TACOMA — About 200 people gathered for prayer, worship and camaraderie July 20 at the Local Eucharistic Congress. The one-day event at St. Charles Borromeo Parish was designed to mirror the National Eucharistic Congress, which drew more than 50,000 Catholics to Indianapolis July 17-21.

“What’s really exciting is that people came from all over the archdiocese,” said Kimberly Abadir, the archdiocese’s director of youth ministry services, who organized the event.

The local congress included a talk by Tom East on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and how Jesus is always with us. East, a member of St. Leo the Great Parish in Tacoma who has worked in church ministry for more than 40 years, is serving as a parish family liaison for Partners in the Gospel.

Tom East speaks about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist during the Local Eucharistic Congress at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma July 20. East, a former pastoral assistant at the parish, is now serving as a parish liaison for Partners in the Gospel. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)  

The congress also included adoration with praise and worship music led by Daniel Oberreuter, lead singer of The Thirsting. 

Above and below: People of all ages pray during adoration at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma during the Local Eucharistic Congress July 20. (Photos: Stephen Brashear)

The 90-degree weather couldn’t stop a Eucharistic procession around the parish campus. Father Dwight Lewis carried the monstrance, escorted by members of St. Charles’ Knights of Columbus who carried a canopy overhead.

Above: Participants in the July 20 Local Eucharistic Congress join a Eucharistic procession around the campus of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)

The day concluded with Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and concelebrated by Father Michael Radermacher, pastor of St. Charles.

While the event drew people of all ages, Abadir said, “it was beautiful to see our young people engaged and connected in this way with the larger church.”

Here are more photos from the day:

Kimberly Abadir, director of youth ministry services for the Archdiocese of Seattle, speaks to those gathered for the Local Eucharistic Congress July 20 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Tacoma. (Photo: Stephen Brashear)
Above and below: People pray in adoration at St. Charles Borromeo Church as part of the Local Eucharistic Congress July 20. (Photos: Stephen Brashear)

Outdoors, Father Dwight Lewis incenses the Eucharist held in a monstrance during the Local Eucharist Congress July 20 at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma. (Photos: Stephen Brashear)