Eucharistic adoration. Mass with Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan. National and local speakers, and a eucharistic procession.
All of these things are on the docket for the New York State Eucharistic Congress, scheduled for Oct. 20-22 at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville.
Sponsored by the eight Catholic dioceses of New York state, the congress is part of a national effort to reinvigorate devotion to the Eucharist and is intended to complement the National Eucharistic Revival sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Organizers expect the congress will draw thousands of Catholics, according to Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany, which is home to the Auriesville shrine.
“Our Congress will feature Mass on Saturday celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, great speakers, opportunities for prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and time to socialize. It will be a wonderful time to renew our faith in Jesus and share that faith with others,” Bishop Scharfenberger said in a statement.
The Eucharistic Congress is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 and continue for 40 hours until 11 a.m. Oct. 22. Cardinal Dolan will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. Oct. 21, and another Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 22. Adoration will take place each night between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and opportunities for confession will be offered throughout the event.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs is a fitting location for the congress, organizers said, because it is the place where Jesuit missionaries were martyred as well as the birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. The Coliseum at the shrine can accommodate 10,000 people.
Attendance at the congress is free, but registration is required and will be closed when the event’s capacity is reached.
Donations to defray the cost of the congress will be accepted. Organizers also are seeking individuals willing to volunteer during the event and to help spread the word about it ahead of time.
To register online, visit nyseucharisticcongress.org. This site also offers information about the Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, nearby lodging and the event’s schedule. The website will be updated regularly.
Tags: Eucharistic Revival, NY Catholics
