After prayer and reflection, the Eucharistic Congress Committee and USCCB decided that in 2029 Catholics will once again gather in Indianapolis for a Eucharistic Congress. This Congress will do more than simply build upon the graces of the 2024 gathering of 50,000 participants. This event will not only remind us of the graces obtained when we put the Eucharist at the center of our lives, it will also prepare U.S. Catholics for two milestones: the 500th appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2029 and the second millennium of redemption in 2033. The goal is not to simply recreate the experience of the 2024 Congress, but to further our Eucharistic fervor.
During Summer 2027, the U.S. will again experience a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. In mid-October, the application period for the Eucharistic Pilgrims closed. A new group of young people will be selected to accompany Our Eucharistic Lord as He travels throughout the U.S. The pilgrimage provides an opportunity to join with the Pilgrims on their journey, in Jesus’ journey. In past years, thousands have joined the pilgrimage as it wove through numerous towns and cities. Along the way, there were numerous opportunities to engage in prayer and quiet adoration.
The graces of the 2027 Pilgrimage and 2029 Eucharistic Congress are threefold:
Encounter, Healing, and Community.
Jesus wants to meet us where we are and heal us. We make a mistake when we categorize God as distant, when in truth He wants to be an intimate part of our lives in the person of Jesus. The Pilgrimage and Congress also give us an opportunity to worship with others who share a passion for our Eucharistic Lord and to rest in the Lord.
The Eucharistic Congress website https://eucharisticcongress.org/ will provide the latest updates on specific details, particularly the program schedule and speakers as they become known. It will also include information about the pilgrimage. You can sign up on the webpage for email alerts of the latest information. There is also a wonderful video containing highlights of the 2024 Eucharistic Congress and an online journal of reflections by the Perpetual Pilgrims.
In reflecting on the 2026 Pilgrimage, Eduardo Guiterriz, one of the Perpetual Pilgrims, noted, “The most beautiful thing I’ve found is that we can come to the Eucharist as we are, but we will not leave the same. There is so much beauty in allowing Jesus in the Eucharist to come into your heart and transform you.” Such wonderful words of inspiration to draw us close to the Blessed Sacrament.
Sister M. Marcella Louise Wallowicz CSFN
