Halifax experiences Eucharist's power

Halifax-Yarmouth's first Eucharistic Congress wrapped up Oct. 20, drawing local faithful to numerous events over four days for prayer, reflection and worship. 

The climax, according to Aurea Sadi, a project coordinator of adult faith within the Office of Pastoral Life & New Evangelization, was a five-km procession Oct. 19 from St. Agnes Church to downtown Halifax's St. Mary Cathedral Basilica. The numbers that joined for this procession surprised even organizers.

“It was way more than we could ever have imagined. We had a little over 750 registered attendees filling St. Agnes and when I went into the parking lot to check with my procession team, I was not expecting to find 100 more people waiting to walk with Jesus,” Sadi said. “It was intense but phenomenal. All told we figure there were probably 800 to 1,000 people who walked the procession including clergy and bishops.” 

The evening ended with Catholics re-gathering for evening prayers for the 125th anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral and a talk from one of the event's keynote speakers, Gatineau Archbishop Paul-André Durocher. 

It was the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth's first-ever Eucharistic Congress, following closely on the heels of the International Eucharist Congress in Ecuador in September.  

Celebrations began on Oct. 17 with a Youth Summit at St. Agnes Parish where young people from across the archdiocese gathered for adoration, praise and worship. As the pre-event featured a talk from Fr. Tim Devine about the significance of the Eucharist, the 350 attendees were also able to venerate the visiting relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who is set to become the first millennial saint upon his canonization next year. 

The Eucharistic Congress officially kicked off on the following day, with the opportunity to venerate Blessed Carlo at St. Mary Cathedral Basilica, followed by evening prayer at St. Agnes Church and a keynote talk by Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith. 

“People here were quite excited to have him come and join us because he is a hometown boy from right in Halifax,” said Sadi. “From everyone attending, it was lovely to have welcomed him back and he was very excited to be here with us.”

Smith was one of five keynote speakers over the four-day Congress, and kicked off with the importance of the event's theme: “Communion to heal the world” (Matt. 23:8). The archdiocese broke the theme into five pillars of how the Eucharist has the power to heal the wounds of our world: restoring our relationship with God, equipping us with power for mission, committing us to serve the poor and marginalized, inspiring us to worship and strengthening the unity of the Church. 

Following further Mass, adoration and keynote addresses from Durocher, the Congress reached its climax Oct. 19 with the procession from St. Agnes towards the downtown cathedral. 

Sadi said the archdiocese is happy with the reception the congress received. 

“We are quite pleased with the feedback. Trying to gather and move over 800 people can be tricky, but we have been receiving stories about people being moved and reawakened to the gifts we receive in the Eucharist,” Sadi said. “One of my colleagues was talking to someone who said that having gone to this weekend congress reaffirmed for them that in the Eucharist, they had the ability to help heal the world.” 

Eager Catholics are going as far as to inquire about dates for the next Eucharistic Congress, a prospect that, although more than welcome and open, may take some time to arrange. 

“Let’s just let the dust settle and enjoy this one and then we will see what we can do,” Sadi said with a laugh.