Eucharistic Congress History Timeline

The year of Eucharistic Renewal called by Archbishop Donoghue in 1996 concluded in 1997 with a Mass and healing service at the Atlanta Civic Center attended by 4,000 people. The year in between this event and that first Mass at Holy Spirit in 1996 focused on teaching the meaning of the Eucharist at the parish level and providing opportunities for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At the Mass at the Civic Center, Archbishop Donoghue expressed his hope that the eucharistic renewal would continue for years to come.

Photo: Fr. Kevin Scallon, C.M., carries the monstrance through the Atlanta Civic Center during the healing service at the 1997 Eucharistic Renewal.
Photo by Kathi Stearns

Returning to Holy Spirit Church, the fourth Eucharistic Renewal program continued the format from the previous year. The opening procession included girls from Pinecrest Academy dropping rose petals ahead of the Eucharist held by Archbishop Donoghue. The homilist was Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., director of the Office of Spiritual Development for the Archdiocese of New York. The archbishop concluded the service with Benediction.

Photo: Archbishop John F. Donoghue poses with girls from Pinecrest Academy carrying baskets of rose petals.
Photo by Michael Alexander

One year after Archbishop Donoghue implemented the new mission of evangelization for the archdiocese, an estimated 12,000 people filed into the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park. The full-day event, titled “Come to Me,” was the largest of its kind ever held in the archdiocese. Featuring separate tracks for adults (with sessions in English and Spanish), children, and teens, this format would serve as a blueprint for future Eucharistic celebrations in the archdiocese.

Photo: Banners representing parishes, religious organizations, and Catholic schools assemble at the procession for the Eucharistic Renewal at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Photo by Michael Alexander

The Eucharistic Congress returned in 2003 with some major additions. A new program for young adults called “Revive!” was added to Friday evening, making this year the first two-day Congress. Also included this year was a new Vietnamese track on Saturday. With the theme of “Seek and You Shall Find,” speakers included some notable Catholic converts and Passion of the Christ actor Jim Caviezel.

Photo: Sister Cecilia Joseph, OP, left, and Sister Anastasia, OP, talk with children outside the GICC.
Photo by Michael Alexander

In January 2005, Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory was installed as Archbishop of Atlanta. His first Eucharistic Congress borrowed his episcopal motto, “We are the Lord’s,” as its theme. His predecessor, Archbishop-emeritus John F. Donoghue, was honored at the Congress for initiating the annual event, with this year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest. The 2005 Congress was also noteworthy for being the first with a Mass and healing service on Friday, as well as the establishment of the American Sign Language Track, sponsored by the archdiocesan Disabilities Ministry.

Photo: Young adults during adoration at the Friday night “Revive” track.
Photo by Ben Vigil

“The Food that Endures for Eternal Life” was the theme of the 2007 Congress, which continued to focus on the diversity within the archdiocese. A variety of speakers shared their stories, including former Major League Baseball player and Catholic convert, Darrell Miller, and survivor of genocide in Rwanda, Immaculée Ilibagiza. At the closing Mass, eleven blessed images of Our Lady of Guadalupe were presented, marking a Marian renewal for the archdiocese. Coinciding with catechetical sessions, the images would travel around the archdiocese, culminating with its re-consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in December.

Photo: Musicians from the Archbishop James P. Lyke Memorial Mass Choir play during the closing Mass.
Photo by Thomas Spink

With the theme “As Grain Once Scattered,” the 2009 Congress brought together a diverse crowd of people as one. This theme was especially evident in the Spanish Track, where a roll call highlighted attendees’ many native countries. Speakers throughout the Congress talked about how new media has the opportunity to connect people, while also warning of the potential dangers inherent in the internet and social networking. At the English Track, Frederick Berretta described his experience on board US Airways Flight 1549, whose pilot Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger famously (and successfully) crash-landed in the Hudson River. Barretta said the harrowing plunge into the river left him feeling “baptized again.”

Photo: Dr. Bill Eyzaguirre prays over a woman during the Friday healing service.
Photo by Michael Alexander

The focus of the 2011 Congress was vocations, with Archbishop Gregory choosing the theme “The Harvest is Abundant.” Information tables occupied by religious communities serving in the archdiocese, seminarians, and lay groups were set up in the GICC. Marriage Encounter couples handed out pamphlets on the upcoming Encounter Weekend retreat. The overall success of the Eucharistic Congress led Saturday morning homilist Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York to proclaim Atlanta as “the Orvieto of America,” referencing the Italian city where Pope Urban IV first celebrated the worldwide feast of Corpus Christi in 1264.

Photo: Julie Pardo, left, prays with a group of people attending the opening Mass and healing service.
Photo by Michael Alexander

Coinciding with the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, the 2013 Congress got underway with the theme “Do Whatever He Tells You,” a reference to the Virgin Mary’s words to the servants at the wedding of Cana. Speakers at the Congress focused on following and listening to Christ, and the joy of Jesus in the Eucharist. Winners of a Year of Faith video contest were announced, with two entries receiving the grand prize of a trip to Rome, Italy.

Photo: Dancers from Saint Matthew Church, Winder, perform outside the GICC prior to the morning procession.
Photo by Thomas Spink

For the 20th Congress, the theme, “I Will Be With You Always,” reflected the original event’s emphasis on the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The speakers highlighted the many ways Christ makes His presence known, both inside and outside the Church. Also celebrating its 20th year was the Life in the Eucharist ministry (LITE), which was founded amid Archbishop Donoghue’s initial call for Eucharistic Renewal. Members of LITE throughout the archdiocese met at the Congress for a reunion, where they shared stories of the ministry’s impact.

Photo: After serving the day as ushers, volunteers Elaine and Edward Darr make their way back to parking lot.
Photo by Michael Alexander

Openness and family were the focus of the 2017 Congress, taking the theme “As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord.” Speakers challenged attendees to not only open their own lives to serving Christ, but to also seek a better understanding of what has driven people away from the Church. At the “Revive” young adult track, Brandon Vogt, content director for Word on Fire ministries, argued that bringing young people back to the Church means listening to why they left: “Nagging breeds resentment. No one has ever come back to the church because they resent it.”

Photo: Healing service attendees kneel before the Blessed Sacrament.
Photo by Michael Alexander

“This is My Body Given Up for You,” the theme for the 24th Congress, focused on sacrifice, giving and service. In his homily at the opening Mass, Father Dennis Dorner urged Catholics to see the Congress a “gift of encounter,” receiving the love of God through the Eucharist while experiencing the diversity of those in attendance. At the Starve Wars program, military veterans joined other volunteers to pack meals for Burkina Faso. At that event, the 10-millionth meal in the Catholic Relief Services Helping Hands program was packed. This Congress also saw the return of the Teen Track after a hiatus of a few years.

Photo: At the American Sign Language track, Anne Greener-Hage, left, serves as a special services provider of tactile interpreting for Kathleen Potter.
Photo by Michael Alexander