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(Clockwise from left) St. Paul of the Cross parishioners Anita Jeanne, her husband, Donald, and their 11-month-old daughter, Isabella, attended this year’s congress. Isabella was adopted through Catholic Charities of New Orleans. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

Richard Yates of St. Patrick Church, Norcross, participated in the Knights of Columbus honor guard on hand for the Eucharistic Congress. Yates is a member of Council 12000.

Father Theodore Book, director of the Office of Divine Worship, stops to greet Eucharistic Congress attendees, which included Missionaries of Charity from the Gift of Grace House, Atlanta. (Photo by Thomas Spink/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

Archdiocese of Atlanta seminarians Rev. Mr. Ignacio Morales, left, and Rev. Mr. Mario Lopez stand outside the exhibit hall hosting the Hispanic Track.

Four-year- old Emyli Gayton plays with her father, Tlonorio, during the 14th annual Eucharistic Congress, June 13. (Photo by Thomas Spink/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

Quoi Le of Our Lady of Vietnam Church, Riverdale, practices on the drum before the morning procession gets underway. Le’s drum announced the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during the eucharistic procession.

Jesus Rodriguez, 14, wears a T-shirt bearing the inscription “Keep Looking at Jesus (Manten la Mirada en Jesus).”

Msgr. Richard Lopez, principal celebrant and homilist for the June 12 Mass, holds the body and blood of Christ before the congregation during the “Lamb of God.”

Mauro Trejo, left, and Francisco Aguillon of Cumming load the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the back of a truck at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Congress. As they lift the Blessed Virgin, Marie Metellus, a member of the Haitian Catholic community at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, stops to lay her hand upon the image.

Dianne Blanchard of St. John Vianney Church, Lithia Springs, right, offers words of comfort to Rose Adkins of St. Joseph Church, Marietta. Adkins is dealing with various physical challenges, as well as contending with the Nov. 1, 2007, death of her husband.

Surrounded by a cloud of incense, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory leads the Divine Praises during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

A woman joins others at the foot of the altar in silent prayer during the healing service that followed the opening Mass of the 2009 Eucharistic Congress.

Five-year-old Nicholas Peffer sleeps on his mother Kelly’s lap, during the closing Mass. The family attends St. Luke Church, Dahlonega. (Photo by Thomas Spink/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

Father Kevin Peek gets a warm welcome home from Anne Birth. Father Peek, the former campus minister at Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, is currently on leave from service as a military chaplain in Iraq.

Four-year-old Issac Botello rides on the shoulders of his father, Javier, as they walk through the convention center during the Eucharistic Congress. The Botellos attend the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta.

Laurie Leber, right, and her daughter, Julie, console one another during a period of prayer at the healing service. The Lebers attend St. Pius X Church, Conyers.

Archbishop Gregory singled out Msgr. James Fennessy in his closing remarks. The pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Church, Atlanta, was making his first public engagement since his April 22 triple bypass surgery at Saint Joseph Hospital. Although he is not expected to return to work anytime soon, with a hearty laugh and his Irish brogue he said, “The only thing I’m allowed to do is play golf.”

Members of the Filipino community representing All Saints Church, Dunwoody, St. Andrew Church, Roswell, St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville, St. Monica Church, Duluth, St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro, St. Patrick Church, Norcross, and St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Alpharetta, break for lunch during the Eucharistic Congress.