Madison Diocesan Eucharistic Congress. Everyone is invited!
The Madison Diocese will celebrate its first Eucharistic Congress on Sept. 29-Oct.1, 2023, at St. John the Baptist, Waunakee. Everyone is invited to this three-day event. Open your hearts to conversion, transformation, and to becoming witnesses for Jesus’ Eucharistic love! The following information will help you plan for your participation and to build your anticipation.
Guide
Anticipate the Holy Spirit’s work within your heart. This guide opens up the weekend’s possibilities, its purpose, beauty, spirituality, and truth. But don’t wait for the weekend. Take the entire year to prepare through Adoration, Mass, mental prayer, and instruction.
Schedule
Friday evening begins quietly but profoundly with Mass, followed by a talk from Fr. John Riccardo and Stations of the Cross. Saturday begins with prayer and music, Mass, and followed by two talks: Fr. Craig Vasek and Helen Alvare, lunch, art contest awards, and finishing with an encounter with Jesus. Sunday is the climax of the weekend with another talk from Fr. Vasek, a beautiful, solemn Mass, followed by a Eucharistic Procession and a concert. Please review the schedule for these highlights (subject to changes).
Spanish schedule, 8.5 x 11
Spanish schedule, 8.5 x 14
Flyers
Flyers show the Congress in a nutshell. Please download and print them for your own benefit but also to distribute them to others as well. Two versions in two sizes are available with accompanying English schedules. If you print out the flyer, you might also print the schedule on the back.
Register to Attend the Congress
We look forward to your arrival at the Madison Eucharistic Congress. But your registration will help us to plan for food, space, programs, and for special needs as well. Please take time to register. It confirms your commitment to be with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
Volunteer Registration
In World War II, the United States appealed to enlistees with the phrase, “I Want You!”, while Uncle Sam pointed his finger directly at you from the poster. Likewise, the Congress wants you too! We need your help. Please click on the Registration Signup to volunteer.
Congress Adoration Signup
In 2007, St. John the Baptist, Waunakee, expanded into its new sanctuary. But it also continued using the older church (1887). So, during the Congress, as other events unfold in the new sanctuary, the older church will be used for 24/7 Adoration. What a blessing!
Now, we invite you to spend an hour with Jesus. Make a commitment to that hour by signing up on this form.
Proclaim Your Love Contest
The Congress invites Catholic school students to apply their creative talents to the Proclaim Your Love Contest. They may write an essay, draw or paint a work of art, or compose and perform a musical composition.
The Knight of Columbus will be co-sponsoring this contest and will act as judges for each category and age group. Feel free to review the contest flyers for details. Schools and parishes may also print these flyers for distribution or posting.
Contact the Catholic school teachers or the Knights of Columbus, or this website for any further information you may need.
Adoration in the Diocese
Many parishes schedule Adoration hours in the Madison Diocese. Perpetual Adoration continues as three locations: Holy Redeemer (Cathedral Parish, Madison), St. Mary’s (Queen of All Saints, Fennimore), and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Mary Morning Star Chapel, Monona).
For Adoration hours at a parish near you, please click to the attached list.
A booklet produced by Adoremus might be helpful to you during Adoration. It contains the rite of Benediction, hymns, and prayers. Also, a guide on Lectio Divina–mental prayer–will help to open you up to meditation and contemplation.
Eucharistic Miracle Display
Blessed Carlo Acutis died in 2006, at 15-years-old of leukemia. But in those brief 15 years, he formed a deep love of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. He knew the reality of Jesus’ presence, confirmed in eucharistic miracles around the world. He created a website to catalog them and, eventually, a display. The Madison Diocese offers a replica of Carlo’s display (on 160 panels, each measuring 60 x 80) to parishes for a weekend presentation. Parishes may schedule this display by calling the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (608-821-3000) or by completing the scheduling form.