Over 14,000 Catholics gathered on Michigan State University’s campus for a celebration of faith and an answer to the Diocese of Lansing’s invitation to a life of Christian discipleship.
The “Made for Happiness” Eucharistic assembly began with a Eucharistic procession through the streets of the state’s capital of Lansing. More than 4,000 Catholics served as witnesses to their faith as they marched behind priests carrying a monstrance bearing Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament.
About 25 percent of the diocese’s regular Mass-goers were reported to have attended the event, which included an opportunity to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and attend presentations from guest speakers.
“We hope that it fires people up to go out and do that discipleship, to do that evangelization, to live out their faith in the daily life – in their work environment, in their social environment,” Michael Diebold, Lansing’s diocesan spokesman told the Catholic News Agency (CNA).
“[We hope] that they can go out in their everyday life and spread that notion of being made for happiness, and bring people to the Church,” he told CNA.
Lansing Bishop Earl Boyea had asked parishes to cancel all events on Saturday, including Saturday Mass, to encourage parishioners to attend the Eucharistic assembly, which concluded with a Mass.
Speakers included Father Mike Schmitz, chaplain of the Newman Center at University of Minnesota-Duluth; Jennifer Fulwiler, Catholic author, speaker, and radio host; and Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing.
Watch this clip of the Eucharist Assembly, from by Deacon Larry Oney, of Hope and Purpose Ministries, who also addressed the gathering:
And today we celebrate...