THE Adore 05 Eucharistic Congress was held in Sydney from January 20-23.
I had been to the previous year’s congress in Melbourne so I was filled with the expectation to encounter Christ more deeply and reverently in the Blessed Sacrament.
I flew down to Sydney early to help prepare St Mary’s College, next to St Mary’s Cathedral, for the four-day event.
In the days that preceded the congress, I met so many young Catholics who were on fire for Christ.
We worked for Christ, organising all that needed to be done. Christ was the reason for Adore 05 – to know him deeper, to love him greater, and to serve him better.
For the four days, I was absorbed in all the things that the congress offered. We began and finished each day with prayer. Jesus was exposed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel only seconds from the main hall on an ornately carved, wooden, high altar.
Talks were given on purity and Catholic spirituality. Testimonies of young people who were touched by the all powerful love of the Holy Spirit were heard, which further inspired other young people to realise that holiness is still possible, even in today’s world, which encourages all things against holiness.
The part of the Adore 05 congress that touched me the most was the Mass, which was celebrated reverently and obediently.
A procession of the Blessed Sacrament, with police escort, through the City streets of Sydney, brought forth songs of beauty to Our Lady between each decade of the Holy Rosary while everyone processed reverently behind Jesus in the monstrance.
Finally, God asked me the question, ‘Do you want to devote your life entirely to me?’
I could only answer, after seeing his love at work, with all my heart, ‘Yes Lord, I will follow you wherever you will lead me to go’.
The Adore 05 congress was organised by the Alliance of Holy Family International.
Nikolai Martinovic
