Gulf Pine Catholic

12 Gulf Pine Catholic • August 16, 2024 BY GRETCHEN R. CROWE OSV News INDIANAPOLIS ( OSV News ) -- At the Mass for youth at the National Eucharistic Congress July 19, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke to young people about the importance of acknowledg- ing sins and repenting for them. “We recognize our failings and reach out for the reconciliation that is held out to us. Then we are able to bring what we have received serenely into our broken world,” he said on the third day of the con- gress, which had “Into Gethsemane” as the day’s theme. “It may seem a daunting mission, but every mission begins with our willingness to accept it and then drawing on the grace to move forward.” With thousands of young people in attendance at what was one of the three morning liturgies that day, Archbishop Broglio preached a message of union and communion, referencing the many troubles in the nation and in the world. “In the military, every mission depends on the participation of the whole unit. No one is superflu- ous. In the body of Christ, there are no spare parts. Each one of us is essential and contributes with his or her talents,” he said. “We have thus witnessed where disagreements, strife, and political tension can lead. Certainly, the man who took aim at former President Trump was not well. But if there were more helpful conversations, less polarization, and even more willingness to see in the other the image and likeness of God, would we not reduce tensions and move forward together?” Archbishop Broglio also spoke of the “responsi- bility to be instruments of the truth,” which he said is “fundamental to any process of reconciliation.” “We must reject a view of our actions which denies or redefines the reality of sin so rampant in today's culture,” he said. “Instead of acknowledging our sins, we excuse our actions and place the blame for our missteps on other people or causes, thereby legitimizing what God calls sin as new and valid lifestyles.” “As we go forth from these days of prayer, cele- bration, and learning, may we also be renewed in vision and affirmed in our baptismal responsibility for our sisters and brothers,” he said. “The experi- ence of forgiveness and reconciliation cannot fail to awaken our desire to fulfill our role in making the Lord’s mercy known to all of the nations.” Gretchen R. Crowe is editor-in-chief of OSV News. Service project reminds congress-goers to care for their neighbors ‘like Jesus did’ BY NATALIE HOEFER OSV News INDIANAPOLIS ( OSV News ) -- As 10-year- old Annabel Cougron packed the pre-made meals in a large box at the end of an assembly line, she admitted she had never gone hungry. But she considered what that might feel like for someone who had. “Like their stomachs must be hurting and it doesn’t feel good,” she said. But helping such people “feels good,” a les- son Annabel learned on July 18 while helping package meals for the Million Meal Movement as a service project during the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. The Indiana-based organization provides vol- unteer-packed meals to food banks and food pantries throughout the state. “It’s going well,” Molly Adams, sales account executive for Million Meals Movement , told The Criterion , newspaper of the IndianapolisArchdiocese. “Our goal is 360,000 meals in 12 hours over the course of two days, and we’re getting a steady flow of people and families and kids.” The volunteers worked in assembly lines in a section of the congress’s exhibit hall in the Indiana Convention Center. Some filled packages with ingre- dients, some sealed the packages and others, like Annabel, packed the meals in boxes. The project connects “in a multitude of ways” with the congress’s desire to inspire others to show Christ’s love to the world. “It’s about giving,” said Adams. “Giving to the homeless, giving to your neighbors like Jesus did, and making sure that your neighbors have what they need to fulfill their life. “Food is one of those areas that people sur- prisingly don’t know that their neighbors are lacking or that they may be suffering from silent- ly. So that little bit that we can do to help them can make a big difference.” It’s a lesson Annabel’s mother, Lori Arnold, wants to reinforce in her children. “I’m always looking for opportunities to teach them to give back and be philanthropic,” said Arnold, who worships at St. Alphonsus Liguori Church in Zionsville, Indiana, in the Lafayette Diocese. “This was just a great oppor- tunity to teach them how to be of service.” At another table, Jordan Myers was sealing the filled packages being handed to him at a steady pace. “I thought it would be a good experience of serving our community and those in need,” said the member of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Little Flower) Parish in Indianapolis. “It seems like it’s a lot of work, so it’s great to see everyone here working together to help a single cause.” A lot of work for Myers, perhaps. But from Annabel’s point of view, “This is very fun!” Natalie Hoefer is a staff writer at The Criterion, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Annabel Cougron, right, places meal packets in a box as her grandmother Patty Arnold, left, and mother Lori Ar- nold seal the packages July 18 as part of a service project in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis during the National Eucharistic Congress. OSV News photo/Natalie Hoefer, The Criterion Broglio encourages young people to repent, reconcile and extend mercy at Eucharistic congress Young people listen to the homily of Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the U.S. Con- ference of Catholic Bishops, during the July 19, youth Mass at the National Eucharistic Congress. OSV News photo/Gretchen R. Crowe