By Tommy Seselja
On Sunday, March 1, Catholic parishes across Australia united before the Eucharist, quietly and reflectively beginning the journey towards the International Eucharistic Congress, Sydney 2028.
The nation stopped, paused, and was reminded to pray.
Stillness and silence can be hard to find amidst the busyness of modern life. As part of this national moment, special Eucharistic Holy Hours were held before or after Sunday masses. Parishioners were invited to extend their stay at church and spend time in personal prayer with Jesus, rather than rushing off to their next engagement.
Whether parishes opted for silent prayer or accompanied their time of adoration with some gentle music, they created the opportunity for all to come and find renewal and transformation in the silence and the steady love of Jesus in the Eucharist.
As part of the journey to Eucharist28, this moment of shared adoration is the beginning of a designated year of prayer.
At St Mary’s Cathedral, Archbishop Anthony Fisher described the year of prayer as ‘a year for us to deepen our communion with Christ so that we might be ready for all that lies ahead.’ He called on everyone to go deeper in prayer ‘to see Him, be with Him, share with Him our joys and anxieties, our hopes and thanks. To ask Him to transform us by His grace and make us fruitful.’
The pilgrim week of Eucharist28 is still two years away, but the experience begins now. If hearts are to be changed, transformed and renewed through an encounter with Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, this encounter does not wait to begin in 2028. If we are to truly believe and be sent out to bring this news to the world, this journey begins with spending time in His presence in prayer.
By arriving to our parishes early or staying late to enter into this time of prayer, we’re allowing God to encounter us in a new way.