Pew finds Catholics diverge by political parties, Mass attendance on many, but not all, issues

By Gina Christian
(OSV News) – A new study of U.S. Catholics suggests that Mass attendance and political affiliation are associated with their views of Pope Francis and Catholic teaching on key moral issues.
The findings were released by the Pew Research Center April 12 from a study that surveyed close to 12,700 respondents, 2,019 of whom self-identified as Catholic.

The sample was designed to be representative of the nation’s self-identified Catholics, who constitute 20% of the U.S. population, about 52 million U.S. Catholic adults out of the nation’s 262 million adults counted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2023.

Most (57%) of the nation’s Catholics are white, while 33% are Hispanic, followed by Asian (4%), Black (2%) and Catholics of other races (3%). Racial and ethnic distribution of Catholics varies in the U.S., with greater numbers of U.S. Hispanic Catholics living in the South and West, where they respectively represent 40% and 55% of the Catholic population in those regions.

A majority of U.S. Catholics (58%) are age 50 and above, as compared to 48% of all U.S. adults in Pew’s survey.

Hispanic Catholics tend to be significantly younger than white Catholics, with 57% of Hispanic Catholics under 50 as compared to 32% of white Catholics.

Regionally, 29% of U.S. Catholics live in the nation’s South; 26% in the Northeast; 24% in the West; and 21% in the Midwest.

Pew found that nearly three in 10 (28%) of U.S. Catholics reported attending Mass weekly or more often, similar to results reported by a recent Gallup poll in which 21% of U.S. Catholics said they attend weekly and 9% almost every week.

Daily prayer was reported by 52% of U.S. Catholics, while 46% described religion as “very important” in their lives. According to Pew, 20% of U.S. Catholics reported weekly Mass attendance, daily prayer and a regard for religion as “very important” in their life.

Politically, a majority of Catholic registered voters (52%) identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, and 44% with the Democratic Party.

The data showed that 75% of U.S. Catholics regarded the pope favorably, which is down from 83% in 2021, and 90% in early 2015.

The report said that 89% of U.S. Catholics who are or lean Democrat approve of the pope, while just 7% disapprove of him. In contrast, just 63% of U.S. Catholics who are or lean Republican give the pope a thumbs-up, while 35% view him unfavorably. Those unfavorable views among Catholics who are or lean Republican are higher than 2018, the year a new wave of sex abuse scandals, including abuse accusations involving former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, broke out.

“The partisan gap in views of Pope Francis is now as large as it’s ever been in our surveys,” said the report.
Despite the church’s teaching against abortion, some six in 10 U.S. Catholics support legalized abortion in all or most cases, with Hispanic Catholics (63%) slightly more approving of keeping abortion legal in all or most cases than white Catholics (59%).

Those opinions about abortion “tend to align” with U.S. Catholics’ political preferences, noted Pew, with 78% of Catholics who are or lean Democrat favoring legalized abortion in most or all cases less than 84% of U.S. adults who are or lean Democrat; and 43% of Catholics who are or lean Republican slightly favoring abortion compared to 40% of U.S. adults who are or lean Republican.

The survey also assessed U.S. Catholics’ views on contraception, sexuality and the priesthood, and found “big differences between Mass-attending Catholics and those who don’t (attend)” on those issues.

“Catholics who attend Mass regularly (once a week or more) are far more inclined than those who go less often to say the church should take a traditional or conservative approach on questions about the priesthood and sexuality,” said the report.

Most weekly Mass attendees said the church should not recognize same-sex marriages (65%) or allow women to be ordained as priests (56%).

A majority of U.S. Catholics (69%) across the political divide – including 53% of weekly Mass attending Catholics – said the church should “allow priests to get married.”

The Pew survey question on this point, however, does not accurately distinguish between the normative practice in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches of ordaining married men to the priesthood on the one hand, and the churches’ ancient prohibition on priests attempting marriage after ordination.

Although the Latin Church, which most Catholics belong to, only ordains celibate men with few exceptions, and could legitimately change its discipline on the ordination of married men to align with the Eastern Catholic or Orthodox churches – none of these churches allows priests to marry unless they are returned first to the lay state, rendering them no longer in a position of spiritual power over a lay woman whose full and free consent is necessary for sacramental marriage.

U.S. Catholics who do not attend Mass on a weekly basis favored recognition of same-sex marriages (61%) and women’s ordination (71%).

Broadly, 83% of U.S. Catholics surveyed said the church should permit the use of contraception, 75% said the church should permit reception of holy Communion by unmarried couples living together and 54% said the church should recognize same-sex marriage.

Among Catholics who opposed deviating from church teaching on contraception, priestly celibacy, women’s ordination, holy Communion for unmarried cohabiting couples and recognition of same-sex marriages, 59% said they attend Mass at least once a week, and 72% identify with or lean toward the Republican Party.

For those Catholics who said the church should permit the above practices, 56% reported seldom or never attending Mass, and 57% identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party.

Pew research associate Patricia Tevington told OSV News the report, for which she was one of three primary researchers, is intended to serve as “a descriptive source of information,” rather than a causal analysis of the nation’s Catholics and their characteristics.

“We try to just tell you what’s going on,” said Teverington. “If we can rule out explanations that might be obvious, we try to do so, but generally we just … give you the facts.”

The data has been released publicly and can be downloaded from Pew’s website, she said, so that other researchers “are able to run deeper analyses … and make more causal arguments” about the results.

Still, Teverington said that the effects of political divides and weekly Mass attendance can be detected in the data.

“Political partisanship has definitely been … increasing over time,” she said. “And people (who) attend Mass weekly or more are definitely different than folks that attend less often.”

(Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @GinaJesseReina.)

Calendar of events

PARISH, FAMILY & SCHOOL EVENTS
DIOCESE – Jackson area young adults (ages 18-35), Co-ed Softball league, register by May 8. Cost: $30. Games on Monday and Thursday evenings; game locations vary from Ridgeland Baptist Church, Liberty Park and in Canton. Details: Register at https://jacksondiocese.flocknote.com/signup/164316 or email amelia.rizor@jacksondiocese.org.

CLEVELAND – Our Lady of Victories, Parish Picnic, Sunday, May 19. Enjoy cookout and games for the whole family. Details: church office (662) 846-6273.

DIOCESE/JACKSON – Cathedral of St. Peter, Priestly Ordination of Tristan Stovall, Saturday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. All are invited to attend.

JACKSON – St. Richard, Evening with Mary, Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. Please join us for a time of reflection and prayer honoring the Blessed Mother, with speaker Fran Lavelle, director of faith formation for the diocese. Details: RSVP to the church office at (601) 366-2335 or secretary@saintrichard.com.

MADISON – St. Joseph School, “Bruin Burn” 5k Run/Walk and fun run, Saturday, May 11 at 8 a.m. Registration $30 for 5k or $15 for fun run after April 25. Register at https://raceroster.com/events/2024/87878/bruin-burn. Details: email bruinburn@gmail.com.
NATCHEZ – Cathedral School, Cajun Countdown, Friday, May 3. Details: eks_46@yahoo.com or sarahc@terralriverservice.com.

OLIVE BRANCH – Queen of Peace, Cinco de Mayo Dinner Celebration, Saturday, May 4 after Mass in the social hall. Sign-up to attend in the common area. cost: $20/person or $30/couple – includes dinner and one beverage. Must be 21 or older to attend. Details: church office (662) 895-5007.
PEARL – St. Jude, Spring Fair, Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parish hall. This free event will feature a variety of handmade items, homemade food, raffle and more. All proceeds will benefit the St. Jude’s Artisan Guild ministry. Details: church office (601) 939-3181.

RIPLEY – St. Matthew, Free Immigration Day, May 4 at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Conference is on key aspects of Immigration Law in the U.S. Special guest: attorney, Steven Balson-Cohen, Esq. of Immigration Pro, LLC. Conference includes free case evaluation and consultation. Details: church office (662) 993-8862.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT
BOONVILLE – National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2 at 12 p.m. at the Booneville City Hall steps. Join this day as Christians come together and pray for our nation. Lunch provided for attendees.

BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vietnamese Language Mass, 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 12 (then the first Sunday of the month thereafter).

NEW ORLEANS – Directed Retreat with the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at the Cenacle on Lake Pontchartrain, June 28-July 3. Cost $500 – includes lodging, meals and personal spiritual director. To register call (504) 861-3254. Details: for more information call Melinda at (601) 597-7178.

MERIDIAN – St. Patrick, Men’s Group, Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. in the Father Vally room in the St. Patrick center. This is the first meeting of this newly formed group. Details: John at jmcylk@gmail.com.

NATCHEZ – National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2 at 12 p.m. at the Gazebo on the Bluff.

SOUTHAVEN – Christ the King, “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist,” Thursdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; and June 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. How do these Jewish roots help us, to understand his real presence in the Eucharist? Facilitator is Don Coker. Details: church office (662) 342-1073.

SAVE THE DATE
BROOKHAVEN – St. Francis of Assisi, Vacation Bible School, July 14 – 17.

MADISON – St. Francis, Vacation Bible School – June 17-20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Pre-K4 through fourth graders. Email mc.george@stfrancismadison.org to volunteer.

St. Francis, Cajun Fest, Sunday, May 19.

DIOCESE – Each month, the Office of Catholic Education holds a Rosary in thanksgiving for Catholic education in the diocese. Join them via Zoom on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. Check the diocese calendar of events for the Zoom link. Join us!

‘Together, we will’ Dominican Sisters of Springfield set direction for coming years

General chapter focuses on interculturality, collaborative Dominican future “For the life of the World”

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — During a week of prayerful conversation and contemplative deliberation, the
Dominican Sisters of Springfield on April 5, 2024, affirmed a chapter statement in which they agreed to
respond to the needs of the Church and the world by committing to intercultural living and participative
Dominican governance as they look toward the next five years.


“Rooted in our prayer for the life of the world, and in our care for our common home, we are
strengthened by our Associates and partners-in-mission to walk together into a future of authentic
intercultural living,” the statement says.

To reach their goal, the sisters said “Together, we will” strengthen relationships within the congregation,
welcome and support new members to the congregation and Dominican life, and build intercultural
relationships “through study, engagement, and interaction.”

The hallmarks of the congregation’s ministry for the past two decades have been their commitment to
antiracism and their response to the “Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor” through their efforts to
live sustainably and encourage others in the care of Earth and her inhabitants.

“These efforts will continue, and will be strengthened by this evolution in our thinking,” explained Sister
Rebecca Ann Gemma, OP, the current prioress general of the congregation. “We want witness to the
good news of Jesus in our countries of origin—the United States and Peru—both burdened with cultural
and political divisiveness, threats to democracy, and threats to the peace, tranquility, and flourishing of
the human and the other-than-human beings with whom we share our homelands. Our desire to live
interculturally—within our own community as Dominican Sisters who are Peruvian and U.S. citizens, and
with the many diverse cultures in our countries—is a natural outgrowth of our antiracism work and, we
believe, a powerful intercultural—and countercultural—gospel witness.

“It is for these reasons we say we want to ‘walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living’,”
Sister Rebecca Ann said, referencing a line from the chapter direction statement.

The second major theme of their chapter deliberations was the future of Dominican governance within
the Dominican family.

“We take the next steps into our congregational future, grounded in the freedom offered in our Constitutions. We are energized by participating in the emerging movements of governance within the Dominican family,” the statement says.

To fulfill their commitment to themselves, the broader Dominican family, and the People of God, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield have committed to the necessary study to move toward a collaborative form of Dominican governance.

“Creative conversations about how collaboration can reshape and renew the future of Dominican life have been going on for years,” said Sister Rose Miriam Schulte, OP, vicaress general. “We are now at a point in our journey when it is time to animate our words with actions that move us forward into the future together.”

The week-long general chapter consisted of two parts. During the 5-day chapter of life and mission the sisters synthesized an 18-month-long period of study, prayer, and contemplative dialogue into the 2024 General Chapter Direction Statement. The complete statement is here.

We, the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, guided by the Holy Spirit, join with others to reimagine a future of promise and hope.
Rooted in our prayer for the life of the world, and in our care for our common home, we are strengthened by our Associates and partners-in-mission to walk together into a future of authentic intercultural living. Trusting in the transformation already at work within us, we step into the challenges, riches, and grace of the unknown.
Together, we will strengthen relationships within our congregation.
Together, we will invite, welcome, and support new members to our congregation and to Dominican life.
Together, we will build relationships with those of other cultures, through study, engagement and interaction.
We take the next steps into our congregational future, grounded in the freedom offered in our Constitutions. We are energized by participating in the emerging movements of governance within the Dominican family.
Together, we will engage in ongoing conversation and communal study in our effort to move toward a collaborative form of governance.
Together, we will embrace individual and shared responsibility for participative Dominican governance.
Compelled by our passion for mission, we respond, in Christ, for the life of the world.


During the 2-day chapter of elections the sisters elected a team of four leaders who will assume leadership on June 15, 2024. They are Sisters Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, prioress general-elect; Sister
Joanne Delehanty, OP, vicaress general-elect, and second and third councilors-elect, Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez, OP, and Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP. Their brief biographies are below.

Since 2017 Sister Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, has been a full-time faculty member at DePaul University, Chicago, where she teaches masters and doctoral students and coordinates the graduate studies and internship programs for Catholic Educational Leadership in the College of Education. 2008-2015 she was superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, the country’s second largest Catholic education system, and then 2015-2017 was appointed the Cardinal’s Advocate for Catholic Schools, where she was instrumental in helping to pass the Invest in Kids legislation at the Illinois Statehouse. Prior to that she spent many years in educational leadership at Sacred Heart Academy/Sacred Heart-Griffin, 1985-1991; and Marian Catholic High School, 1992-2008, where she served at various times as president and principal. She began her ministry in elementary school and high school teaching and also pursued doctoral studies in theology and social sciences at Chicago Theological Seminary. Sister Mary Paul was raised in Park Ridge and Olympia Fields, Illinois. She holds a certificate in clinical pastoral counseling, and master’s degrees in education, theology, and business and school administration.

Sister Joanne Delehanty, OP, a Chicago native, who was raised in Park Forest, Ill., was an elementary school teacher at parochial schools in Algonquin, Springfield, and Chicago from just after her profession 1969 through 1989, when she became a pioneer at St. Benedict the African Parish, a consolidation of eight parishes, in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. She served there as pastoral associate, religious education coordinator and director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults until 2021. In February 2022 she began her ministry as support staff at St. Bernard’s Hospital, Chicago. She has a masters in pastoral studies and an undergraduate degree in education.

Springfield native Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez, OP, has, since 2019, been director of formation for the congregation and most recently for this past year, the director of formation for the Collaborative Dominican Novitiate in Chicago, where she has facilitated the spiritual and professional growth of five novices from three Dominican congregations. She served the congregation as vocation director, 1998-2006, during which time she was also promoter of preaching and campus minister at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. She was coordinator of religious vocation ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago, 2007-2014. After her profession of vows in 1985 through 1994 she completed a bachelor’s degree then taught elementary school in Aurora, Ill., and at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Hammond, La. Her bachelor’s degrees are in history and theology. She holds a certificate in preaching and a Master’s in theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology.

Born in Chicago and raised in Kankakee, Ill., Sister Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP, previously served in congregation leadership, 2009-2019. After her profession of vows in 1981 she taught junior high school and high school math and computer at St. Christina Parish Chicago, St. Patrick School, Springfield, and Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill. In 1996 she was missioned to Peru where she did pastoral work and helped to found a new mission in San Juan Bautista, Jarpa, where she served 2000-2004 and 2005-2006. She was director of formation for the sisters in Lima, 2006-2009. After completing her prior term of leadership, she began part time ministry at Bethany House of Hospitality, a home for women in the asylum process, in Chicago, where she is currently the director. Sister Kathlyn has a bachelor degree in math, a master in computers in education, and a certificate in cross-cultural ministry from Catholic Theological Union.

Spring Sacraments

SPRING SACRAMENTS – Mississippi Catholic will publish a Spring Sacraments edition in July. This means we need First Communion and Confirmation photos! Send photos with parish name, date of sacrament, names listed left to right by row of those pictured, plus name of the photographer; no later than Friday, June 7. Email in the highest resolution possible to editor@jacksondiocese.org.

First Communion and Confirmation

COLUMBUS – (Left) Chris and Janel Vander-Zanden had two of their children – Isaiah and Everett – baptized by Father Jeffrey Waldrep in the month of February. (Photo courtesy of Annunciation Church)
CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth, First Communion on Sunday, April 14. Pictured (l-r): Catelin Britt, Emily Guevara, Allison Zuniga, Alexa Zuniga, Emery Ellis Alderson, Elizabeth Blaine Cauthen and Father Raju Macherla.
CLARKSDALE – St. Elizabeth, Confirmation on Saturday, April 6 at 6 p.m. Pictured (l-r): Catelin Britt, Kevin Elias, Angel Zuniga, Dominic Birdsong, Priscila Lopez, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Bella Favi, Ayden Lutts, Bailey Martin and Father Raju Macherla. (Photos courtesy of St. Elizabeth Church)

Youth

Around our schools

JACKSON – Students at Sister Thea Bowman School were pumped to view the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. (Photos by Deacon Denzil Lobo)
COLUMBUS – First graders at Annunciation School were in awe of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. (Photo by Jacque Hince)
MADISON – St. Joseph students received a standing ovation for their performance “All Shook Up!” The play featured the music of Elvis Presley and was based on a book by Joe Dipietro. (Photo by Tereza Ma)

Tome Nota

Vírgenes y Santos

Virgen de los Desamparados. Mayo 8
Nuestra Señora de Lujan. Mayo 8
Dia de las Madres. Mayo 12
Solemnidad de la Ascensión del Señor. Mayo 9
Virgen de Fátima. Mayo 13
Nuestra Señora de la Evangelización. Mayo 14
San Isidro Labrador. Mayo 15
Fiesta de Pentecostés. Mayo 19

Alrededor Diocesano

PONTOTOC – Organizado por la Hermana Raquel Otez, un Retiro de Quinceañeras se realizó el fin de semana del 5 de abril. Maria Mares, quien también llevó a su hija, decoró el lugar de color rosado y un gran numero 15. En el medio de la foto de las diez quinceañeras asistentes, está el quinceañero Christian Diaz, quien se convirtió en el primer varón que asiste a estas conversaciones para jóvenes que se acercan a la edad adulta. (Foto de Paola Hernandez y Aracely Nieves)

PONTOTOC – Al retiro de quinceañeras asistieron alrededor de treinta personas, 10 niñas, un niño y sus familiares. Allí recibieron enseñanzas sobre la sagrada familia, la juventud, razón y sentido de cumplir 15 años y de cómo usar el lado espiritual para tomar buenas decisiones basadas en la fe. (Fotos de Paola Hernández y Aracely Nieves)

PONTOTOC – Un grupo de 30 confirmados de San Cristóbal recibieron sus sacramentos de manos del obispo Joseph Kopacz el 20 de abril, en Misa concelebrada con el Padre Tim Murphy. Como cada año la catequista de Confirmacion fue Lety Ruedas Ortiz, (izq.) en la foto, quien da las ultimas orientaciones a los jóvenes. (Fotos de Aracely Nieves)

JACKSON – Mujeres participaron en el retiro #3 de Emaus Jackson, los días 12-14 de abril. El retiro tuvo la asistencia de servidoras de los retiros anteriores de Jackson y de Houston, Texas, lideradas todas por Margarita Lopez. Las rosas son el símbolo de este Ministerio de Emaus, a todas les fueron entregadas rosas frescas y muchas portaban una rosa artificial en su pelo. El retiro terminó con una Misa en la Catedral de San Pedro celebrada por el padre Nick Adam. (arriba) (izq.) Delmy Cortez de El Salvador, (centro) una de las caminantes de Emaus rezando en la Catedral antes de la Misa, y (der.) Cruz Granillo de El Salvador. (Fotos de Berta Mexidor)

Mundo en Fotos

El arzobispo Laurent Ulrich de París inserta las reliquias de los Santos. Denis, Genevieve y las reliquias de la corona de espinas de Cristo en el gallo dorado en París el 16 de diciembre de 2023, antes de su instalación en la cima de la aguja de la Catedral de Notre Dame. El gallo simboliza la resiliencia en medio de la destrucción tras el devastador incendio de abril de 2019. Los funcionarios de restauración también revelaron que se está colocando un sistema de nebulización contra incendios debajo del techo de la catedral. (Foto de OSV News/Christian Hartmann, Reuters)
Cientos de personas se reunieron frente a la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Highlandtown, Maryland, para una procesión con velas el 8 de abril de 2024, después de un servicio de oración en memoria de los seis trabajadores que murieron tras el colapso del puente Francis Scott Key. (Foto OSV New/Kevin J. Parks, Catholic Review)
La cruz pectoral del cardenal francés Christophe Pierre, nuncio apostólico en los Estados Unidos, se ve antes de que el cardenal celebre la Misa en Roma el 21 de abril de 2024, para tomar posesión formalmente de su iglesia titular, la Iglesia de San Benito en las afueras de la Puerta de San Pablo. (Foto CNS/Pablo Esparza)
A painting on the ceiling of St. Catherine Church in Spring Lake, N.J., depicts the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles. (OSV News photo/Octavio Duran)

El Papa Francisco concede indulgencias plenarias para la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional, participantes del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional

Por Maria Wiering

(OSV News) — Los participantes en el Congreso Eucarístico Nacional y la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional previa al congreso tienen oportunidades de recibir indulgencias plenarias, anunció el 9 de abril el Arzobispo Timothy P. Broglio, presidente de la Conferencia de los Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos.

“Con gratitud al Santo Padre recibimos su Bendición Apostólica sobre los participantes en el Congreso Eucarístico Nacional, y por la oportunidad para los católicos de nuestro país de obtener la indulgencia plenaria al participar en los eventos del Avivamiento Eucarístico”, dijo. dijo en un comunicado de la USCCB.

Según el comunicado, el arzobispo Broglio, que también dirige la Arquidiócesis para los Servicios Militares de EE.UU., había solicitado que una indulgencia plenaria esté disponible para los católicos que participan en la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional y que “él u otro prelado sea designado para impartir la Bendición Apostólica con Indulgencia Plenaria” a los fieles que se incorporan al Congreso Eucarístico Nacional.

Este es un mapa actualizado que muestra las cuatro rutas de la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional al Congreso Eucarístico Nacional en 2024. Los participantes en el Congreso Eucarístico Nacional y la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional relacionada tendrán oportunidades de recibir indulgencias plenarias, dijo el Arzobispo Timothy P. Broglio, presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de EE. UU., anunciada el 9 de abril de 2024. (Ilustración de OSV News/cortesía del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional)

Las solicitudes fueron concedidas en dos decretos separados por la Penitenciaría Apostólica, una oficina del organismo administrativo central de la Iglesia conocida como la Curia Romana, que concede el uso de indulgencias “como expresiones de la misericordia divina”, según el comunicado. Ambos decretos fueron aprobados por el Papa Francisco.

El congreso y la peregrinación anterior son esfuerzos del Avivamiento Eucarístico Nacional, una iniciativa de tres años de los obispos de EE.UU. que comenzó en 2022 para inspirar una mayor comprensión y amor por Jesús en la Eucaristía. Programado a celebrarse en Indianápolis del 17 al 21 de julio en el estadio Lucas Oil, el congreso tiene como objetivo reunir a decenas de miles de católicos para participar en liturgias, devociones y oír a oradores católicos de renombre hablar sobre la Eucaristía.

A partir del fin de semana del 17 y 18 de mayo, 24 adultos jóvenes, divididos en cuatro grupos, viajarán miles de millas hasta el congreso desde puntos de partida en California, Connecticut, Minnesota y Texas. Los peregrinos en esta Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional planean viajar, a menudo a pie, con la Eucaristía en una custodia, con paradas a lo largo de las rutas para la Misa y la adoración eucarística en parroquias locales y santuarios nacionales. Los “peregrinos perpetuos” anticipan que miles de católicos de todo el país se unirán a ellos en los eventos de peregrinación o viajarán con ellos en tramos de las rutas.

El obispo Andrew H. Cozzens de Crookston, Minnesota, presidente de la junta directiva del Congreso Eucarístico Nacional, dijo a OSV News que “la tradición de dar una indulgencia para peregrinaciones y celebraciones importantes es antigua”.

“Agradecemos al Santo Padre a través de la Penitenciaría Apostólica que ofrece esta bendición a quienes buscan crecer en una mayor pureza de corazón a través de la Peregrinación y Congreso Eucarístico Nacional”, dijo. “Estos eventos serán grandes momentos de conversión a los que apunta esta indulgencia mientras buscamos ser libres de los efectos de nuestros pecados. Estamos agradecidos por la bendición del Santo Padre sobre estos eventos”.

Y el obispo añadió: “El propio Papa Francisco dijo que el ‘Congreso Eucarístico Nacional marca un momento significativo en la vida de la Iglesia estadounidense’ y oró para que el Congreso Eucarístico Nacional guíe a hombres y mujeres de todo nuestro país hacia el Señor. quien, con su presencia entre nosotros, reaviva la esperanza y renueva la vida”.

Según el Compendio del Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, “Las indulgencias son la remisión ante Dios de la pena temporal merecida por los pecados en cuanto a la culpa, que el fiel, cumpliendo determinadas condiciones, obtiene para sí mismo o para los difuntos, mediante el ministerio de la Iglesia, la cual, como dispensadora de la redención, distribuye el tesoro de los méritos de Cristo y de los santos”.

Se pueden obtener indulgencias para otras personas, pero sólo se pueden aplicar a las almas del purgatorio. También se puede obtener la indulgencia para uno mismo. Pero no se puede aplicar una indulgencia a otra persona viva; esa persona (a diferencia de alguien en el purgatorio) aún puede obtener una para sí misma.

La indulgencia plenaria para la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional se concede a todo aquel que participe en la peregrinación entre el 17 de mayo y el 16 de julio, así como a los ancianos, personas con enfermedades y “todos aquellos que por causa grave no puedan salir de su casa y que participen en espíritu con la Peregrinación Eucarística Nacional, uniendo sus oraciones, dolores o inconvenientes con Cristo y la peregrinación”, dice el comunicado de la USCCB. Para recibir la indulgencia, una persona debe cumplir las condiciones habituales para la misma: confesión sacramental, Comunión y oración por las intenciones del Santo Padre.

Al conceder la indulgencia, la Penitenciaría Apostólica solicita que todos los sacerdotes con facultades apropiadas “se presenten voluntaria y generosamente para administrar el sacramento de la Penitencia” a los participantes en la peregrinación, según el comunicado.

El segundo decreto de bendición papal con indulgencia plenaria para el Congreso Eucarístico Nacional faculta al arzobispo Broglio o a otro prelado designado por él para impartirla, después de la Misa, a los fieles participantes en el congreso. Como ocurre con la indulgencia anterior, los católicos deben estar verdaderamente arrepentidos de sus pecados, estar motivados por la caridad y cumplir las condiciones habituales de confesión sacramental, Comunión y oración por las intenciones del Santo Padre.

Sin embargo, los católicos que “por circunstancias razonables y con piadosa intención” no puedan estar físicamente en el congreso también podrán recibir la indulgencia si han participado en la misa y han recibido la bendición a través de los medios de comunicación.

“A través de los esfuerzos del avivamiento de los últimos dos años, hemos estado preparando la peregrinación y el congreso que ofrecerá a los católicos la oportunidad de experimentar un avivamiento profundo y personal de la fe en la Eucaristía”, dijo el arzobispo Broglio. “El Papa Francisco continúa animándonos y apoyándonos mientras buscamos compartir el amor de Cristo con un mundo que lo necesita desesperadamente”.

El Avivamiento Eucarístico Nacional continuará después del congreso hasta 2025 con un “Año de Envío Misionero”.

(Maria Wiering es redactora senior de OSV News.)