If you didn’t get a chance to attend the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in Indianapolis this past July with the 50,000 or so others, it is not too late to enjoy its fruits.
Thanks to technology, we can visit eucharisticcongress.org and tap the homepage prompt: “Relive the congress” for content from the event, podcast recordings and more. The Eucharistic revival can be experienced right at home and shared with others, including with members of the small groups to which we belong.
The first small group — the family — is one within our spheres of influence where saints are born and develop. Other small groups outside of the home can enhance our growth as Catholic Christians to sanctify the culture and make us the saints our Lord calls us to be.
I tried to express my zeal for evangelization to the Knights of Columbus (the original watchmen who “stand at the breach”) chapter of Cannon Falls earlier this month at their annual Columbus Day banquet — wives included. Being a Catholic multimedia aficionado, I shared that I use the Relevant Radio (free) app to replay the NEC talks that I enjoyed as an attendee.
I also catch up with the many presentations my wife and I missed at the event (since we could not bilocate!). So much inspirational Catholic intellect, humor and talent was offered up — and the speakers contributed because they love the Lord. Yet the message explicitly given by these popular and devout Catholic leaders — led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston — at the event was that we need to do the same thing. We need to share that love. We need to live and proclaim the heart of the Gospel to others we encounter –– and pray to the Holy Spirit for the right words when the opportunity presents itself.
The fire of the Holy Spirit does not allow us to keep the Gospel message to ourselves. As Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester proclaimed in the final evening revival session, “your Christianity is not for you. It is not a self-help program … your Christianity is for the world.”
The privilege we have of receiving the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist needs to be shared. The body and blood that feeds us and strengthens us in holiness needs to be known by all we touch.
Another speaker was Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” series. He spoke about filming the Last Supper scene, and then recited the Bread of Life discourse from John 6. While the discourse did not make it into the series, Roumie delivered a compelling rendition of the truth of Jesus’ message. It is a message we believers know is true, and not to be kept to ourselves.
How do we best do this as providers, protectors and leaders of the faith? It has been proven over the years that friendships develop through small group relationships that provide effective conduits for evangelization — and in making more saints.
As we implement year two of Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s pastoral letter, “You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room,” we are called to focus on knowing, appreciating and living the Mass and the Eucharist. And our chief shepherd, Archbishop Hebda, asks that small groups continue to develop and flourish. The small groups that were formed in year one need to press on into year two and beyond — multiplying into more small groups as guided by the Holy Spirit.
The NEC materials are just one resource — albeit vast and timely — with an abundance of videos, podcasts and materials to help us lead or participate in a small group that can focus on the real presence of Jesus in our sacramental lives.
For example, a six- to eight-week series on the Real Presence could be developed from the various NEC talks, breakout sessions and other activities. Leaders could listen and sort through the dynamic speakers and talented musicians who contributed throughout the five days. Many talks were about 20 minutes to 30 minutes long and could fit right into the Parish Evangelization Cell System moments.
The world we live in needs to know about the real presence of Jesus. He wants to lead us and bring us into his divine friendship. As Chris Stefanick closed out his talk (with his classic, inspiring enthusiasm) in the final morning encounter session at the NEC: “If you want to really experience a Pentecost moment, let’s stop asking small of God … after all, your God created a universe … How about this: Lord, unleash heaven on me, give me all the grace I need to be the saint you made me to be.” And finally, “go and announce the Gospel of the Lord; two-thirds of God’s name is ‘Go.’”
Let us pray large and be the small group saint God calls us to be. At Pentecost, Jesus’ Apostles baptized 3,000. After that, Christianity was largely about small groups.
Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and assists with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. He can be reached at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
