It was with great joy that the IMF team was able to attend the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. From the beautiful talks to the meditative Adoration of the Eucharist, it was clear that the heart of the nation was being renewed and sanctified through the Heart of Jesus at the Eucharistic Congress.
On Friday, the third day of the congress, Fr. Boniface processed with the Most Holy Eucharist into the stadium as the crowd of 57,000 knelt in unison before The Blessed Lord. After setting the Eucharist upon the altar, Fr. Boniface knelt and led the crowd in a litany for healing and repentance which he wrote for the congress. Following this, he carried the monstrance holding Christ in a procession around the center of the stadium.
The procession and litany was a powerful encounter for people. Some shared their experience with OSV News:
‘Matthew Almaguer, who was attending the Congress with his wife, Brenda, and their three children from Overland Park, Kansas, said that following the procession his family “felt the Lord move in our hearts.”
Rose Johnson, a parishioner at St. Charles in Bloomington, Indiana, said she was grateful for Father Boniface’s meditation praying to Jesus for specific different kinds of healing.
“There were so many things that came to mind that I would have had trouble bringing to mind in the right way,” Johnson said. “But then, as he was having us repeat the Jesus prayers, it was just very freeing.”
Her teenage daughter Ellie agreed: “I try to think of these parts of my heart, but it’s really hard to do with the struggles of everyday life.” She said the prayers “brought back memories that I’ve kind of either pushed away or forgotten” and so the experience “was really relieving.” ’
Fr. Boniface and members from the IMF team were also busy throughout the rest of the week. The Institute for Ministry Formation had a booth in the Expo Hall where books written by Fr. Boniface and The Litanies of the Heart written by Gerry Crete were sold. Fr. Boniface and Dr. Crete also signed books and spoke with many people eager to meet them on various occasions. Along with the IMF team, monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey graciously devoted some of their time to help with the IMF and Saint Vincent Seminary tables.
Fr. Boniface was also interviewed by EWTN prior to his ministry of carrying Christ in the monstrance, who would be adored in Adoration. When asked what he hoped to see from this congress, Fr. Boniface said, “I’d really love to see a lot more love for the Eucharist and a real hunger for him in a way that opens up a deeper intimacy with Him in prayer. I see old faith being revived, Eucharistic processions, Eucharistic devotions, popular piety. I see parishes really being renewed and coming together and I see strengthening across…a lot of different spiritualities and approaches; maybe different mindsets. But we’re so strengthened here I’d like to see a lot more of this in the years to come.”
The National Eucharistic Congress was a hope-filled and powerful experience. It will be wonderful to see what fruits come from this gathering of 60,000 people who came to praise Our Lord in the Eucharist.
For more articles about Fr. Boniface and the Eucharistic Congress, see below:
https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/congress-speakers/fr-boniface-hicks
https://www.ncregister.com/news/healing-service-at-national-eucharistic-congress
https://www.catholicsun.org/2024/07/20/day-3-eucharist-congress-provokes-joy-tears-amazement/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/national-eucharist-congress-catholics.html
Fr. Boniface Hicks EWTN interview (Interview starts at 10:10): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eoZw-ugnPw