Letter To The Editor: Support For Eucharistic Congress

Published: June 19, 2008

To the Editor:

In response to the article, “Archdiocese Hopes To Continue Annual Eucharistic Congress Despite Funding Gap” (The Georgia Bulletin, June 5), having attended each of the Congresses since their inception and as a volunteer since it was moved to the Georgia International Convention Center, I would urge the archdiocese to continue this tradition.

The excitement of this experience is like what is seen at papal Masses and World Youth Day, a unique encounter with Christ that most Catholics never get to share with the universal church. On this day we see the faces of our brothers and sisters, get to experience adoration in the Blessed Sacrament chapel, hear inspiring talks on our faith, and participate in the sacrament of reconciliation so readily.

We see all the children, the future of our church, and the beautiful procession of banners from the parishes and ministries around the archdiocese. You definitely get the sense this is a foretaste of heaven. The Faith is strong in Georgia and it is due in large part to our showing honor to Our Lord and Savior in this way. I will never forget the first big Congress and the concerns the night before it began on whether the people would come. The next morning, as twice the number anticipated poured out of the parking lots, we knew there was nothing to fear, they were coming to see Jesus.

Kathleen M. Raviele, M.D., Tucker