Growing in faith is at the heart of pilgrim’s hopes after Congress

The McDonnell family—Owen, left, Meghan, Evan, Maura and Colton—are all smiles as they enjoy their time at the National Eucharistic Congress on July 18. (Photo by Mike Krokos)

By Mike Krokos

Nine-year-old Colton McDonnell recently experienced his “best day ever.”

He, his mother, and his three siblings were among the 50,000 faithful who participated in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

The holy hour that began the opening night on July 17 in Lucas Oil Stadium was especially impactful for Colton “because we got to see Jesus in the monstrance, and we got to be in adoration.”

“That [adoration] was powerful,” added his mother Meghan, who with her children are members of the twin parishes of St. Joseph in Monroeville, Ohio, and St. Alphonsus in Peru, Ohio, both in the Diocese of Toledo.

“This is the culture that I want my kids immersed in, and I want to teach them that there are people who live the way we want to live … along the lines of the values I’m trying to instill in them because the pull of our culture is so strong,” said Meghan.

They and 11-year-old Maura, 7-year-old Owen, and 3-year-old Evan were all smiles as they spent time walking through the exhibit hall in the Indiana Convention Center during a break on July 18.

“I want each of my kids to have a personal experience with the Lord,” said Meghan as she reflected on her hopes for the congress, “to grow in our faith, and to bring it home, to be on mission to bring Jesus to others … to radiate that love and joy that we’re experiencing here.”

‘People here wanting to see Jesus’

Jill Spale had no trouble convincing her 12-year-old daughter Harper to attend the congress.

In fact, the soon-to-be eighth grader was happy that faith was at the center of their mother/daughter trip.

“I wanted to come because I thought it was really incredible there would be so many people here wanting to see Jesus,” said Harper, the oldest of four children.

Her mother agreed.

“It’s just incredible to see this amount of people wanting to get closer to God,” said Jill, a resident of Columbus, Neb., in the Archdiocese of Omaha. “There isn’t any harmful person here. You bump into someone, they’re friendly. The speakers, the music, just everything, … it’s a great revival or refresh for our faith on our journey as mother and daughter.”

Jill added she hoped she and Harper would leave the congress with a stronger faith and “go home and bring it to our family.”

‘I want to get a bonfire going’

A 17-hour bus ride did nothing to deter the enthusiasm of youths from the Diocese of Rapid City, S.D.

High school students Nora Hoffman, Cheyenne Hendrickson, Adeline Lyons and Brenna Martian were among a group of 57 who journeyed to Indianapolis to take part in the congress.

As she reflected on the second day of her pilgrimage of faith, Nora said, “I’m getting pretty close to Jesus, and … there’s a spark, and I want to get a bonfire going.”

Cheyenne hoped to develop “a stronger connection with God, [have] more trust, and leaning on him more to help guide me where he wants me to go.”

Like her peers, Brenna said “growing my faith” will be a priority.

“This [congress] has really helped me connect with God,” she said, adding “that was the goal: to get to know him better.” †

 

(See all of our coverage of the National Eucharistic Congress at www.archindy.org/congress.)