Pittsburgh bishops join pilgrims for National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis

Bishop David Zubik and auxiliary Bishops Mark Eckman and William Waltersheid are traveling with two busloads of pilgrims from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, headed to the National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21, 2024 in Indianapolis.

Those 70 local pilgrims will join tens of thousands of Catholics who are gathering to deepen their faith and explore what it means for Jesus to be truly present in the Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus’ Presence in the consecrated bread and wine of Holy Communion is not merely symbolic or spiritual, but that his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are actually present in the outward signs of bread and wine.

“The Eucharist is a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice, a sign of His real presence, and a sacrament of unity with the Catholic Church,” Bishop Zubik said. “The Eucharist represents God’s intense love for us, and it empowers us to love each other as sisters and brothers in Christ. We are thrilled to be part of this massive and profound gathering, and I encourage all of the faithful to use this occasion as an opportunity to reconnect to Jesus through the Eucharist, and to experience the peace that comes through Him."

Bishop Waltersheid will speak Saturday, July 20, at 2 p.m. at a breakout session on “The Eucharistic Timeline.”

This is the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States since 1941. (An International Eucharistic Congress was held in Philadelphia in 1976.). This week’s event – years in the planning – was prompted in part by surveys showing that even many practicing Catholics do not understand the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

This National Eucharistic Congress is the third and final part of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival. The first year focused on activities on a diocesan level, and the past year centered on revival in parish life. The Diocese of Pittsburgh was honored to host the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Route as it passed through our diocese from June 12 through June 19. More information is at https://www.eucharisticrevival.org. Highlights will also be shared on Diocese of Pittsburgh social media channels.