Twenty-Eighth International Eucharistic Congress

The first International Eucharistic Congress was held in 1881 in France. According to a souvenir book published by the Congress, "The purpose of the gathering is to manifest publicly Catholic love, fealty and devotion to Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, and to endeavor to make reparation for the outrages which have been committed against His Divine Presence in the Tabernacle" (XXVIII International Eucharistic Congress, page 13).

The Twenty-eighth International Eucharistic Congress was held in Chicago, Illinois from June 20 through June 24, 1926; it was the first International Eucharistic Congress to be held in the United States. Efforts to bring the congress to Chicago were spearheaded by George Cardinal Mundelein, the archbishop of Chicago. The organizing committee was led by the Right Rev. Edward F. Hoban, D.D., the auxiliary bishop of Chicago, who was joined by the Very Rev. Monsignor C.J. Quille, the Very Rev. Monsignor B.J. Sheil, the Rev. Francil Ryan, the Rev. William R. Griffin, and the Rev. Joseph A. Casey. More than two hundred clergy and laymen served on planning committees. Masses were held in Soldier Field, and meetings were held at the Municipal Pier, the Chicago Coliseum, and various Knights of Columbus halls around the city. The Congress opened on June 20, 1926 with a solemn high mass celebrated by his Eminence John, Cardinal Bonzano, the Papal Legate, at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. On the second day, June 21, was Children's Day, and a choir of 62,000 parochial school children sang the Mass of the Angels; it was claimed to be the single largest choir ever gathered. June 22 was Women's Day, and that evening was Men's Night. June 23 was Students Day. The final day of the Congress included a Eucharistic Procession at the Theological Seminary of St. Mary-of-the-Lake, in Mundelein, Illinois, which was attended by 750,000 worshippers. An altar was built that was a replica of the altar in the Church of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome, Italy, and a pipe organ was also constructed in the stadium. Sectional meetings were held for Catholics from more than a dozen nationalities in their own languages. Between 200,000 and 400,000 worshippers attended the religious services each day.

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