Local News

Annie Karto sings her original composition, “You Are a Priest Forever,” during a tribute to Archdiocese of Atlanta priests. The Year for Priests comes to a close on June 19. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Members of the Latino community dance their way into the exhibit hall with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe during the morning procession of the Eucharistic Congress June 5. (Photo by Thomas Spink)

During a song of adoration, women in the Brazilian Track bring their hands to their faces as the words in the song say, “If the Lord touches my face …” (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Debbie Louden of Corpus Christi Church, Lexington, S.C., prays after receiving holy Communion. This was Louden’s first time at the Eucharistic Congress. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Members of the Haitian community pray and sing with fervor during the Friday night French-language Track. The track had an overflow of attendees that spilled out into the hall. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Georgia Perimeter College freshman Michael Mercer, left center, smiles during a “What Do Saints Look Like” skit with Father Leo Patalinghug, right center, in the Teen Track. (Photo by Thomas Spink)

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory kneels before the monstrance during adoration in the Kid Track. (Photo by Thomas Spink)

Seminarians Dennis Dorner Jr., foreground, and Gaurav Shroff participate in the liturgical procession for the opening Mass of the Eucharistic Congress. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Clergy distribute holy Communion to the massive crowd of congress-goers attending the closing Mass. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Five-month-old Xavier Alvarez attends his very first Eucharistic Congress as his mother Stephanie carries him among the crowd. Stephanie is also the Life Teen coordinator at St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Auxiliary Bishop Luis Zarama, followed by Bishop Peter Tran Dinh Tu of Vietnam, processes in for the closing eucharistic liturgy. (Photo by Thomas Spink)

Eight-year-old Jalina Tran, left, plays with her 9-year-old friend Ashley Nguyen before they line up for the closing Mass procession. The girls, who attend Our Lady of Vietnam Church, Riverdale, made their first holy Communion on May 16. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Sitting outside the Georgia International Convention Center, Rocke Arjon of St. Michael Church, Gainesville, reads a book he picked up from one of the vendors. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

A silhouette of Archbishop Gregory is projected against the wall as he elevates the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist in the Kid Track. (Photo by Thomas Spink)