2023 Eucharistic Congresses

Christ is Present! Will you be?

Come to the Table – Spring 2023
Eucharistic Congresses in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Don’t miss this gathering of the Church in WV!

Spring 2023 will bring three regional Eucharistic Congresses to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. Faithful across the state will have three locations to choose from – Charles Town, Wheeling, and Charleston.

These homegrown events are part of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year renewal of “the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”

In our diocese we began the first year of the revival – the Diocesan Year – with Eucharistic processions in our parishes in all six of our vicariates in West Virginia last June. Wow! What an impressive visual for all to see our love of Christ and the Eucharist– the Source and Summit of our faith! This diocesan year will conclude in June after the final Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, and on June 11th the Year of Parish Revival begins, extending to July 17, 2024.

The Diocese of Wheeling- Charleston’s Eucharistic Congresses are large weekend gatherings of faithful of all ages to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. A Congress brings together people from a wide area for prayer services, celebratory music, Mass, enriching talks, Eucharistic Adoration, and more.

The Eucharistic congresses will be:

  • April 21-22 St. James Catholic Church, Charles Town
  • April 28-29 Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Wheeling
  • June 2-3 Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Charleston

Because the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston encompasses the entire state and geographical distances and mountainous topography present significant challenges it is more considerate and effective to gather regionally rather than Diocesan-wide.

The Eucharistic Congresses will tailor activities to target faithful of all ages. The whole family is encouraged to attend along with our clergy, religious, and Catholic organizations, and schools.

Bishop Mark Brennan is calling all of us together to celebrate Christ’s real presence and to see the faithful fully alive. “Believe what Christ said at the Last Supper, ‘This is my Body. This is my Blood!’” This has been Bishop Mark Brennan’s emboldening message to the faithful during his ministry.

We are also doing this to give each one of us the gift of time with God. God is truly a God of miracles. His love heals and transforms. Let this be a time to restore our mind, body, soul, and spirit.

Choose to attend and ask God to revive our love of the Eucharist, breathe His life into our lives and the Church.

Each Regional Eucharistic Congress will feature a different keynote speaker – so feel free to register when the time comes to attend all three. The keynote will not only address the entire congress with an uplifting talk about the Eucharist, but also will take part in a Q&A conversation during the weekend. The keynote along with a panel of breakout session presenters will bring the message to life, reviving our spirits, energizing our hearts, and give us confidence share Christ with others as a Eucharistic people.

Watch for updates here, and also in the FaithInWV e-bulletin, The Catholic Spirit, your parish bulletin, and our diocesan social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).

It is also important to know the diocesan and parish years will be followed by the National Eucharistic Congress Event set for July 17-21, 2024, when Catholics of all ages will gather in Indianapolis for a five-day congress to build enthusiasm among the faithful to be “eucharistic missionaries.” Then the National Year of Mission begins and extends to Pentecost of 2025. This will be a time when all Catholics are encouraged to evangelize and be a light of Christ in the world.

Schedule of Events: Eucharistic Congress 2023
Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Charleston, WV

Friday, June 2, 2023  
7:00pm: Taizé Prayer Service with reception to follow in Gathering Space

Saturday, June 3, 2023  
9:00am-10:00am Check-In/Coffee and Donuts (Basilica Gathering Space)
10:00am-10:30am Morning Prayer (Basilica)
10:30am-10:45am Break
10:45am-11:30am Plenum Address – Fr. Joe Freedy (Basilica)
11:30am-12:00pm Break
11:45am-5:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (CC High School 4th Floor Chapel) Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit (Basilica/CCHS)
11:45am-12:15pm Tours of the Basilica
12:00pm-1:15pm Lunch (CCHS Commons)
1:00pm-2:00pm Sacrament of Penance & Reconciliation (Basilica)
1:15pm-2:15pm Q&A with Father Joe Freedy (CCHS Commons)
2:45pm-3:45pm Breakout Sessions (CCHS)
4:00pm-5:00pm Breakout Sessions (CCHS)
5:15pm Musical Preludes prior to Mass (Basilica)
5:30pm Eucharistic Celebration with Bishop Brennan as Principal Celebrant

 

Keynote Speaker

Charleston, June 2-3, Fr. Joe Freedy

In Charleston, June 2-3, will be Fr. Joe Freedy.
 
Father Joe is no stranger to our diocese, having spoken at Mountaineer Catholic’s Encounter Love event in Morgantown.
 
Fr. Joe Freedy is the youngest of 5 children; he grew up in Pittsburgh. He played football at the University at Buffalo, where he was the starting quarterback for 3 years. After college he entered the seminary and was assigned to study in Rome at the Gregorian University and the John Paul II Institute. He was ordained a Priest in 2008.
 
Fr. Joe served as the vocation director for 8 years and is currently the Assistant Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Senior Assistant at Divine Mercy Parish. He is also the president of the Dry Bones Ministries.

Congress Resources

Charleston