The Eucharist: God’s Greatest Gift
New Albany Catholic selected to give video witness at National Eucharistic Congress
Casey Shaffer of Colorado-based Lux Lab Production House snaps a shot of Mark Hublar, middle, with his parents Linda and Al Hublar in Mark’s New Albany apartment on May 29 for a short video featuring Mark to be shown at an evening revival session in Lucas Oil Stadium during the National Eucharistic Revival in Indianapolis on July 17-21. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)
By Natalie Hoefer
NEW ALBANY—There is only one lay person from central and southern Indiana who will address tens of thousands of Catholics at the upcoming National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
The person is Mark Hublar, a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany and a professional speaker and advocate for respect, opportunity and inclusion of those with special needs in the workplace.
The topic is a passion of Hublar, who was born with Down syndrome in 1964.
He was one of only four people chosen nationally to offer a witness talk, each in a separate short video, to be shown during the congress’ four evening revival sessions in Lucas Oil Stadium on July 17-20. Hublar’s video will be shown during the evening session on July 20.
“These sessions are the main gatherings for all attendees,” says Joel Stepanek, vice president of programming and administration for the National Eucharistic Congress. “We anticipate attendance on those evenings being around 47,000.”
When Jaime Reyna, multicultural and inclusivity leader for the congress, asked Jenny Bryans if she knew someone associated with the archdiocese’s Disabilities Ministry who might be interested in being involved in the congress, Hublar immediately came to Bryans’ mind.
“I knew that Mark had done a lot of speaking engagements for many events around the country and was very passionate about his Catholic faith,” says Bryans, archdiocesan Disabilities Ministry coordinator. “He spoke at one of the SPREAD [Special Religious Education and Discipleship] summer retreats and has spoken at March for Life rallies in Indianapolis. I thought he would be the perfect fit for what Jaime was looking for.”
She was right.
“Mark’s story is beautiful,” said Stepanek. “We were moved by his faith and the faith of his family and wanted to highlight that at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.”
Hublar’s witness includes his gratitude for the many gifts God has blessed him with: his talent for speaking, the ability to live on his own, the opportunity to earn a college degree and the chance to speak nationally—including at a Congressional hearing—on behalf of “friends like me.”
But three gifts top his gratitude list: God, his faith and the love and support of his family.
“I’m grateful for my mom and dad choosing not to put me in an institution like the doctor said when I was born,” Hublar said while being recorded for the video in his New Albany apartment on May 29.
Mark’s mother Linda Hublar, who was also filmed that day, shared her memories of that day.
“They told us he’d never
do anything—walk, talk,
show emotion,” she told
The Criterion. “It was sad in the beginning, only because we thought of all the things that he was going to miss out on. … I never dreamed all this was going to happen.”
Her husband Al Hublar agrees. He helps manage his son’s business, Mark Hublar Speaks, and was included in the video.
“God is good,” said Al in an interview after the filming. “He’s just directing Mark’s path. I have prayed to God to help me as Mark’s father. I pushed Mark to some extent, and he pulled me. But [God] always put him in the right position.”
He is in awe of his son’s opportunity to share his message via video during the National Eucharistic Congress.
“Of all the places Mark has spoken around the country, this is the pinnacle,” Al said.
As for Mark, he’s “really looking forward” to attending the congress with his dad on July 17-21.
“I’ve never been up from 8 in the morning ‘til 11 at night for five days and four nights before,” he said. “That’s going to be really something.”
But best for him will be tens of thousands of people hearing the message in his video:
“There’s always a reason that we’re alive now. I know that God has faith in [those with disabilities], and what makes me really happy is for them to succeed in their life.” †
