October 26, 2022

Committee holds information sessions for upcoming Eucharistic Congress

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

AGAWAM – The Catholic Life Conference, which is planning the Eucharistic Congress for the Year of the Eucharist on March 4, 2023 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, is holding information sessions to spread the word about the event.

Several national Catholic speakers are lined up for the congress, which will include the rosary, reconciliation, a children’s program, eucharistic adoration, a procession and closing Mass to be celebrated by Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne.

“Today is one of four kickoffs for the liaisons that will be spreading the word throughout the Diocese of Springfield for our Eucharistic Congress that will be in March, which is really exciting. So we are going to go through the packets and everything that will be handed out for the next five months,” said April Helenek, director of the Catholic Life Conference, a nonprofit lay initiative. She spoke on Oct. 21 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Agawam during the first information session.

Helenek and her husband Jae are working together to organize the event. The couple is expecting their seventh child in a few weeks.

The Catholic Life Conference had previously planned an event in 2020. Due to the pandemic, the Catholic Life Conference was held virtually.

“The Year of the Eucharist had asked our committee to put on a Eucharistic Congress to align with the Year of the Eucharist, and of course we were happy to do that,” said Helenek.

The theme of the Eucharistic Congress is “He is Present.” The mission is to “accomplish, through personal encounter, a real and more fervent devotion to Christ.”

The speakers include Edward Sri, Ph.D., a Catholic author and speaker who regularly appears on EWTN. He has written several books including, Who Am I to Judge? Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love. He is also the host of the acclaimed film series “Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained.” Sri is the founding leader of Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)

Patricia Sandoval will present in English and Spanish. The international pro-life and chastity speaker will share her story of past abortions, her work at Planned Parenthood, substance abuse, and her conversion. Sandoval is currently the host of the “Pro-Life Report,” on EWTN.

Also in the lineup is Dr. Carlos Parellada, a surgeon at Centro Médico Hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Dr. Parellada will speak about eucharistic miracles. He was involved in the study of the Tixtla (Mexico) eucharistic miracle, using his expertise as a surgeon to extract a sample to provide for pathological review. 

“I think the faith and reason that we have as Catholics, they work together,” said Father David Aufiero, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Deerfield and spiritual director of the Eucharistic Congress. Father Aufiero said the focus on eucharistic miracles at the conference could help those who have doubt whether God exists.

“Faith is given to us in our baptism. Through faith we perceive the Eucharist. We also engage the intellectual aspect of the faith. Through science we observe the Eucharist,” he said.

The Eucharistic Congress will feature displays of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who built a website documenting eucharistic miracles. The teenage tech-genius had a great love for the Eucharist. He died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006 and was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020.  Blessed Carlo Acutis will serve as the patron of the first year of a new three- year Eucharistic Revival project launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He will also be the patron for the Diocese of Springfield’s Eucharistic Congress coming up in March. 

“My role and goal as someone who has a connection with the Spanish community for the diocese is to bring out our Hispanics, Latinos to be part of this Eucharistic Congress. A lot of our folks are devout when it comes to the Eucharist and adoration,” said Deacon Angel Delgado, of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Springfield.

“We have had a few 40 Hours of Adoration at the parish. We had one recently where we had no one from 1 to 4 in the morning. And once Father said that, there were 20 people from 1 to 4 in the morning and I was like, ‘Wow. What a blessing,’” he said.

“Seeing people’s lives transformed in the presence, no matter what’s going on in their lives, once they enter that moment, there is a transformation happening. You can see it in their whole body, that tenseness just walks out the door, and they are just there with Christ,” said Deacon Delgado.

When asked what she is hoping will come of the conference, Helenek said, “renewal, belief in the True Presence of the Eucharist.”

“Catholics are slowly but surely lacking the belief in the True Presence of the Eucharist. Obviously, that isn’t something that is a big secret,” said Helenek.

“We are trying to remind people, not tell people, but remind them that Jesus truly exists in the Eucharist,” she said. “We just need to hold each other’s hands and remind everyone in a fun loving way that Jesus truly exists and we have a gift in our faith.”

More than These music ministry, led by Kelly Coleman, will provide the music for the day. Children’s entertainment will be provided by Stephen and Debbie Pickering, parishioners of St. Joseph Parish in Shelburne Falls.

The next information sessions will be held Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rose de Lima Parish in Chicopee; and Nov. 10 at St. Joseph Parish, Shelburne Falls.

A $10 discount is available for adults and large families who register by Dec. 1.

More information on the Eucharistic Congress, including registration, can be found at catholiclifeconference.org.