Reliving Eucharistic Congress

What an experience

It was an amazing experience.

I’ve been asking the Lord this question: I know and believe you love me. But how do I know that You know that I love You?

During the Eucharistic procession, as Jesus stopped in front of me, I was on my knees. This rush of heat penetrated my entire body, and I was drenched in sweat from head to toe. The small voice said this is how much I know. He pierced me with a love I could never reciprocate. What an experience!

—Jenny

Mercy!

The only word that was on the tip of my tongue, the word God planted in my heart, the one thing He gives us over and over again. Mercy. If you asked me one word to describe the Eucharistic Congress, it is ‘mercy’. The grace of Jesus’ mercy flowed, poured out for us to receive Him in all His glory. During the healing procession, the entire congregation sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the words “Have Mercy on Us and on the Whole World,” holds truth. All we need is His mercy. At this moment, for me, it was a moment of surrender to Him. I couldn’t help the tears that flowed. The Lord touched me in that moment; He held me gently and whispered, ‘I love you’.

This mercy, He gives freely, every time we call on Him, we visit Him in Adoration, encounter Him in Mass. Every time we show mercy to others and grace, that’s Jesus. Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection was an act of His love and mercy for us, and He leaves that love and mercy for us to receive in the Holy Eucharist.

From minute one to the very last moment of the Congress, Jesus was present. He moved through the crowd; He touched each soul.

As Archbishop Jason said: “Do you know God? Because He knows you.” Jesus Christ knows each and every one of His children. He knows you like no one else. He sees you. I truly believe that when I sit before our Eucharistic Lord that He is hugging me, He is consoling me and He is telling me, ‘I’m always here for you, my daughter.’

As Jesus said to the woman with the issue of blood, “daughter go in peace, your faith has healed you.”

Remember that we must cling to the hem of His garment, and hold on and if we can, we must run to His mercy, run to His love, run to Him. He wants you. He is waiting and He is always pouring out His mercy. —Isabelle Jemmott

I cannot explain, it’s just love

The Congress was the closest to Heaven I have encountered here on Earth.

I felt it was a story from the Bible that manifested from when Jesus walked the Earth, performing numerous miracles, signs and wonders.

Two messages were given to me from Papa God on the day when we were called to Adoration. First, Jesus kept saying to me: ‘My hand is not short, My hand is not short’. I kept lifting many names up to Him. When I stopped, He repeated, ‘My hand is not short’. He wanted me to continuously keep giving Him names.

Second, He said to me, “Love and move on.” I have a greater love and yearning for Him in the Eucharist since the Congress.

Although we fulfilled our Sunday Mass obligation on Saturday at the Congress, I was happy and committed to attend Mass on Sunday, just to be with Him and receive Him in the Eucharist. I was drawn into the heart of Jesus when that majestic Jesus, passed by. I love Him and I am more encouraged to serve, spread His word and be more like Him. It is a love I cannot explain! —Michelle Lee

I wanted my own Bible

Today, I have a new-found interest in getting to know God, for I have gained the wisdom of realising that the primary purpose of life is to learn and grow a relationship with the Lord, to be able to inherit eternal life with Him.

My acknowledgment of this is derived from the experience I had at the Eucharistic Congress, where I met Fr Patrick Gonyeau and was blessed by him. We had a good, long conversation, and I was forgiven for sins that I was committing each day.

When I confessed my sins, I felt rejuvenated and I felt like something came over me, and ever since my eyes and heart have opened to the Lord.

Now, I am beginning to read the Bible. I went out on the Monday morning after the Eucharistic Congress and bought my own Bible (even though we have at home). I felt I wanted my own.

I am on a mission to learn Jesus’ story and grow closer to Him, even more so. At the end of the talk with Fr Patrick, he reached into his pocket and gave me his rosary, which was very generous of him.

I hope that others get inspired by my experience, and I hope that this testimony serves as a testament to God’s revelation in our lives.

—Tommy Henderson, 19 years old