From across the country they came: Perth, Geraldton, Darwin, Adelaide, Rockhampton and everywhere in between was represented.
From 11-13 November a retreat was held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney for those men and women appointed by their bishop to serve as chief liaison with the International Eucharistic Congress 2028.
Upon arrival, many confessed their trepidation at being nominated to represent their diocese or eparchy for an “event” about which they knew little and understood even less.
Yet over the brief period that we shared together, the Holy Spirit worked obvious wonders: there was a definite ‘vibe shift’ by the end of the retreat, as our Gen Z friends might say.
Much like the apostles in the cenacle, we too were gathered in a meeting room up three flights of stairs, initially wondering what it was all about.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, however, set the tone with a masterfully rousing talk on the dramatic, Pentecost-like impact these next few years are likely to have, even apart from the effects of the congress itself in 2028.
“No one should be touched by the congress and be unchanged,” he said, “for no one can experience intimacy with Christ and be the same as before.”
Following three days of such rousing presentations – and plenty of opportunities for prayer, Mass, adoration and for the retreatants themselves to provide input on how their communities might best be engaged and served over the next few years – our small group in the upper room were a people transformed.
No more hesitation, no more doubt; they were clear in their purpose and mission.
Some were feeling slightly overwhelmed with the responsibility, it is true; and they admitted as much.
But they were also excited that, for the first time in a long time, they were part of something in the church that was likely to have a substantive impact, not only on other people, but in their own lives.
“You must all be the first fruits of the congress,” were the salient words of Tim Glemkowski, the CEO of the US National Eucharistic Congress that was held last year, joining via Zoom.
“Everything you do must be brought to prayer; this will cost you something, as it did me, but in bearing the cross with Christ, we are also better able to share and appreciate his resurrection.”
Fr Daniele Russo gave the final talk of the retreat and all agreed it was a perfect summation of our time together: “If this is only about an event in three years’ time, or even about more ‘bums on seats’ in our churches, then I am not interested in it,” he said.
“This must be about transformation; leading our people to live eucharistic lives of self-sacrifice and gift for others – to truly become what we receive, the Body of Christ.”
If you would like more information on the International Eucharistic Congress in 2028, or to be added to the mailing list for updates, please email: iec2028@sydneycatholic.org