In a moment of encouragement for Catholics seeking deeper renewal, the U.S. bishops confirmed last week that the 11th National Eucharistic Congress is officially set for 2029. In the meantime, organizers are inviting the faithful to find Christ in the everyday and prepare their hearts for what lies ahead.
Tanner Kalina, NEC director of content, wrote in a Nov. 13 press release that the event “will be another life-changing opportunity to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, and we are incredibly grateful for our spiritual fathers recognizing that.”
The vote to set the date took place at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, as CatholicVote previously reported.
The most recent NEC took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2024 and drew thousands of Catholics from around the country together to worship Jesus in the Eucharist. Kalina wrote that for those who attended, it was clear the congress was changing lives.
“As far as events go for helping people encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, it was second to none,” he wrote.
Kalina offered a reflection on the meaning of “encounter” — and the means by which the faithful can continue to draw close to Christ.
“Encountering God is experiencing Who we know to be true,” he wrote, adding that such an experience transforms people into Christ’s disciples and inspires them to help others know God.
God is constantly offering ways He can be found, Kalina said.
“Every sacrament is a guaranteed encounter with Jesus,” he wrote. “That means every time we go to Confession, we encounter Him and His mercy. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we receive Him and His very Presence. Every sacrament we encounter, we encounter Christ acting through that sacrament.”
One also draws near to Christ while praying, Kalina emphasized.
“Our prayer is our relationship with Jesus, so every time we set aside time to pray, we enter into that intimate space of encounter with the Lover of our souls,” he wrote. “Every time we serve someone, making a gift of our time, talent, and treasure, we can encounter him. In the words of Jesus, ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Mt 25:40b).”
Christ can also be present in genuine friendships with others, as He said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” Kalina recalled.
He added that the Lord is also found in the beauty of creation and challenged people to open their hearts to see Christ throughout their days.
“[W]e need to encounter God in a plethora of ways for our faith to come alive,” he wrote. The question really just becomes, do we have the eyes to see Him when we do these things? Do we have the ears to hear Him?”
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