Go and Share - Board President Attends National Eucharistic Congress

Our board president, Dr. Antoinette Mensah (in blue and white), had the privilege of meeting Cardinal Christophe Pierre (left) and Cardinal Luis Tagle (right). 

The National Eucharistic Congress was the largest gathering of Catholic Christians within the continental U.S. that I have ever experienced. Walking amidst participants of all ages, I was struck by the palpable excitement and enthusiasm that filled the air. As someone dedicated to global missionary work, I attended with a desire to explore potential connections between our local and national efforts and the broader international Church. 
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324). This central tenet underscores that all ecclesiastical ministries and apostolic works are bound up with the Eucharist and oriented toward it. Leading up to the Congress, there was a significant emphasis on Eucharistic Adoration, which initially left me apprehensive. I have often struggled to fully grasp this form of prayer, and I feared the focus might be limited to this aspect alone.
 
However, my perspective began to shift during the opening address by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Papal Nuncio to the United States. He posed two pivotal questions for the Eucharistic Revival:

• "How do we know a Eucharistic Revival is taking place?"
• "How do we take this Revival beyond the doors of Lucas Oil Stadium [where the primary Congress programming occurred] or St. John the Evangelist [which hosted Adoration throughout the Congress]?"

 Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre addresses the Congress
Image provided by Antoinette MensahCardinal Pierre's response was enlightening: "Revival means more than prayerful devotions, though those are powerful. Revival means to take what we have heard here and bring it into the rest of our lives."
 
This message resonated deeply with me, especially as I serve as the USCMA Board president. It prompted a personal reflection: How can the USCMA—a community of faith leaders—be instrumental in this Eucharistic revival? Initially, my thoughts gravitated solely toward our upcoming conference. However, my participation in the Impact Sessions on Renewal and my conversations with people from across the country led me to a deeper realization: there is a pressing need for personal introspection and a reexamination of how my relationship with Jesus propels me toward networking, formation, and advocacy in the world.
 
Throughout the Congress, many speakers reinforced the importance of self-awareness in relation to others on this journey of faith. They emphasized that, as we examine our relationships and roles in evangelizing for the glory of God, we must be intentional in living out our calling. When we reached the Closing Liturgy, Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Dicastery for Evangelization delivered a homily which encapsulated this sentiment with a simple yet powerful call to action: "GO!" He reminded us that Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the gift sent for the redemption of all. This sending forth is not merely about doing work; it is about offering the gift of oneself—a call for both the Church and society to experience conversion through the Eucharist.
 
Cardinal Luis Tagle during his homily at the National Eucharistic Congress Image provided by Antoinette Mensah 
As we prepare to Gather, Unite and Send at our conference in October, we must ask ourselves: How do we, as the USCMA, embrace God's mission with those we encounter? Do we see formation, networking, and advocacy as opportunities to fulfill God's will, or as insurmountable challenges?
 
For Catholic Christians, the Eucharist is central to our mission. We must be mindful of the cultural mindsets we encounter as we strive to fulfill God's mission. By sharing ourselves with others, we invite gifts of gratitude and self-giving. In doing so, we not only share Jesus with others but also strengthen our own faith and commitment to the mission.
 
We are charged to Go and Share the universal gifts we receive through the Eucharist, evangelizing others through our actions. Devotion, while important, is powerless without action. As we gather, let us commit to the renewal of the Church and its mission, knowing that two-thirds of GOD is "GO."
 
Dr. Antoinette Mensah is director of World Mission Ministries for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and president of the USCMA Board.

More Coverage of the Congress:

• Watch the address by Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre
• View the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Luis Tagle