The faithful of the Diocese of Allentown are invited to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist at the diocesan Eucharistic Congress March 19.
The one-day event, to be held at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown, will be a key part of the on-going Year of the Real Presence, as well as the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Diocese of Allentown.
“The Holy Eucharist is the core of our Catholic worship,” said Bishop Alfred Schlert, who will celebrate the Mass at the event.
“It is the fullest expression of Jesus’s love for us, because every Mass is a re-presentation of His sacrifice on the cross at Calvary,” Bishop Schlert said. “We could not celebrate worthily our 60th Jubilee as a Diocese without giving thanks to God before the Blessed Sacrament.”
The Eucharistic Congress will feature three tracks for participants – Youth and Young Adults, Adults, and those who speak Spanish.
There will be a morning speaker and a witness talk for each track. Refreshments will be served.
All participants also will be invited to join in the bilingual Rosary, lunch, Adoration, and Confession.
The day will conclude with a keynote speaker, followed by a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert.
One of the featured speakers will be Monsignor Charles Pope, renowned Catholic author and lecturer, and Pastor of Holy Comforter – St. Cyprian Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.
Other speakers will include Father Angel García-Almodóvar, Pastor of St. Margaret Parish, Reading, and Sarah Yaklic, Chief Digital Officer for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
“I invite everyone from across our Diocese to attend the Eucharistic Congress, where we will come together to affirm our belief in the Holy Eucharist,” said Bishop Schlert.
“This is especially important to do when we realize that so few Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.”
The Bishop was referring to research showing that 69 percent of Catholics believe the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist are merely symbols, rather than the actual Body and Blood of Christ.
In fact, when the priest acts in the person of Christ at Mass, he consecrates the bread and wine and its substance (not its appearance or taste) is changed, by the power of the Holy Spirit, into the body and blood of Christ. This change is called “transubstantiation.”
For more information on the Eucharistic Congress, visit the web page at https://yearofrealpresence.org/events/eucharistic-congress/
