5 things you should not miss at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in the USA

The National Football League’s (NFL) Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis are ready to welcome more than 50,000 Catholics at the National Eucharistic Congress taking place July 17-21. The five-day congress will bring together the faithful to inspire people to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist.

The congress will have opportunities for attendees to participate in Eucharistic adoration, confession, liturgies, musical performances, and a variety of talks and keynote addresses designed to foster spiritual renewal and unity.

There will also be five key exhibits that attendees can visit daily. These are the National Exhibition of the Shroud of Turin, the Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles, the Chapel of the Reliquary, a preview of Bernadette of Lourdes, the musical and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Below is a more detailed analysis of these five activities open to all participants in the congress:

National Exhibition of the Shroud of Turin

A replica of the incredible 14-foot linen burial shroud will be displayed in a high-tech, immersive, interactive educational display daily from noon to 6:30 p.m. (local time) at the Indiana Convention Center.

There will also be three 45-minute presentations taking place each day at the exhibition. Dr. Cheryl White will give a talk titled From Jerusalem to Turin: The Elusive History of the ShroudFather Andrew Dalton will speak about how the shroud is a mirror of the Gospel, and Pam McCue will give a talk titled The Power of a Shroud Display.

Exposition of Eucharistic Miracles

This powerful exhibit will explore some of the most amazing Eucharistic miracles from around the world and will be open to attendees daily from noon to 6:30 pm at the Indiana Convention Center. The collection of miracles was compiled by Blessed Carlo Acutis in the hopes of strengthening people’s faith and demonstrating the very real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Reliquary Chapel

Catholics attending the conference will have a unique opportunity to venerate the relics of the patron saints of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Congress and the Pilgrimage every day from noon to 6:30 pm, at the Indiana Convention Center. The relics included are of Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton, Manuel González García, Paschal Baylon, Junípero Serra, Juan Diego, and Blessed Carlo Acutis, as well as part of a relic known as the “Veil of Our Lady.”

You can read more about each of these relics here.

Bernadette of Lourdes, the musical

Attendees will also have the opportunity to watch a 30-minute preview of Bernadette of Lourdes, the musical on July 18 from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Lucas Oil Stadium. The French musical tells the story of Bernadette Soubirous, an ordinary girl who witnessed something extraordinary and became a beloved saint of the Church. The musical will make 30 stops in cities across the United States as it tours the country in 2025.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

For those attending the conference with children, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a powerful approach to the spiritual formation of children. Using Montessori principles, children of all ages will encounter God in age-appropriate ways. There are options for babies and toddlers, ages 3-6, and children ages 6-9 and 9-12. This unique experience will be available at the Indiana Convention Center from noon to 6:30 pm daily.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.