At the press conference following his speech, Cozzens addressed a question about the large number of attendees and the congress’ communication strategy for participants about receiving holy Communion in a state of grace.
“So certainly at the congress, one of the aspects that we’ll emphasize is the sacrament of confession,” Cozzens said.
In addition to confession, he said that emphasis will be put on “the healing that we all need to go through,” adding that there will be time set aside for the sacrament, healing prayers, and other opportunities.
“And so we’re going to be emphasizing that needed deeper work so that people are ready to receive Our Lord in holy Communion,” he said.
Lodging
Cozzens said that the “biggest challenge” the congress has encountered in planning is the availability of lodging in Indianapolis.
“A higher than anticipated early demand on hotels for the congress, coupled with a lower than expected inventory from the early estimates of the hotel community in Indianapolis have created a crunch on available housing for us,” he said.
The Eucharistic congress team has been working to find more hotels within driving distance of the stadium and hopes to provide housing at local colleges, parishes, schools, and retreat centers.
What will take place?
In his update, Cozzens said that the National Eucharistic Congress is going to be a moment of “unity” and “communion” for the Church.
Each day of the congress consists of three “movements,” which the congress hopes make for a “transformative experience” for the attendees.
A theme of the day will be introduced in morning “impact sessions” and at midday there will be a “large liturgy” offered in English and Spanish, Cozzens said.
Each afternoon there will be breakout sessions, focusing on a different theme each of the five days.
Each evening, the attendees will gather together in the stadium for a “powerful plenary session” that will include “inspiration and prayer,” he said.
‘The beginning’
Although the congress appears to be the climactic event of the bishops’ three- year Eucharistic revival, Cozzens said that “it’s actually the beginning of the missionary year.”
The missionary year of the revival, which spans from July 21, 2024, to Pentecost 2025, is a year of sharing the news of the Real Presence.
“Having enkindled a missionary fire in the hearts of the American faithful, the Holy Spirit will send us out on mission to share the gift of our Eucharistic Lord as we enter the universal Church’s Jubilee Year in 2025,” the revival’s website says.
Cozzens said that in preparation for the event, on four occasions he will meet with the group of pilgrims headed to the congress from his diocese.
He added that he will continue meeting with the group following the close of the congress so that the group can fulfill the mission of evangelizing in the diocese.
“I pray that as we gather together in Indianapolis, this might be a moment where God will send his Holy Spirit upon us and our Church, and it will become a moment of great renewal and great revival for our Church,” he said.
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