“At the heart of our Catholic Faith is the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Jesus is always with us, showing us the way.”
Bishop Umbers, General Secretary, Eucharist28
The official journey towards the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 (Eucharist28) has begun. Pilgrims from all around the world will gather in Sydney for “an extraordinary global encounter with Jesus and the Eucharist.” Together, pilgrims will worship, pray, reflect and celebrate a Church united in faith and mission, ready to carry Christ into the world.
The Congress offers a rich spiritual and cultural program designed to inspire, uplift and unite. Pilgrims will experience moving Eucharistic celebrations, moments of communal prayer, keynote sessions, catechesis, exhibitions and opportunities for encounter.
Eucharist28 is for the whole Church. Youth and family activities, cultural performances, and artistic expressions of faith will make the Congress a pilgrimage experience that touches every participant, regardless of age or background. In the days preceding the Congress, an elaborate Theological Symposium will explore the theme This is My Body, Given for You, offering extended reflection and formation. According to Sebastian Condon, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Eucharist28, this theme captures the heart of all that Christ has done for us, and all that we are called to do in response: “This is My Body, Given for You.”
This event is more than a single gathering. Eucharist28 marks a centenary milestone for the Church in Australia, coinciding with the first International Eucharistic Congress held in Sydney in 1928. It is being shaped as a multi-year national pilgrimage of prayer, formation and renewal, inviting Catholics across Australia, Oceania and beyond to rediscover the transforming power of the Eucharist.
The newly launched website, eucharist28.org, offers catechetical and devotional resources for individuals, families, parishes and schools. These include podcasts, personal testimonies and theological reflections – all designed to deepen understanding of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life.
Eucharist28 Starter Packs, containing prayer cards, posters and introductory materials have been distributed to parishes. They invite you, and your fellow parishioners, to share the vision of Eucharist28 and “fix your eyes on Jesus” by joining the journey towards the Congress.
Speaking about the hopes for the Congress, Bishop Richard Umbers, General Secretary for Eucharist28, said:
“Jesus is a man with a heart and he comes to feed us with his body and blood, soul and divinity … My hope is that people in Sydney, across Australia, Oceania and the whole world will discover, for the first time, or rediscover the joy of being nourished by Christ and be strengthened to become His presence in our communities – other Christs for the life of the world.”
Holy Hour, Sunday 1 March 2026
As part of this preparatory journey, parishes are invited to participate in a nationwide Holy Hour on Sunday, 1 March 2026, the Second Sunday of Lent. This coordinated moment of Eucharistic Adoration will launch the Year of Prayer leading to 2028. Every parish is encouraged to hold an hour of Adoration following Mass, praying for a Eucharistic transformation of lives and communities. Each parish can embrace this moment in its own way, expressing the Church’s unity in diversity.
Reflecting on the spiritual impact of the Congress, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, said:
“No one should be touched by the Congress and be unchanged, for no one can experience intimacy with Christ and be the same as before.”
The International Eucharistic Congress 2028 will gather pilgrims from across the globe in Sydney, yet its vision reaches far beyond one city or one week. It seeks to renew Eucharistic faith, deepen prayer, and inspire a missionary spirit that will ripple across the Church in Australia for years to come.