A three-day Eucharistic Congress has taken place in North Staffordshire.

Hundreds of people from across the area took part in various events between Thursday 10 and Saturday 12 July.

The Congress was an opportunity to celebrate the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, which Catholics believe occurs during every Mass when bread and wine is consecrated by the priest. It is a gathering of the Church which comes together to pray and celebrate their faith.

On Friday 11 July four sessions were delivered throughout the school day based on four themes: the presence of Jesus, charity, Christian unity and prayer. 

At Our Lady & St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School children were involved in a range of creative, reflective and prayerful activities, including: designing Romero-style crosses of Biblical characters who encountered Jesus; considering the needs of the poor, vulnerable and elderly, creating a pledge to support them; considering how we are a universal, united Church, representing this through a class paper chain of prayers; guided meditations and creating a rosary to take home. 

At Our Lady's Catholic Academy children said:

"Please can I use the Rosary to reflect. Mary gave us this beautiful symbol of prayer so that we may connect with our heavenly Father. It will help me to open up my heart to him through her intercession."

"Although darkness overshadowed Judas' heart he gave us the risen Lord by enabling Him to fulfil his vocation and save our sins."

"Please, can I present the gift to our care home. I want to ask them so many questions. They are truly wise. I also want to tell them what they mean to me. Today I am going to go home and I am going to listen to my Gran rather than rush onto my games. That's how I bring Christ to her. Just as she has been bringing Him to me for all these years.” 

Over at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy Year 9 pupils made 'Leave no-one out' paperchains.

Using the Parable of the Lost Sheep as their inspiration, pupils wrote anonymous messages of support to those in our wider community who may be left out or feel that they don't belong. All the paperchains from each class will be put together to make a big paperchain to go in the assembly hall for September.

At St Gregory's Catholic Academy, the pupils’ participation in the Eucharistic Congress was a meaningful and enriching experience. The day was centred around prayer, reflection and deepening their understanding of the Eucharist. Pupils took part in various spiritual activities, including guided meditations, scripture readings and group discussions, which encouraged them to reflect on their faith and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Through moments of silence and communal prayer, they were given the opportunity to grow spiritually and connect more deeply with their beliefs. The day of reflection fostered a sense of unity and reverence, leaving a lasting impression on the pupils’ faith journey.

Pupils at St Thomas More Catholic Academy celebrated the Eucharistic Congress with a day of prayer, reflection and joyful participation, centred on the love of Christ in the Eucharist. 

Students took part in a meaningful liturgy and engaged in class-based reflections and creative activities exploring the significance of the Eucharist in their lives. A highlight of the day was the time spent in the school’s prayer garden, where students painted the garden bench and planted seeds, symbolising the growth of faith and their commitment to living out Christ’s love. It was a spiritually enriching experience that brought the entire school community closer to the heart of the Eucharist.

Eucharistic Congress in North Staffordshire