The 20th annual Atlanta Eucharistic Congress took place from June 5-6 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, GA. At its inception in 1996, Archbishop John Donoghue envisioned the event as a source of spiritual renewal while promoting vocations to the priesthood. Later, Archbishop Wilton Gregory expanded the Congress to include vocations for single life, married couples, the diaconate, and consecrated religious.
The exhibit halls opened on Friday afternoon to a crowd so eager for Christ and for fellowship, that the sheer joy of it could be felt instantly. Thousands gathered in the convention center and visited exhibits, breakout sessions, and got to meet with many people of our greater Church family. There was a welcoming Mass in the evening led by Bishop David Talley that concluded with a healing service. There seemed to be something there for everyone to enjoy and partake in. From games to adoration, from talks to music. There was even a young adult track which featured live music and a talk by Lino Rulli, who hosts “The Catholic Guy” from Sirius XM Satellite Radio. That young adult gathering also had a holy hour of adoration and concluded with a reception.
Saturday’s program began with the procession of numerous groups carrying banners representing the diversity of parishes in the archdiocese of Atlanta as well as its unity. As I watched on I couldn’t help but think that the procession was in many ways like a Mardi Gras parade as each colorful banner went by and the crowd cheered and applauded. And still, much in the same way that a Mardi Gras parade ends by bringing us all together around the solemnity of Ash Wednesday, the end of the procession gathered all of the participants into the packed convention center around the Body of Christ.
We were all there, as one, united to adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Bishop Robert Munch gave an exhortation during adoration that stressed how believers “need to be themselves, but must become the Body of Christ”. That was such a fitting sentiment seeing as we would be celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi in the Church on Sunday. 
By the time we joined with Archbishop Gregory in the afternoon for the closing Mass, over 30,000 participants had participated in the two-day event. It was a blessing to see so many there embracing the diversity of the Church, The Word, the sacrament of reconciliation, and Eucharistic devotion as the Body of Christ. Attending these conventions has become more than just a piece of the work that I do as I leave each one with a re-ignition for vocation I say yes to every day.