More than 400 Sydney Catholic Schools staff, parents and community members gathered at Canterbury Leagues Club for an evening of prayer, formation and fellowship inspired by Jesus Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
Held on 9 September, the inaugural Empower Night: Towards Eucharist28 marked the beginning of a series of gatherings preparing the Catholic education community for the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress (Eucharist28), which is to be held in Sydney.
The evening combined catechesis, personal testimony, praise and worship and Eucharistic Adoration, with Eucharist28 General Secretary Bishop Richard Umbers, Catholic musician Fr Rob Galea and cancer survivor Erin Gillard among the special guests.
Bishop Umbers invited those present to reflect on Christ’s gift of himself in the Eucharist and outlined the history and purpose of International Eucharistic Congresses.
“In the theme for the Eucharistic Congress it is, ‘This is my body,’ but he also continues and he says, ‘Given for you,’” Bishop Umbers said.
Gillard offered a personal account of her experience of cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery, and how Christ’s presence in the Eucharist sustained her throughout the ordeal.
“Nothing in this world can compare to the peace, the freedom, the love and the joy of being united with Jesus,” she said.
“In the Eucharist, we are so deeply and profoundly loved.”
Fr Galea led two sessions of contemporary praise and worship, accompanied by reflections on faith, discipleship and the scale of the church’s mission ahead of the congress.
“We have a big task ahead of us,” he told the crowd.
“It’s not just to be inspired, and it’s not just to be moved, but we need God’s strength. How many of us know that Eucharist28 is bigger than us?”
The auditorium later fell silent for Eucharistic adoration, which participants described as the defining moment of the gathering and an opportunity to encounter Christ away from the busyness of daily life.
Before the main program, attendees met representatives from 13 Catholic ministries, organisations and businesses, including Eucharist28, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Education Foundation, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and Parousia Media.
Musical performances were also provided by Giuseppe Zangari, Anita Finneran, Koe Evangelista and Jacinta Drumond.
Sydney Catholic Schools’ Manager International Eucharistic Congress, Guy Zangari, thanked more than 50 staff volunteers who supported the event.
He said the evening began a two-year formation journey involving school staff, students, parents, carers and families.
Sydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Danielle Cronin said the continuing formation of educators and families helped to create communities in which faith was lived rather than simply taught.
“When educators, parents and the wider Catholic community continue to grow as disciples of Christ, we create school communities where faith is not simply taught, but lived,” she said.
Further Empower Nights are planned across Sydney during 2026 and 2027, with the next to be held at North Leagues Club on 19 November.
