Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • August 16, 2024 5 Compassionate Service 228-374-5650 Bradfordokeefe.com Thank you Blessed Trinity, Blessed Mother, and St. Jude for favor granted. PH NEC24 From page 4 Margaret Miller said the congress served as “a renewal of my Catholic faith.” “I thought I was doing well in my faith journey and that all was going as it seemingly should as a Catholic until this week,” said Miller, who is a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs, as she stood on a street corner waiting to join a mile-long Eucharistic procession through the streets of Downtown Indianapolis. “Being here has meant everything to me. It has renewed my belief in the Eucharist. It has renewed my belief in a good and promising future for the Catholic Church.” One of the highlights of the week for Miller was being able to attend adoration at St. John Church in downtown, after listening to a keynote address from Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, who is the founder and servant mother of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth in the Archdiocese of Boston. “I was next to a young gentleman and his family and he was in a wheelchair,” said Miller. “Mother Olga came into St. John and spoke with this gentle- man. So, not only was she a great speaker and wit- ness to our Catholic beliefs and the Eucharist, she was just such a real, genuine person.” Miller said she is excited to take what she expe- rienced during the Congress and use it in her witness to others. “I think all of us who had the privilege of being here for this beautiful event should take what we experienced here back home to our priests, to our laity, to friends and family. The enthusiasm that we are leaving here with has to continue.” Miller is hoping to infuse that enthusiasm into a ministry that is near and dear to her heart, Walking with Moms in Need , which provides support to preg- nant and parenting moms in need. “I came here and haven’t been disappointed because I knew that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops contacts from Walking with Moms in Need would be in attendance,” said Miller. “I had the opportunity to be with them for part of an after- noon and get their thoughts about this important ministry. That has been a critical part of this experi- ence for me.” After the final night of the congress, seminarian Benjamin Mullen, from St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Ocean Springs, stood outside the Indianapolis Convention Center visiting with some of his fellow seminarians. When asked what he thought about the experience, he did not mince words. “I loved it,” said Mullen, who is in his second year of philosophy. “It is beautiful to see all these Catholics gather together in one area and worship the Lord in the way we have. Seeing all the other seminarians and priests really inspired me in my own vocation and just knowing that I am supported.” Cecilia Escobedo recounted a profound encoun- ter she experienced that same evening during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. “I was fortunate to be seated on the floor section, very close to the aisle where Our Lord would pass by as the procession began to the main altar,” said Escobedo, who is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Bay St. Louis. “When He passed right by me, the power of His presence was so over- whelming that all I could do was prostrate myself on the floor. “As I lay there, the electrifying sound of 60,000 people singing to Our Lord surged through my body. Despite the immense crowd, I felt a profound sense of closeness and a quiet moment with my Lord. In that instant, I envisioned Mary Magdalene as she was brought before Jesus by the Pharisees. I could almost see Him writing in the sand and hear Him say to her, as if speaking directly to me, ‘See, no one is here to condemn you, so I don’t condemn you. Go and sin no more, for I have died for you so that I can live in you. Go and share the good news,’” said Escobedo. “I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and purpose. It was as if the layers of daily distrac- tions peeled away, revealing a clarity that I had not experienced before. The grace of the Eucharist touched my heart deeply, reaffirming my faith and igniting a renewed passion for serving others.” Escobedo said that encounter has inspired her to make a significant shift in her life, to embrace a missionary mode. “I am filled with a burning desire to spread the love and teachings of Christ to those who have yet to experience the joy and peace that comes from know- ing Him,” she said. “The Congress has reminded me of the importance of evangelization and the urgent need to share the Gospel message in our world today, especially with the youth.” One of the ways she plans to do this is through a new ministry that combines evangelization and exer- cise. “I have always known that it is Jesus present in the Eucharist who is the true healer of all things and that we must bring others to Him. It is He who accomplishes all things, not us,” said Escobedo. “This understanding has given me the courage to believe in our new Catholic-run club. Laudate Lions will provide the next generation with opportunities to experience the power of His love and mercy. Our main focus is to receive His strength in adora- tion before our practices and use that strength to evangelize. With our unique uniforms featuring the Blessed Sacrament, we hope to stand out and spark conversations about our belief in the Holy Eucharist.” Father Mike Austin likened his experience at the National Eucharistic Congress to “a booster shot.” “It is great to be in such a large place with every- body on fire,” said Father Austin, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian. “You can really feel the spirit just moving in the atmosphere. It’s the renewal that I think we all want for our parishes. We want all of our parishes to feel this way, excited and eager to evangelize and bring people closer to Christ. I think this is motivating that for us. I have a group of 18 from our parish. Our ministry team is here and they just can’t wait to get home. They are excited and pumped and they have a new perspec- tive of the Catholic Church. It’s the first time they’ve seen it on this type of scale, beyond their parish. It’s very powerful for them.” Father Austin, who was an integral part of the planning process for the National Eucharistic Revival on the diocesan level said the journey, up to this point has been wonderful. “But it’s not coming to an end. It’s really just beginning because everything up until now has been preparing us to go on mission,” he said. “So, now the mission begins and I think one of the pilgrims who is traveling with us said it best when they said that ‘every single one of us is a Eucharistic procession because, every time we walk out the door, we are carrying Christ.’ I think all of us need to be more mindful of the fact that, wherever we are, we are evangelizing.”