Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

DAYTONA BEACH | Eucharistic Adoration, catechesis, and monthly gatherings are helping National Eucharistic Congress participants prepare for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis from July 17-21. Throughout the Diocese of Orlando, participants are responding to a call for renewal in the Church, with hope for a deeper understanding of the Eucharist and a new zeal for sharing Christ’s love in the world.

The National Eucharistic Revival began three years ago on the feast of Corpus Christi in June 2022. Shortly after, Father Kenneth Gill, rector of the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach, initiated Christ in the City, an opportunity to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday night for two hours. He and parochial vicar Father Edgar Serrano then began to pray about who to send to the congress as missionaries. They selected 12 individuals.

“We selected them because most have already been serving in the community. We need people who are already growing in faith and are willing to move to the next level, as missionaries,” said Father Serrano, who will accompany them as chaplain. Also joining them are Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family Evangeline Kiambati and Beata Fiedorczuk, along with Josh Kusmierz and his wife, Charly Anne.

“The idea is that we are going to receive and what we receive we will bring back and share with everybody. That is our mission,” Father Serrano stated.

The group meets monthly and works through videos provided by the congress to assist in preparation. They also gather for Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday nights. “We come first to the heart of Jesus then we move to our catechism groups,” said Father Serrano, who looks forward to transformations resulting from the congress.

“My hope is to be love, to be more love than we are,” he said. “We are supposed to be Jesus. So the idea of this is to make our way to the congress and become a little more like Jesus ourselves.”

Paul Riley grew up at the Basilica, attended Catholic school there, and sent his children there as well. Like him, his children serve as altar servers and participate in other ministries. Riley enjoyed serving when he was young but finds it even more enriching now alongside his wife Stephanie. They participated in marriage ministry for a decade and have spent another 11 years teaching First Holy Communion.

Riley expressed uncertainty about how non-believers “make it through their normal existence.” He considers it a blessing to teach about Reconciliation and Holy Communion sacraments. He enjoys sharing “how God is always there for you, how God never turns His back on you,” he said. “As you move into receiving and sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ, how beautiful it is that God is always with you and gives you strength.” He encourages children “to keep Christ close to them and receive Him as often as they can as they continue to grow.”

Riley feels deeply moved by making this pilgrimage with his wife and daughters and looks forward to sharing what he learns with his students.

Also chosen for the congress are Khandis and her brother Daven. “It was an honor to be selected because I want to meet a lot of people who share the same belief and faith in God that I do,” said 17-year-old Khandis. Her faith led her one year ago to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

“I love sharing God through distributing communion," she said.

Khandis noted that monthly catechesis on the Eucharist has taught her many new things about it; she was particularly impressed by martyrs who died protecting it. She hopes she will learn more at the congress on how best "to share what she learns" with others.

Her 15-year-old brother Daven shared similar sentiments: "Growing up in church felt like home," he remarked while expressing hopes "to encourage others."

Each week Basilica missionaries introduce themselves through weekly bulletins; Missionary Sister Beata Fiedorczuk shared: "I carry prayers...hopes...needs...reflecting love/grace received via Eucharist." The parish plans pre-departure round-the-clock adoration sessions while urging diocesan-wide prayer support ahead July's event dates (17-21).

By Glenda Meekins of Florida Catholic staff