By Joanna Puddister King

JACKSON – As a part of the Eucharistic Revival, developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Diocese of Jackson is holding a Eucharistic Congress on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gluckstadt. The event also flows out of the diocesan “Year of the Eucharist.”

The event features an evening and morning of prayer, adoration, spiritual talks and Mass. The featured speaker for the event is Father Ajani Gibson of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“This will kick off the Eucharistic Revival’s focus on the Eucharist in parish life and the re-evangelization of parishioners through reverence for the Eucharist in their lives and connecting the Eucharist to service and how parishioners are called to be the Real Presence of Jesus Christ to others,” said Mary Woodward, chancellor for the Diocese of Jackson.

“As we move further into this focus, we will provide more opportunities for parishes to deepen their worship life and prayer life.”

Woodward says that the Eucharistic Congress is not just about adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, which is a necessary, vital and profound action, but also a deeper understanding of and commitment to worshipping the Eucharist as active participants in liturgy.

“This in turn leads to an internalization of the Real Presence so that one can then reflect that Real Presence of Christ to the world that is so in need of the presence of Christ,” says Woodward.

The schedule for Friday, Oct. 28 consists of:

4 p.m – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Joseph Church and Opportunities for Sacrament of Penance

6 p.m. – a spiritual talk on the gift of the Eucharist by Father Ajani Gibson

7-8 p.m. – Adoration, night prayer and benediction

8 p.m. – Benediction/Reposition – Bishop Kopacz

On Saturday, Oct. 29:

8-10 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Joseph’s Church and opportunities for Sacrament of Penance

10 a.m. Morning prayer followed by spiritual talk on living the Eucharist by Father Gibson

11:30 a.m. Closing Mass with Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Fr. Ajani Gibson as homilist

For those unable to attend the Congress, look for local opportunities for adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation during event times. For more information on the national Eucharistic Revival, visit www.eucharisticrevival.org.