BELLEVUE, Wash. (OSV News) -- More than 3,000 local Catholics joined together in prayer led by Father Nicholas Wichert at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue May 16.
The Ascend Eucharistic Revival was one of the largest gatherings of Catholics in the Pacific Northwest in over a century, according to event organizers. Those in attendance ranged from infants to the elderly, representing the many different ethnic communities that make up the Archdiocese of Seattle.
"Our deepest desire is that you would fall deeply in love with Jesus, especially in the Eucharist," said, "that you would allow him to touch your hearts in a way that sets your heart on fire with your love for him." said Father Wichert, ecclesiastical adviser for Ascend,
Before officially beginning at 9 a.m., attendees were welcomed by live music performed by Marie Miller, a Catholic singer-songwriter from Virginia.
Father Wichert led prayer, then passed the torch to the event's emcee, Deacon Charlie Echeverry from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Deacon Echeverry ran through the day's plans and then introduced author and podcaster Chris Stefanick, one of the event's keynote speakers.
Stefanick talked about when he was dragged to a Catholic retreat as middle schooler, acknowledging that some of the children and teens at the Meydenbauer Center may have been forced to be there by their parents as well.
But Stefanick, though expecting to have a miserable time at the retreat, said he found that the experience changed his life.
"The thing that transformed my life the moment I walked in that room was the joy in that room," he said.
His talk centered on four pieces of advice. The first: giving thanks. He challenged all attendees to give thanks for their existence each morning they wake up, as well as in moments when they feel triggered.
He also encouraged the crowd to love themselves, saying that the cross is representative of the fact that Jesus loved the world so much that he was willing to die for humanity, which should be all you need to know your worth, he said.
His third piece of advice was simply silence. Much of the "noise" he described was not physical noise but distractions, such as phones and social media. Stefanick argued that people often lose their independent thought and are constantly working to uphold an online persona.
He concluded by encouraging everyone to frame their mind with faith. He quoted Pope Benedict XVI: "The happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy has a name and a face. It is Jesus of Nazareth hidden in the Eucharist."
"I'm passionate about this topic because the city walls have fallen. The Church needs you and the world needs you," Stefanick said, closing his first talk of the day. "The joy of the Lord must be your strength."
Between sessions, those in attendance were given the opportunity to walk around the building and participate in Eucharistic adoration or receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
Booths took up the fourth floor where religious orders, universities, vendors, musicians and artists, including Sam Estrada, were available to chat, display their work and sell various products. The Relic Project opened a room where they displayed a plethora of relics for guests to venerate.
Attendees then broke into three groups: One for adults, one for Spanish speakers and one for youth.
The adult breakout session was led by Tim Gray, the Spanish session by Deacon Echeverry, and the youth session by Andrew and Sarah Swafford.
Gray, president of the Augustine Institute, doubled down on Stefanick's segment about giving thanks, referencing David as an ideal example.
"In all that David did, he gave thanks to God with his whole heart," Gray said. "He gave thanks in all that he did, all the time. David lived out thanksgiving."
During lunch, children and teens put together hygiene bags for the Archdiocese of Seattle's Seafarers Ministry as well as Catholic Community Services of Western Washington.
When attendees returned from lunch, they gathered for adoration before leaving the building to go on a nearly milelong Eucharistic procession. The music group Floriani provided vocals as the group processed through the streets of downtown Bellevue.
After coming back to the main hall, Floriani continued to sing as conference attendees sat silently in Eucharistic adoration.
Soon after, Stefanick, who was a fan favorite among attendees, returned for his second plenary session of the day.
"I just liked his enthusiasm. It brought me back," Karin Wallner, a parishioner of Pope St. John XXIII Parish in Tacoma, told Northwest Catholic, Seattle's archdiocesan news outlet.
Stefanick compared the conference to a slingshot, where people are ready to be shot out with a renewed sense of love and appreciation for the Lord. But, he said, that should be the case each time someone goes to Mass.
He spoke about various saints and biblical figures, including St. Damien of Molokai and woman at the well. He discussed St. Damien's ministry of going out to and caring for the lepers.
"This is the kind of love Jesus shows us," Stefanick said. "We're not too much for him."
As he wrapped up the final session of the day, he left the audience with one more challenge: to be a saint.
"There's something about holiness that's irresistible. There's something about joy, because you're made for it, that you can't shake when you see it in action," Stefanick said. "We have to be those saints."
As he left, Miller returned to the stage to perform more praise music as volunteers set the main hall up for Mass.
And before the conference concluded, Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne stopped by to concelebrate Mass with Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster.
"We do not go on mission alone; we go on mission from the altar," Archbishop Etienne said in his homily. "We receive Christ, we become like Christ so that we can bring Christ to others. Not power, not strategies, but a heart like Christ is our mission."
Reflecting on the whole day, those in attendance appreciated the variety of speakers, activities and opportunities for prayer and reflection.
"I am so happy because there's been a lacking in the Northwest," said Mary Landmann, a parishioner of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Woodinville and volunteer at the conference.
"This is a miracle in itself, that this many Catholics, this many followers of Jesus, are coming to be devoted and worship the Eucharist, worship Jesus, worship God. It's very inspiring, and I feel like this is the beginning of something."
"I love it. I wish they had more events like this," Wallner added.
Finally, attendees were sent off with a talk about Walk With One, a National Eucharistic Revival initiative which seeks to provide accompaniment to those who have fallen away from the Church.
"There's something amazing happening right now, and it's not just originating in us. There's a new renewal right now," he said. "And 3,000 people are here proud about their Catholic faith and joyful in their Catholic faith."
