A Revival on the Road
“Please don’t let this be a one and done!” That was the heartfelt plea voiced by many who attended the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last summer. For five days, more than 60,000 Catholics from across the country gathered to adore Jesus in the Eucharist, to receive His Word, to be nourished by His grace, and to be sent out on mission. It was not simply a conference; it was a mountaintop moment—a deeply spiritual encounter that ignited hearts with a renewed love for Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Since that unforgettable gathering, we have already begun to see fruits. Across the nation, more people are returning to the sacraments, seeking reconciliation, and encountering the Lord in new ways. Here in the Diocese of Joliet, we saw the number of individuals preparing to enter the Church more than double at this year’s Rite of Election, and I believe it is a direct fruit of this National Eucharistic Revival.
To ensure the momentum continues, the organizers of the Congress initiated a profound follow-up, including a Eucharistic pilgrimage across the country. Our diocese had the great honor of being the first to welcome the procession on its journey from Indianapolis toward Los Angeles.
I had the privilege of receiving the Eucharistic Lord in the monstrance, along with many faithful of all ages, at St. Mary Parish in Paxton, Illinois. After a beautiful Holy Hour, I accompanied the Blessed Sacrament to Immaculate Conception in Gilman, where more faithful were waiting in adoration. From there, the journey continued to St. John Paul II Parish in Kankakee for overnight adoration.
The next day, Bishop McNamara High School, with Bishop Spies, hosted a devout celebration with students, teachers, and community members gathered for Eucharistic adoration and praise. Bishop Spies then accompanied the Lord from Kankakee to Immaculate Conception in Morris, Illinois, where we processed and concluded with a beautiful Holy Hour. I was so proud of our people—not only for organizing these processions and liturgies, but also for the outpouring of thousands of participants of every age and language.
One of the most touching moments for me was driving in the van that carried the Eucharistic Lord and 12 young adult pilgrims from Indianapolis to Los Angeles. As we traveled from Morris to Seneca, the pilgrims prayed a “Eucharistic Rosary of Gratitude.” On each of the 50 beads, they took turns expressing a unique prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gifts and blessings they experienced while in the Diocese of Joliet. Among their heartfelt prayers, one of them expressed gratitude for the simple joy of a delicious homemade breakfast burrito received earlier in Kankakee. That small moment was a powerful reminder: the Eucharist draws us into deep reverence while also opening our eyes to the sacred in the ordinary. Gratitude, born from the Eucharist, transforms how we see the world.
As we made our way west, I handed the monstrance to Bishop Lou Tylka in Seneca, Illinois, and the pilgrimage continued its sacred path across the country. Eventually, the procession reached Los Angeles on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. This massive, coast-to-coast movement is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a literal and spiritual journey of our Lord passing through cities, towns, farmland, and neighborhoods, blessing the land and sanctifying His people.
And the journey isn’t over. Indeed, the National Eucharistic Revival is blossoming into a long-term spiritual renewal. In addition to the pilgrimages, organizers have laid out a bold and inspiring vision for what comes next, including the formation of Eucharistic Missionaries—lay leaders who commit to daily prayer, frequent reception of the Eucharist, and intentional accompaniment of others on the journey of faith. Parish and diocesan initiatives are taking root all over the country, fostering ongoing prayer, Eucharistic formation, and local missionary outreach. And the 2029 National Eucharistic Congress is already on the horizon!
But for this revival to bear lasting fruit, it must reach into the very fabric of our daily lives. We are each called to respond with renewed fervor: to make the Eucharist the source and summit of our lives, to witness to the Real Presence of Jesus with joy and confidence, and to put our faith into action by carrying His love to the peripheries—wherever people are hurting, lonely, or searching.
So, thankfully, this Eucharistic Renewal is not a one and done! May this movement continue in our diocesan parishes, in our schools, in Eucharistic adoration chapels, whenever the priest elevates the Host at Mass, and every time we receive this extraordinary gift of Christ’s true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
To learn more about how to keep the fires of the Eucharistic Revival burning at your parish, visit www.dioceseofjoliet.org/national-eucharistic-revival or email us at dojcatevang@dioceseofjoliet.org.
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