Next month’s Eucharistic Congress will be a pilgrimage of Hope

As part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee celebrations, Trinidad and Tobago is preparing for a deeply spiritual and transformative event: the Eucharistic Congress, a 10-day journey of prayer, adoration, and communion.

Spearheading this ambitious national initiative is Fr Jesse Maingot OP, whose heartfelt passion and belief in the transformative power of the Eucharist lie at the core of the Congress.

Speaking on Altos, Fr Maingot described the Congress as an “emphasis on a Eucharistic hope,” sharing that “I don’t know anything better in my life than the Eucharistic Lord to give me hope.” That sense of hope is the cornerstone of the entire event—a nationwide call to re-centre Christ in the hearts of individuals, families, and communities.

The Congress officially begins on May 1, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, with a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon will bless a monstrance and a statue of Our Lady of Fatima during this Mass.

What follows is a non-stop, nine-day pilgrimage—both spiritual and physical—as the monstrance and statue travel from sacred site to sacred site.

The pilgrimage will not pause, day or night, as the faithful accompany Christ in the Blessed Sacrament through cities, towns, and villages. “We want to do like a novena prayer,” Fr Maingot explained. “That monstrance and that statue with our Lord… will go to the next sacred site and it will go on like that for eight days into our ninth day, which will end at Our Lady of Fatima in Curepe.”

In an extraordinary show of unity, the pilgrimage will cross the waters to Tobago, where the faithful will have the chance to adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. “We’ve arranged to go by boat,” Fr Maingot shared. “Please God, bless the coastline. We’ll have a family coming with us and other people accompanying.”

Accompanying the sacred items will be a motorcade with flags and a mobile altar, creating what Fr Maingot describes as “a bit of a fuss across the Archdiocese and in the nation.” It’s a living, breathing act of faith meant to ignite hearts from Cedros to Charlotteville.

The Eucharistic Congress will reach its spiritual crescendo on Saturday, May 10, with a massive national celebration at the historic Queen’s Park Oval—a space more often known for cricket, but on this day, it will become a sanctuary of prayer, unity, and divine encounter.

This momentous event is expected to be a joyful, reverent gathering of thousands of faithful from across the country. “We’re coming together as a big family of God,” he said, “to be with our Lord, to really enter deeply in His presence.”

This day is not just a celebration, but a summit of spiritual intention. After nine days of non-stop adoration and pilgrimage, the faithful will converge to offer collective worship, to pray for healing and reconciliation in the nation, and to be empowered for mission.

What to expect at the Oval:

• Eucharistic Adoration: At the heart will be extended Eucharistic Adoration, where thousands will fall to their knees before the Blessed Sacrament. It will be a rare and powerful moment of collective stillness.
• Healing Hour: One of the key moments Fr Maingot emphasised is the Healing Hour, where intercessory prayer teams and clergy will invite the congregation to open their hearts to the healing power of Jesus. “I expect the Lord is going to do great work in this,” he said. The Church is expecting physical, emotional, and spiritual healing to unfold — not as spectacle, but as sincere encounters with divine mercy.
• Keynote from Cardinal Tagle: Adding immense gravitas to the event is the presence of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines. Sent by Pope Francis himself, Cardinal Tagle will deliver the keynote address — likely to challenge and inspire the faithful toward renewed Eucharistic devotion and missionary zeal. His presence also signals the Vatican’s deep spiritual investment in this local initiative.
• Cultural and spiritual symbolism: The event will also feature a ceremonial opening, with music, flags, and perhaps symbolic presentations that reflect the diverse and vibrant Catholic heritage of Trinidad and Tobago. Fr Maingot hinted at a few “surprises” to be revealed on the day — suggesting a blend of Trinbagonian creativity with sacred solemnity.
• Unity in diversity: Catholics from every vicariate are being encouraged to wear vicariate colours, fostering a sense of joyful unity within the diversity of the Archdiocese. This will turn the Oval into a tapestry of faith, a visible sign of the Church’s presence across every region.

A nationwide invitation

Fr Maingot emphasised that this event is not only for Catholics, but for all people of goodwill. He encouraged families to prepare spiritually: “Maybe gather for extra rosaries together and pray, or maybe go to more Masses,” he advised. “Really prepare for the event.”

Though admission to the Oval is free, seating is limited and will require tickets, which are being distributed through every parish in the country. To ensure inclusivity, each vicariate will also host local viewing sites, with one designated church per vicariate streaming the event live. For those unable to travel, the Congress will also be broadcast on Trinity TV, making it accessible to the homebound and elderly.

As a grassroots initiative, the Congress is being supported through free-will offerings and corporate sponsorships. “You can’t pay for the Eucharist,” Fr Maingot said simply, but acknowledged the financial needs of such a massive undertaking. “Anybody who feels generous to give,” he added, “please do.”

For detailed information, including the pilgrimage schedule, frequently asked questions, and vicariate colour codes, Fr Maingot directed the public to the Congress’ official online hub: eucharisticcongresstt.org

The site is also accessible via catholictt.org

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