To reach every Catholic with His presence

In June 2022, the U.S. bishops launched the National Eucharistic Revival: a three-year initiative to restore understanding of and devotion to the Eucharist among the nation’s Catholics.

This restoration is sorely needed. A 2019 Pew study found that only one-third of U.S. Catholics believed the doctrine that the bread and wine consecrated at Mass truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ — His Real Presence.

In addition, only about 24 percent of U.S. Catholics reported attending Mass weekly or more often in 2019, and the number has decreased further since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a 2022 study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

With the Revival, the bishops aim to inform Catholics about the Eucharist and inspire devotion through educational materials, opportunities for Eucharistic adoration, public Eucharistic processions, and preaching by specially selected preachers. The Revival has three phases — the Year of Diocesan Renewal, the Year of Parish Renewal, and the National Year of Mission.

This June, the first of the three year-long phases of the Revival comes to a close, and the second year begins. Has progress been made, and will the Revival bring about the needed devotion and missionary zeal?

SUCCESS IN THE DIOCESAN PHASE

Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, MN, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, said the goal of the diocesan phase was to engage and motivate Church leaders. “On that level, I think we’ve been very successful,” said Bishop Cozzens.

He cited dozens of eucharistic processions, eucharistic congresses, and increased opportunities for adoration held by dioceses around the country. “It’s been incredible to see the response in this diocesan year,” the bishop said.

The goal of this increased exposure is to bring Church leaders to a renewed personal encounter with Christ in the Eucharist, thus equipping them to share their devotion with others. “If people don’t have faith in the Eucharist, the way they come to that is normally through witnesses, through other people,” he said.

Tim Glemkowski, executive director of the National Eucharistic Congress to be held in Indianapolis in July 2024, is also enthusiastic about progress at this point in the Revival. 

“The goal of this first year of the Eucharistic Revival was on engaging leaders, sharing the vision, and inviting them to a deeper personal adherence to the Eucharistic heart of Jesus,” he said. 
“In that regard, I would say year one has been a success…. In my 15 years of ministry work, I have never seen an initiative in the Church make quite such a broad impact and invite so much energy.”

Bishop Cozzens also shared that he is grateful for the “national conversation” about the need for eucharistic renewal that has been sparked by the Revival so far. “Everybody (is) talking about why we need a eucharistic revival and what it might mean for the Church,” he noted.

Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, a Revival preacher, author, and host of the popular podcast Godsplaining, agreed. “There’s value in speaking a common language about something,” said Fr. Briscoe. “Every Catholic in the country, hopefully, will have heard of this project, and that has a huge impact.”

As a Revival preacher, Fr. Briscoe sees a “joyful hope” in his fellow priests as they consider how to invite estranged Catholics back to the sacraments, especially after the pandemic lockdowns. He also sees the initiative and Revival preaching as mechanisms for the Church to hear different perspectives, “a kind of young, enthusiastic voice” in particular.

“Gatherings of priests, like any gathering of any group of Catholics, can be very susceptible to complaints, but these [Eucharistic Revival] gatherings have been very positive and very bright, very hope-filled,” said Fr. Briscoe.

REACHING THE GRASSROOTS

The second year of the Eucharistic Revival is the Year of Parish Revival.

“I see this second year in the Revival as one of the most important because it’s really when you try to reach the grassroots,” said Bishop Cozzens.

He said that the bishops plan to provide resources to every parish, such as a plug-and-play small-group program, to help individuals learn more about the Eucharist. He encourages parishioners who are already well informed to invite others — such as parents who send their children to parochial schools but don’t attend Mass themselves — to participate in a small group.

“This year, we’re asking every Catholic to get involved in their parish and to help their parish priest bring this Revival to life,” said Bishop Cozzens.

Glemkowski said he believes, heading into “the all-important Parish Year,” that the Church is “primed to watch tangible progress unfold in local churches on belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and participation in the greatest mystery of our faith.”

The 2024 Eucharistic Congress is expected to draw more than 80,000 Catholics — both laity and clergy — from around the country. 

Bishop Cozzens compared the potential impact of this congress to that of World Youth Day after it was held in Denver in 1993: “The Holy Spirit had a big impact there and a lasting impact even on the Archdiocese of Denver,” he said. “It was a pivotal moment in the fate of our country, and we expect this Eucharistic Congress to be like that.”

Father Briscoe also compared the upcoming Eucharistic Congress to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., which tens of thousands of Catholics typically attend. “We’re willing to do that for [the pro-life cause], which of course we should, but we should also think about the other things we really believe in, and the power that witness has to encourage others in those beliefs,” he said.

A MOVEMENT OF THE SPIRIT

Although the bishops are providing educational resources and a general framework, Fr. Briscoe emphasized that there’s no exhaustive plan for the Revival; the plan is to allow for creativity.

“There was a great risk of limiting [the Revival’s] success if it had been restricted and restrictive,” said Fr. Briscoe. “[The bishops] are really looking for lay people within the Church to start initiatives in the name of the Eucharistic Revival.”

He suggested that business leaders, “who know what it takes to be entrepreneurial,” are particularly called to generate and test evangelization initiatives, such as high-quality Christian television, podcasts, and other content.

Bishop Cozzens also recommended that business leaders get involved during the parish phase by running small groups and inviting friends and coworkers.

But, most importantly, the bishop stressed getting involved through prayer: “Revival is a work of the Holy Spirit,” he stated. “Pray that the Holy Spirit during this time would come upon our country and bring revival, because we all know we need it.”

BRING BACK THAT OLD-TIME CONGRESS

What is a eucharistic congress, anyway? Beginning in 1881 in Lille, France, the Church worldwide has held gatherings of priests and/or laity to celebrate Mass, worship the Eucharist publicly, and discuss eucharistic theology.

The ongoing National Eucharistic Revival will include a Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 21-24, 2024—the tenth such national gathering held in the United States. The ninth Eucharistic Congress was in 1941, before World War II interrupted plans for congresses in many countries around the world.

In 1976, an international Eucharistic Congress was held in Philadelphia, but no eucharistic congresses have happened in the United States since. In 2024, the U.S. will finally resume the interrupted tradition. Lay people can register to attend the historic national Eucharistic congress at eucharisticcongress.org.