Jacksonville, Fla. – This year’s Eucharistic Congress is a showcase of the Catholic faith with speakers like Cardinal Timothy Dolan and theologian Dr. Scott Hahn who are synonymous with the American church.
The annual Congress, March 13-14, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville, is expected to draw thousands of Catholics from all over North Florida and beyond to celebrate and deepen their faith through speakers, music and liturgy.
The Eucharistic Congress begins on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. with a talk by Dr. Scott Hahn followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. and a 9 p.m. young adult track. On Saturday, the day begins with a grand procession at 8 a.m., the keynote address by Cardinal Dolan at 9 a.m., Mass at 10 a.m. and talks in English, Spanish and for teens and children at 12:30 p.m. The day will conclude with a closing celebration at 4 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Come to the House of the Lord.”
When Dr. Scott Hahn heard that the Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine hosts a Eucharistic Congress annually, he said, “Wow!”
“The Eucharist is where we meet Christ in a continual way,” Dr. Hahn said in an interview with the St. Augustine Catholic magazine. “We don’t just invite Him into our heart but we receive Him into our body, take Him home and out into the world.”
“A Eucharistic Congress is a unique way to renew the faith for the entire church. And to do it every year – Wow! It will be a wellspring of grace for the New Evangelization for the entire region.
Dr. Hahn is one of the speakers for the Eucharistic Congress. On Friday night, his topic will be “The Lamb’s Supper,” which is the subject of one of his 40 books. It’s a look at how to better understand the Mass through the Book of Revelation.
On Saturday, he will speak on “The Bible, the Eucharist, and the New Evangelization.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will give the keynote address on Saturday and is the main celebrant of the Mass afterwards. Known for his humor and candor, Cardinal Dolan is one of the most recognizable prelates in the country, frequently called on by the media to speak about issues of the day. He is past president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Jeff Cavins, creator of the popular Great Adventure Bible Study series published by Ascension Press, will lead a session about the Bible.
Another speaker, Mother Adela Galindo, will be leading sessions in the Spanish and English tracks. She is founder of the religious institute of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the Archdiocese of Miami. She is best known for her Marian spirituality.
Father Michael Schmitz, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth, Minn., as well as chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, will be the speaker for the young adult and teen tracks.
The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration was required for childcare and the children’s track.
Schedule for Eucharistic Congress 2015
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Jacksonville
“Come to the House of the Lord”
Friday, March 13
5:30 p.m. Doors Open
6:30 p.m. Dr. Scott Hahn
7:30 p.m. Live Stations of the Cross
9:00 p.m. Young Adult Track with Father Mike Schmitz
Saturday, March 14
7:00 a.m. Doors Open
8:00 a.m. Grand Procession of Ministries and Parishes
9:00 a.m. Keynote Address: Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York
10:00 a.m. Mass
12:30 p.m. Tracks in English, Spanish and for teens and children begin
4:00 p.m. Closing Celebration