Tens of thousands of Catholics walk through downtown Indy in spiritual procession

As Shayla Elm marched down Indianapolis streets among 50,000 others who share her faith, she considered the abundance of prayer around her.

“I couldn’t help but think while we were processing that when we’re in heaven someday, all of these prayers will mesh beautifully,” she told IBJ. 

The 25-year-old from North Dakota took a pilgrimage across the country to arrive to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress hosted in Indianapolis. From Brownville, Texas, she had traveled with two friends by foot—and occasionally car—for the last 60 days. Theirs was just one of four routes across the U.S. Other starting points were San Francisco; Lake Itasca, Minnesota; and New Haven, Connecticut. 

Those journeys, which have all now reached central Indiana, have drawn more than a quarter-million people along their respective routes to offer encouragement and prayer, the church said.

It was nothing for Elm and her friends to tack on an extra mile or so with the procession, which began at the Indiana Convention Center and ended at American Legion Mall.

The National Eucharistic Congress, which elevates the Sacrament of Holy Communion, hasn’t been held since 1941 and is expected to be the largest formal gathering for the church since the International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia hosted more than 1.5 million people over a single week in 1976.

The procession is considered a sacred passage by event organizers because it displays a sacramental wafer, or host, that has been consecrated, which means it has been blessed in a manner that represents the presence of Christ. The monstrance, or decorative vessel that displays the host, was blessed by Pope Francis.

Priests, deacons, and nuns were followed by Catholics in plainclothes, all donning the orange lanyard associated with the five-day Congress. The 1.2-mile procession took a total of two hours, in which Holy leaders waved, smiled, and said “God bless you” to thick crowds gathered along curbs on Maryland and Meridian streets.

Julie Fessler, the communications director for Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tallahassee, came with her two daughters. She was charged with promoting and planning the travel of her diocese, which hit a blip due to a global technology outage that occured Friday.

“With everything that happened with the airlines yesterday, our Bishop actually wasn’t able to make it up,” Fessler told IBJ.

Still, she said it was exciting to see it all come to fruition. Fessler and her daughters—along with her family members who had traveled from Detroit—watched the procession from a curb on North Meridian Street.

The procession ended with a Benediction at the Indiana War Memorial. Anticipating the warm weather, volunteers handed out water bottles sponsored by Catholic network Relevant Radio. By one estimate, the event had 43,200 water bottles across two box trucks and 25 pallets.

It was necessary as thousands kneeled in the lawn, facing the steps of the Indiana War Memorial for the Benediction. Speakers hoisted by cranes allowed rows and rows of worshippers to join in prayer and song.

After about a half hour, the crowd dispersed. Elm and her friends were headed to dinner reservations at Fogo de Chao.

Meanwhile, another group was much closer to home.

Martin Hanley, a congregant of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Indianapolis, walked with his wife and children. The church, which sits across from the Indiana Convention Center, was the point of convergence for the four pilgrimage routes.

“It’s beautiful to be able to bring the Lord, bring the church to the city and what all that means,” Hanley said.

The first national gathering of Catholics in 80 years serves for Hanley as a reminder that the church is still alive, growing and youthful. He gestured towards his young children, walking and being pushed by his wife in a stroller: They are the future of the church.