More than 50,000 Catholics gathered in Lucas Oil Stadium for the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 17 to July 21.
The Congress was filled with Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, Masses and talks from notable Catholic speakers. The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was displayed on the main stage and was venerated during the entire Congress.
The official National Eucharistic Revival Prayer ended with this: “Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Eucharist, Pray for us.”
Catherine Grinn, our Coordinator for Visitations on the Journey of The Missionary Image sent me her report and testimony below:
As the third year of the Eucharistic Revival approaches – our year of Mission – we are in a unique position to embrace this amazing time in history as we continue to honor Our Lord through the Journey of The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
I was humbled, blessed and honored to be part of the historical Eucharistic Congress where Jesus was truly among us and His beloved Mother stood next to Him in the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This beautiful image of Our Lady was destined to be there, and Our Lady made it clear to us that the next stop on her Journey was in Indianapolis with her Son!
Months ago, through prayer, I felt The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe should be at the Eucharistic Congress. This was confirmed many times through other Guardians reaching out and one Guardian going so far as to schedule a Visitation during those dates so that Our Lady would already be expected to be in Indianapolis.
I contacted Tim Glemkowski, Chief Executive Officer of the Eucharistic Congress, asking if they would like to have The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Congress. Tim answered with a definite “yes!” Then he shared with me that just that week they had decided that the image of Mary that was most appropriate to be there, was indeed Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Throughout the planning of the Congress, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint John Paul II had been instrumental in many decisions that had been made. Over the next few months plans and details were finalized to have The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the main stage throughout the Congress, as well as a smaller image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Spanish Chapel for all Spanish Masses.
The energy in Lucas Oil Stadium every day was amazing! You could feel the Holy Spirit moving through 50,000 people and I could easily imagine, as I gazed upon Our Lady of Guadalupe on the stage, the love and joy that she must have felt seeing so many people excited about her Son! Our Lady of Guadalupe came to us in 1531 to bring love and conversions, and in Indianapolis that is what she saw again!
The days of Eucharistic worship, holy hours, pure joy and fellowship that was experienced in Indianapolis should be our daily experience, not a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Jesus wants to be in our daily lives and it is our responsibility to be the missionaries that bring Him to others.
Prior to the Congress, in an unprecedented National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, (See more HERE.) Jesus blessed the United States with His Real Presence in the shape of a cross forming a giant Benediction over our whole nation. The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage traced the shape of a cross over our nation, covering over 6,500 miles, to bring Jesus to city streets, rural highways, and hungry hearts from every sector of society on His way to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. (See more HERE.)
Lives were changed, hearts were ignited, and this powerful witness of Eucharistic faith continues to bear fruit in communities across the country. Jesus did show up and He’s asking us to continue to spread this fire of love!
Throughout the Congress, I was contacted by local Guardians I have worked with when planning Visitations. They were so excited to see The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the main stage of the Congress. I was blessed to meet a few of our Guardians in person as we excitedly shared the beauty of the Image being part of such a historical event!
As we enter into a new era of Eucharistic Mission, we must remember it is the same mission Jesus has always shared with His disciples and followers. We are blessed as Catholics to have the gift of daily Mass where we are invited to the altar of Our Lord and share in the Eucharist. As we gaze upon Our Lord, He gazes upon us, loving us and calling us to holiness and discipleship.
Mother Adela Galindo, during her talk at the Eucharistic Congress, shared that we are all called to be Marian Missionaries of the Eucharist. She invited us to join Mary in prayer and missionary work as she pointed to The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on stage and said, “She is right here, listen to her!”
My heart leaped when Mother Adela said we are called to be a Marian Missionary of the Eucharist – the same Journey The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been walking since 1991! We are Marian Missionaries of the Eucharist and we ask that you join us in this unique role as Our Lady brings us back to Jesus in the Eucharist.
My life was changed forever the day I saw The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the first time. I am forever grateful for that divine moment of mercy and love that Our Lord gave me. I have lived the gift of conversion and I have experienced the love, mercy and forgiveness of God through His beautiful Mother who brought me to the foot of the Cross. I have been a Marian Missionary of the Eucharist since then without realizing the difference we can make as we reach out and share Jesus. Mary brings her children to her Son, Jesus. We should all walk this journey of discipleship and embrace this next year of revival – the year of Mission!
I am blessed to be a small part of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Journey in her Missionary Image and I am forever grateful to continue to coordinate her Journey through America. I invite you to join us as a Marian Missionary of the Eucharist and host a Visitation with The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is your commitment to her Journey that continues Our Lady’s mission.
Please help us to continue Our Lady of Guadalupe’s mission to end abortions and the Culture of Death and to bring conversions and a Culture of Life, for which St. John Paul II prayed. With your help we will be able to continue our evangelization efforts – taking Our Lady through her Missionary Image into parishes and cities throughout our great nation.
I thank all of you for your support of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Apostolate.
Dan Lynch is the Director of Dan Lynch Apostolates promoting devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Jesus King of All Nations, Our Lady of America and St. John Paul II. He is an author, public speaker and a former judge and lawyer in Vermont. He has appeared many times on radio and television and has spoken at conferences throughout the world. You may learn more about Dan HERE.
To see Amazon’s Top Dan Lynch Titles for You Click HERE.
For more information about hosting The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, please click HERE.
