Stellar NEC speaker line up joins Cardinal DiNardo in Indianapolis

Father Mike Schmitz will join Daniel Cardinal DiNardo as a speaker at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

HOUSTON — As the multi-year National Eucharistic Revival inches closer to its milestone moment within the movement, the Archdiocese recently confirmed that Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will be amongst a star-studded line up of speakers at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress (NEC), the five-day event to be held in Indianapolis July 17 to 21, 2024.

The format for this summer’s National Eucharistic Congress will be one of Encounter, Equipping, and Experience.

Each morning will offer Impact Sessions focused on encountering Christ as we form our minds and hearts in the mystery of the Eucharist, ending in liturgies where that encounter happens. The afternoon will focus on equipping the people of God to be missionaries in a world hungry for the peace that only God can provide. And every evening, all attendees will gather together for a powerful general session focused on experiencing Revival.

A deeper look

In the morning, attendees will Encounter Christ within their pre-selected impact session, designed to form them according to their stages in life, cultural background and individual faith journeys.

It will set the tone for the day with moments of prayer, small group discussion, and inspiration from notable Catholic speakers such as Cardinal DiNardo, who will speak on Thursday, July 18, as part of the “Renewal” Impact session track, a series of programming dedicated for people who serve in parish, diocesan and ministerial leadership roles in any capacity.

Joining Cardinal DiNardo in presenting at other dedicated sessions are Brownsville’s Bishop Daniel Flores, Bishop Robert Barron, Dr. Mary Healy, and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers.

The afternoon is geared toward Equipping attendees for mission, as individuals and groups are provided unique opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ. Attendees are encouraged to participate in service projects, view the National Shroud of Turin traveling exhibit, and interact with Catholic vendors in the expansive exhibit hall where there will also be food and live music.

The plenary evening sessions will offer attendees a unique Experience of Revival. Thousands will gather together in Lucas Oil Stadium for Eucharistic Adoration, powerful moments of deep prayer and celebration, and inspiring talks from Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Father Mike Schmitz, Gloria Purvis and many more.

Throughout the weekend, other speakers and worship leaders, many recognizable to many Houstonians from local conferences and events, include Charleen Katra, formerly of the Archdiocese; Father Josh Johnson, Chika Anyanwu; Sister Josephine Garrett; Katie Prejean McGrady; Sister Miriam James Heidland; Sister Bethany Madonna; Josh Blakesley; Ennie and Cana Hickman; Edward Sri, Paul J. Kim; Oscar Rivera and others.

A high-tech educational exhibit at the Indiana Convention Center will feature a replica of the world’s most studied and controversial artifact, the Shroud of Turin, on display. The conference also includes a special worship session with contemporary Catholic singer and songwriter Matt Maher.

Join the pilgrimage

In addition to speaking at the Congress, Cardinal DiNardo, alongside Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, is leading a group of local parishioners, ministry leaders and clergy in a pilgrimage to Indianapolis. The deadline to register to join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage group is March 14.

Limited registrations, which range from $1,049 to $1,759, include a five-day Congress pass, four nights of housing in Indianapolis, continental breakfast, and motorcoach transportation to and from the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as gratuities for drivers. Costs reflect hotel accommodation choices, including triple, quadruple, double, and single occupancy registrations.

Family pricing is available for children and teenagers and includes a $200 discount on prices for children ages 3 to 12. Infants and two-year-old lap children are free with two paid adults in double occupancy. Registrants can also purchase package roundtrip airfare from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport and Indianapolis International Airport, as well as airport transfers in Indianapolis, for an additional $775.

For more information or to register and join the Archdiocesan pilgrimage, visit www.archgh.org/congress24.

‘Renewing His Church’

Once the Archdiocesan pilgrimage reaches its maximum capacity, those interested in attending the Congress can register separately via the NEC website, www.eucharisticcongress.org.

Standard passes for the five-day congress are $299 to $375 for adults and $99 for children ages 2 to 18 traveling with their families. Passes include access to premium seating and digital access to congress content. The cost covers admission for congress events at Lucas Oil Stadium and includes general sessions, breakout sessions, Liturgies, the vendor hall and congress tracks. The cost does not include housing, transportation or meals related to the congress.

A limited number of single-day passes, range from $49 to $95 depending on the day, are also available, and weekend passes will be $125. Organizers have said they expect the event to draw 80,000 Catholics to Indianapolis. By November of 2023, officials said more than 30,000 congress passes had been reserved so far.

“God is renewing His Church, and we have seen it happening across the country in powerful ways during this year of Parish Revival,” said Tim Glemkowski of the NEC. “It is our sincere hope that no matter how many days you are able to join us in Indy, the NEC will be a profound festival-type experience of fellowship, worship, healing, and formation.”

This is the first National Eucharistic Congress held in the United States since 1941 and will be a milestone gathering for the Church in America. No two days will be alike, and each will feature opportunities connected to a daily theme and content focus. The conference also includes a special worship session with contemporary Christian singer and songwriter Matt Maher.

In Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium, with a capacity of nearly 70,000, is the hub of the five-day celebration. Additional events within walking distance will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Convention Center and other venues. Registration, which includes a “Congress Pass,” offers participants entrance to all Congress programming, such as general sessions, catechetical sessions, and breakouts, along with arena seating at Mass, evening concerts and all entertainment.

A special indulgence

“Amidst the tremendous programming that’s been thoughtfully planned along with mountaintop moments of celebration we look forward to sharing together as a Church, a highlight will be the many opportunities for confession offered throughout the Congress at the Indianapolis Convention Center and at St. John the Evangelist parish,” said Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chair of the National Eucharistic Revival.

St. John the Evangelist Parish is located directly across from the convention center. Officials said the apostolic penitentiary is issuing a decree granting a plenary indulgence to anyone who participates in the Congress or in one of the four legs of the pilgrimage.

The revival includes a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which will include pilgrims walking across the country along four designated pilgrimage routes with the Eucharist, converging in Indianapolis for the congress. The pilgrimage routes begin in Brownsville; New Haven, Connecticut; northern Minnesota; and San Francisco May 17 to 19, the weekend of Pentecost.

The St. Juan Diego walking pilgrimage will be in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston May 30 to June 2.

Here in Galveston-Houston, the pilgrimage will visit several locations, including St. Laurence Catholic Church and Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land; St. Joseph Syro-Malabar Church in Missouri City; St. Benedict Catholic Church in southwest Houston; the Our Lady of Walsingham Cathedral of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in Houston; the University of St. Thomas; and ending in Galveston at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica and Sacred Heart Church.

All are invited to join the routes’ for daily Mass and processions for hours or days. More details will be made available soon.