By Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz
From August 1-8, 1976, in conjunction with our country’s bicentennial, the United States hosted the 41st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Philadelphia, PA. The event brought 1.5 million Catholics, 44 cardinals, and 417 bishops to the birthplace of the U.S. Among the keynote speakers were two future canonized Saints: Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II) and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The theme of the Congress was The Eucharist and the Hungers of the Human Family. Conferences and events explored different aspects of physical and spiritual hunger.
Three key events highlighted the IEC: a candlelight procession from the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul along the Parkway, a day dedicated to various ethnic groups, and the closing liturgy in JFK Stadium. Along with the conferences and keynote talks, these parallel the highlights of the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress: the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, the Spanish, English, Vietnamese, and Eastern-rite liturgies, and the closing liturgy at Lucas Oil Stadium.
350,000 people processed a 1-mile route along the Parkway on one August evening in 1976. This summer, hundreds of thousands processed more than 2,600 miles over the span of two months from four corners of the United States to Indianapolis. At the IEC, the gift to the Church of the various ethnic cultures was celebrated in 22 distinct liturgies.
Sister Janice Kobierowski, although ministering in New England in 1976, was in the city for her summer home visit. Her family resided within Saint Adalbert Parish, which hosted the Polish prelates, including Cardinal Wojtyla. This was Sister’s first encounter with the future Pope John Paul II, but not the last. In leadership capacity, Sister Janice — as Provincial Superior of our former Immaculate Heart of Mary Province and later as Provincial Superior of the former Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd Province — attended several General Chapters in Rome. During these Chapters, delegates met in a private audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and attended Mass celebrated by him in his private chapel. Sister recalled another meeting with the future Saint at the time of the beatification of Mother Foundress in 1989. Sister had the privilege of meeting him during his visit to our generalate.
1976 was a special year for Sister Marguerite Therese Maguire not only because of the IEC, but it was also the year of her final vows. Sister reflected on her attendance at the closing liturgy, noting what a moving experience it was to hear more than 100,000 singing the official hymn, “Gift of Finest Wheat,” which has endured over the years. Another sister commented she was touched by the sending forth hymn, “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King,” an experience of the call to mission that this year’s Congress attendees also shared. Nearly 50 years after the IEC, the Holy Spirit is once again empowering Catholics to witness their faith in the Real Presence and invite others into relationship with Our Eucharistic Lord.
On May 31, 2024, Holy Family University was a stop along the Seton Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Fifteen permanent pilgrims accompanied the Blessed Sacrament from Norwich, CT, along the eastern coast. The opportunity to pray with these pilgrims before the Blessed Sacrament in the university chapel was extended to our sisters in the Mid-Atlantic area. Our sisters were moved by the faithful witness of these young men and women. Ironically, on May 31 the Church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation, the first Eucharistic Procession, when Mary carrying Jesus in her womb visited Elizabeth. In 1976, another sponsored ministry, Nazareth Academy High School, was also a stop for Congress participants — in particular, the Polish delegation to the IEC, including the future Pope John Paul II.
In 1976, many of our sisters worked “behind the scenes” at the Congress, participating in the archdiocesan 1,000-voice choir and daily liturgies, hosting pilgrims and prelates, and preparing students for various roles in the week’s events. In 2024, some of our sisters had a more visible role in the Congress and the Revival. Sister Josephine Garrett was a keynote speaker on Day 3 of the Congress. The author of Hope: An Invitation and host of the podcast Hope Stories, Sister Josephine addressed our brokenness as humans and as a Church, but reminded those in attendance that Jesus the Divine Healer meets us in our brokenness. Sisters Marcelina Mikulska and Marcella Louise Wallowicz serve on the editorial board for the Heart of the Revival newsletter, a weekly blog on the Eucharistic Revival under the auspices of the USCCB.
The National Eucharistic Congress marks a transition from the Year of Parish Revival to the Year of Mission in which we are called to be disciples. The Year of Parish Revival was the opportunity to renew or deepen our personal relationship with the Eucharistic Lord. Now we are invited to share the fruits of this year and the events of this summer and bring Christ’s love to a world still hungering for it.
