Alive in the Body of Christ!

That’s the theme for the Archdiocese of St. Louis 2011 Eucharist Congress to be held June 24 – 26. I was at the last Eucharistic Congress ten years ago and I plan to be at this one too.

An Invitation from Archbishop Robert J. Carlson
Ten years ago, the Archdiocese of St. Louis held a Eucharistic Congress; a gathering of Christ’s faithful to celebrate our Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. It was a time of deep reverence and great joy for all who participated.

To commemorate that historic occasion, and come together as members of Christ’s mystical Body to celebrate the Eucharist as the center of the Church’s life, we are hosting another Eucharistic Congress, June 24-26, 2011. Our theme for this gathering is, Alive in the Body of Christ! We believe this will be a wonderful opportunity for us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and learn more about the great gift that the Holy Eucharist is to our Church.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis invites all clergy, religious and lay faithful to attend the 2011 Eucharistic Congress. We hope everyone will feel welcome— including youth, families, senior adults and singles. We welcome those who have never participated in an Archdiocesan event as well as those who have joined us on many occasions. We welcome all Catholics, especially those who are returning to the Church, perhaps after many years away, who are drawn by the words of Jesus Christ who said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:51)

Archdiocesan parishes are also encouraged to host special Eucharistic Adoration hours, Eucharistic- oriented catechetical opportunities, or other events in preparation for, and in union with, the 2011 Eucharistic Congress for those who might not be able to attend each day’s Archdiocesan events. All are also invited to join with the Sisters of various cloistered orders throughout the area in order to support this Eucharistic Congress through prayer.
An important part of our planning is your registration! You can register online by clicking here. I hope to see you at the many special events taking place from June 24-26.

Through the life-giving Eucharist, we are Alive in the Body of Christ! I hope you will encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join you for this weekend of faith and joy as we celebrate the Real Presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.

The Eucharistic Congress website went live this week. Visit the website for details, schedule, registration, and more. You can also follow Eucharistic Congress on Facebook and Twitter.