Photo By Michael Alexander

COLLEGE PARK—The Eucharistic Congress returns June 17-18 following a two-year pandemic hiatus. The 25th Congress at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) will include a new family track, a Friday food drive in partnership with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and veneration of relics to launch a period of eucharistic renewal. The theme of this year’s event is “Come to Me.” 

The drive to collect canned goods and other non-perishable food items will be Friday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the GICC, located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park. 

The war against hunger comes home with the all-new Starve Wars program. The collaboration between the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will help brothers and sisters in need here in Georgia. 

A list of acceptable dry and canned goods, as well as household and personal hygiene items, is available. Suggested items include canned meats, vegetables and fruit, or household items like paper towels and laundry detergent. 

Donors can drop items off to the truck in the parking lot, then come inside for activities, prayer and a photo op with Star Wars characters in the center’s Exhibit Hall A. 

If you pre-registered, pick up your free Starve Wars t-shirt. Adult and youth t-shirts will be available to all participants, but sizes are only guaranteed for those who pre-registered. 

The Congress’ adoration chapel, located in the GICC’s Italian Suites, will have relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teen who used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist before his death at age 15; and of St. Manuel González García, known as the “Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle.” 

Blessed Carlo died from leukemia in 2006. He was beatified in 2020 and is an intercessor for the national eucharistic revival, an initiative by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). St. Manuel St. Manuel González García was a Spanish bishop who spent his life devoted to eucharistic adoration. 

The adoration chapel will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. 

Families can join the first-ever Family Track at the Congress on June 18 in the International Ballroom, Salons 5-8. 

 Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak will lead the dynamic and interactive experience for families inspired by Venerable Patrick Peyton and his ministry for family prayer: “The family that prays together stays together.” 

CatholicHOM, Households on Mission, is sponsoring the track. It will be presented in English and will have resources in English and Spanish. Parent/guardians can choose to attend the one-hour track as a family at four different available start times. This will allow them to experience other aspects of the congress as well. 

Preregistration is encouraged to reserve a spot. Spots will be considered forfeited if not claimed at least 5 minutes before track start time. 

The film, “Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton,” will be screened during lunchtime at 12:15 p.m. It is the inspiring story of how simple faith in the home can create amazing results. Organizers are able to provide up to 200 free lunches for those who pre-register.  

While the Family Track is designed for parents and their children from infants to rising fifth-graders, older children are welcome with their parents/guardians, and extended family and anyone interested in attending is welcome. 

The Family Track will take the place of the former Children’s Track. Parents/guardians will attend the Family Track together with their children. 

The office of Archives and Records of the Archdiocese created a new timeline of the Congress’ history. Visit congress.archatl.com/echistory. 

Speaker bios and more information on the Eucharistic Congress is available at congress.archatl.com.  

The Congress will not take place in 2023, instead the celebration of the Eucharist will shift to the parishes.