Describe your experience at Encounter the National Eucharistic...

   The first aspect of going to the NEC with Marian University that I really enjoyed was my small group and the whole Marian group as a whole. There was so much energy around campus that started with the adult and college mentors and that energy eventually spread to me and the other participants. I loved my small group and it was very easy to make friends with them despite us being almost all different places around the country, and I was sad to leave after having gone through such a great experience with them.

   In Lucas Oil Stadium, I loved going to Mass, hearing speakers, and going to Adoration. At Mass it was so inspiring to see tens of thousands of Catholics reverent before the Eucharist, and it was cool to see so many priests and religious sisters. The music was always great and I also enjoyed going to the Syro Malabar Rite, because I've always only gone to the Roman Rite. The Revival Sessions each night were so powerful and my favorite speakers included Father Mike Schmitz, Mother Olga, Jonathan Roumie, Bishop Barron, and Chris Stefanick. I took notes on each talk and I hope that I can go back and remember what they said to continue to get inspiration to be a Eucharistic Missionary. 

   My favorite prayer experience was Adoration, specifically on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, we did the Litany led by Fr. Boniface Hicks and that experience was so impactful for me because I felt like with each word of "Jesus Heal Me" or "Jesus Help me to believe" Jesus was really healing me. Saturday I really enjoyed Matt Maher's concert and then his music during Adoration; he played songs like "Way maker" which I've heard during Adoration before and have really impacted me. 

   The morning impact sessions were great because we saw more inspiring speakers and also listened to some great music. There was definitely revival going on and just as Deacon Larry kept saying, it really did feel like we were in the Upper Room. I could feel the Holy Spirit moving and I'm glad we got to go to each of those sessions.

   Aside from those experiences, I just enjoyed seeing the size, the unity, and the passion of the Catholic Church. All we hear in the media is that the Church is dying and nobody goes to church anymore, but there are so many good things going on in Catholicism right now and I'm really excited for what the future holds. From confession lines stretching down the convention center halls to people breaking out in song when it's so crowded near the doors that nobody can move, there was undoubtedly an energy present at the Congress that will inspire a Revival in the United States. 

Throughout the NEC you listened to many talks and walked with...

   One thing that has inspired me to be a Eucharistic Missionary is the Walk With One initiative. It's a really simple way to evangelize that I never thought of before, and if everyone who was present at the Congress can bring one person back to the Church, then we will have made a great impact. Since the Congress, I have started a more rigid prayer routine. Prior to the Congress I would always feel really close to God on Sundays when I would go to Mass and then during the week I would almost forget about my faith. Now I have started praying a daily Rosary and I recently went to my first daily Mass in years. I hope to maintain these habits so I maintain the fire that I felt at the Congress. 

   Another thing that I gained from the Congress is the conviction to be a bold Catholic and to express my faith even when I'm alone in my faith. I'm the only one in my friend group who is really into my faith, but that just means that I am the one who has the opportunity to bring them back to the Church. At the Congress, specifically with my small group, I took lots of comfort knowing that there are many other young Catholics who love their faith like me, and although now we are going back to our respective homes, schools, and parishes, we can take heart in knowing that we aren't alone and we're United in the Eucharist.

Describe your experience at Encounter the National Eucharistic...

It was such an unexpected gift. In our preparation for the NEC both during the school year and in the few days we spent as a community preparing for the students to arrive before the Congress began, I found myself wondering if I had put myself where the Lord desired me to be. I felt unprepared to lead a small group, and like my inexperience was going to be a detriment to everyone’s ability to encounter the Lord, including my own. 

Night one in Lucas Oil, all of those feelings of self-doubt, of not being sure the Lord desired that I be serving as a college mentor disappeared. They put the slide up on the big screen after the perpetual pilgrims came in that said, “HE IS HERE” and then He was. The King of the entire Universe walked in the room of tens of thousands of people and yet it seemed like He had eyes only for me. In that moment, I thought, “If it got me in the door, then Jesus, it was worth it.” The “it” being my role as a college mentor. There was no longer any doubt about where I needed to be, clearly the Lord had something He needed my heart to receive, and He was very clearly delighted by my presence in the stadium, in my yes to serve Him in this way.

That moment on night one was a great grace and consolation to receive from Him, and there would be many throughout the week. All of them a reflection of the truth that as I strive to become a more radiant bride for Him, to fall more in love with Him I will only begin to see Him more and more. This was true during the week at the NEC – I saw the love notes that He left unsigned but that I knew were from Him like when I spotted one of my favorite religious orders wondering the halls. I felt the intentionality with which He prepared things for my heart, like bumping into some priests that I delight in or helping me find silence when I felt like I couldn’t receive anything else. In all of these things I am learning the language of love He uses to communicate with me and to take care of my heart.

There are so many more moments and gifts from the King that I could unpack but suffice it to say that He took care of my heart perfectly, and I am so excited to get to do life with Him.

Throughout the NEC you listened to many talks and walked with...

   The reality of an event like the National Eucharistic Congress is that we likely shared the hallways with some of the saints of our generation. I don’t just mean the speakers that spoke on the big stages or the priests that celebrated the Masses for all of those in attendance. I mean the moms and dads who were wrangling strollers full of kids with joy on their faces and the young people who streamed out of their Empower sessions singing, “Praise the Lord, oh my soul”. We were surrounded by the saints of the future. 

For me, this is what I’m most convicted of following the NEC, the saints of the future are being formed right now. They are fighting for holiness and truth right now. They are being formed by the Lord and kept safe in His most scared wounds. I think it’s time I start trying to live like that. Chris Stefanick said in his keynote, “Play the saint you want to be.” The week after the NEC a priest in attendance said the same thing in his homily at a daily Mass. So, again, I decided it was time to start living differently, by striving more intentionally for holiness every day. I’m still figuring out what this looks like, sometimes I live that out by actually asking the question, “If I was a saint, what choice would I make right now?” but sometimes it’s more simple than that, like just choosing to do the next right thing. As I have reflected on the call to sanctity following the NEC both by myself and with other people, I have been reminded that to be a saint there is really only one thing that is necessary- to stay close to Him. So that’s how I’ve been trying to live, checking in with myself by asking the intentional questions of what the next right thing is and trying to stay close to Him through prayer, sacraments, and by sitting at His feet and listening. 

Describe your experience at Encounter the National Eucharistic...

I loved the small group experience of the NEC through Marian University. The college mentors were role models and examples for the teens of living their faith and lived in a way that inspired the teens to give their best and live the experience more deeply. They had initiative in leading the teens in prayer, encouraged them in going out of their comfort zones, and challenged them to lead by example. 

Although I was initially hesitant about how the "mixing different youth around" into small groups would go, ours was a great experience and the youth bonded through spiritual moments and shared experiences. We had youth from CA, TX, TN, OH, and IN. It was a privilege to walk with them and see how deeply they were touched from these experiences of faith. Their worldviews were widened. Their faith came to life in new ways. They experienced prayer and prayed in ways they would never have imagined before.

I also felt accompanied by the Marian University staff who helped make this possible for the youth I brought from my parish and all the youth. We did become a Marian Family, and felt a sense of connection whenever we would pass another Marian flag or group in the Convention Center or on the streets. The staff helped back us up as small group leaders and make sure we were equipped for anything we faced. I am grateful to have had this experience with Marian, and appreciate all the time and effort that went into it for us. 

Throughout the NEC you listened to many talks and walked with...

Through the NEC experience, the depths and beauty of our faith became more evident and “took on flesh” in the faces and people around me. I was genuinely inspired by the people I saw around me- whether I knew them or not. To be surrounded by 60,000 other Catholics, who are striving to follow Christ, live and love as He does, and share this faith is incredible. The amount of priests, consecrated religious, bishops, seminarians, and simply amazing people was so motivating for me. 

I was encouraged by the speakers- who before maybe were just for me famous religious influencers from social media and podcasts- and now I see as fellow disciples. They were very real, very down to earth, and very genuine. It made me want to be the saint and followed of Jesus that I am called to be, in my own way, according to His path for me. I was edified by the thousands of volunteers and helpers who made this experience possible. While I have not put on an event of that scale, I have been on countless event teams and helped make many spiritual events happen. I can’t begin to imagine all the sacrifice and love- in so many ways- that made my experience …and that of so many others…possible. So many hidden heroes. 

I was humbled by the Eucharistic Lord, who revealed Himself in so many ways- each and every day. He made His presence among us known and felt, and in the midst of a stadium of people or along the streets of downtown Indy, came to us. 

Whether we realize it or not, our lives have been forever changed, forever marked. I am certain that the grace from this NEC will only continue to flow and transform our hearts and lives, and reach farther- into the lives of people who didn’t attend, but who are touched by us. 

Describe your experience at Encounter the National Eucharistic... & Throughout the NEC you listened to many talks and walked with...

“Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!” Psalm 143:11. The 10th National Eucharistic Congress was so impactful to me and my faith. Amazingly, I can count on my fingers how many Congresses there have been, and I am so grateful to have been a part of the 10th. First, I want to share some takeaways from my small group time and my prayer experiences at the congress.  

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” Matthew 18:20. Within my small group I truly felt the Holy Spirit moving. I'm so blessed to have had an awesome group. I usually feel there is never enough time to get to know the group, but as soon as we were all together, we were friends. My favorite time with my small group was on the bus. It might sound odd, but I loved the time we spent on the bus. We spent our time on the bus so intentionally, with reflection, prayer, and worship. In a way, I had never experienced going on a bus ride. I am truly convinced Jesus moves in the simplest and humblest places.  

Thousands of people in person prayed before the blessed sacrament, lining every corner of the Lucas Oil Stadium. It was more than just beautiful; waves of peace and grace were flowing abundantly. I’ve never been to adoration with so many people, I was amazed. Thousands of eyes looking at the Eucharist together. I was one of the thousands of people there, and I am so grateful. I was struck by the love of our pastors, every time they walked up to the altar for adoration or the holy sacrifice of the mass. Adoration after Confession was even more powerful, it was so healing and peaceful. Starting every day with the rosary and the mass while tiring started our days off so well. Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” 

 To conclude, the congress has deepened my appreciation for the sacrament and strengthened my commitment and love of the church's teachings. My small group time and the deep prayer I experienced have strengthened my connection to the church and the Eucharist. It’s been incredible to experience the strength and unity of our community, all gathered in reverence and celebration of the Eucharist. As I returned to my daily life, I now carry with me a new sense of purpose and a desire for the holy mass. I'm so blessed to have been at Marian for an amazing five days, I could not imagine a better group to go with! Overall, it’s been a powerful and memorable experience I will carry with me forever.  

Describe your experience at Encounter the National Eucharistic... & Throughout the NEC you listened to many talks and walked with...

The most powerful moments I had during the NEC were definitely during Adoration. I have always heard people say that God speaks to them, and that He tells them certain things. It blows my mind to hear those stories. Never did I imagine that He would talk to me. His words during that time of reflection were simple, but it was almost as if He planted them into my mind. It was not a distinct voice, but rather clear thoughts. To sum up His words, He told me this:

“Love, trust in me, come to me.”

How wonderful is that? I am only fifteen, and it is inspiring to think about how many God might have spoken to, young and old. I had been pondering how to overcome my bad habit of comparison when, before I could finish my sentence, God said, “Love.” I almost brushed it off but realized He was correct, as God always is. If I love God, myself, and others, how can I judge or be envious of what others have? The truth may be simple, but it is always the truth, even if all you need is a reminder to love. God did say that the greatest of faith, hope, and charity is love!

Confession changed my life, as it does every single time. I always have a mental block when it comes to going to Reconciliation. It is never a problem to prepare, but it is always hard to tell myself to go. I know that I need to, but I always hesitate if I do not have a written piece of paper with my Examination of Conscience. I am not exactly sure when I started writing down my sins prior to seeing a priest, but now it is a habit. If I do not feel prepared — this applies to basically everything in my life — then becomes a lot more difficult for me. However, on that Friday, I had a journal ready and waited in line without jitters in my stomach. I was ready, and I wanted to go. I do not know the name of the priest I went to, but he changed my life and I did not even know it until today. Today I heard an echo of his voice in my head that answered something I had been praying about. It was evident today that I needed to hear it. God works in mysterious but necessary ways! The priest told me something that will forever warm my heart. He said, “I see God’s joy in you.”

These moments have empowered me just by giving me determination to keep up my relationship with God and to radiate God’s joy with others. Father Mike Schmitz talk about repentance reminded me that I needed to do something, and that is why I knew I needed Confession. After Reconciliation, I told God that I was ready for whatever plans He had for me. I began to ask, “But what if I am not enough?” The answer came clear after the intro to the next song. The first lyrics were, “Jesus, I trust in you.” God was clearly saying, “Carmen, just trust in me. Have faith.” I almost laughed to myself while I was kneeling, because I knew He was right.

On the last day of the NEC, I met an incredible girl named Caitrin, and now we text each other with prayer intentions and genuinely ask each other about our weeks so far. Both of us are now determined to say the rosary everyday, and I do not plan on stopping any time soon. Before the NEC, I struggled a bit with prayers since I used to say them at night and would eventually fall asleep in the middle of them. I would say decades of the rosary, claiming the full prayer to be too long. But now, I realize that I need to put aside the business of life and show God that I am willing to set aside time for him, even if it is fifteen minutes.

My family also witnessed a change in me. While it was subtle to me at first behaviorally, they immediately knew that something had happened. I was so eager to share my experience that we all sat down on the couch and made popcorn to watch Chris Stefanick talk on our TV from the EWTN website. The next day, my sister agreed to say a rosary with me. My dad’s car broke down on the way to a softball tournament, and we said the rosary together. My life is changing, and I have no regrets. What I needed was to make time for God, and now I am striving to give him all I have. I cannot be afraid to show people that I am Catholic. Even at my high school, I hope that just by looking at me, people will be able to know that I love Jesus and that I am trying my best to be like him. I keep hearing the question, “If somebody watched you throughout the day without talking to you or knowing who you were, would they be able to know that you were Catholic?”

I want that answer to be a “yes.” My drive to pray and go to Mass has increased after this trip, and I cannot believe that it was only five days long! All in all, just being able to witness thousands of Catholics experience the Holy Presence, worshiping with my whole heart, and meeting strangers who become life long friends was more than enough to convince me to be a Eucharistic Missionary. God is calling me, but I have no clue what He has in store for me yet. Only God knows the plan, and I am fine with that.

This is how the National Eucharistic Congress empowered me, and I hope the flame grows stronger and stronger with joy and love.