor
Mother of God Mission Society
Poor Servants of the Mother of God
ProCatholic Inc.
Regnum Christi of the Carolinas
Room At The Inn
Seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte
Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker
Spring Hill College
Te Deum Foundation
Testimony of Catholic Authors
Williams K of C Insurance Agency