SAN DIEGO – Mission San Diego de Alcala Parish hosted the Vatican International “Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibit” Oct. 9-10.
An estimated 600 people visited the traveling exhibit, which features information about 140 documented Eucharistic miracles, during its stop at Mission San Diego. It can next be seen Nov. 5-7 at Guardian Angels Parish in Santee.
The Catholic Church teaches that, when the words of consecration are spoken at Mass, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. But, typically, they retain the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibit focuses on those extraordinary historical instances when the bread and wine have been physically changed into human flesh and blood in a manner that has baffled scientists.
“This exhibit took me off the fence of wondering if (the Eucharist) is God to knowing this is God,” said Dave Megert, a parishioner at Mission San Diego, who was moved by what he saw.
For Megert and many others, the experience heightened their understanding that a miracle takes place at every Mass.
The exhibit represents the culmination of the work of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who spent years documenting the many Church-approved Eucharistic miracles from the eighth century to the present day. Blessed Carlo died from acute leukemia at age 15, but his short life was marked by deep love for the Eucharist, which he called “my highway to heaven.”
The exhibit also coincides with the Diocese of San Diego’s ongoing seven-week Eucharistic renewal program, which began during the Sept. 11-12 weekend. The program is intended to increase local Catholics’ understanding of and affection for the Blessed Sacrament.
Father Peter Escalante, pastor of Mission San Diego, said his parish was “truly blessed” to host the exhibit.
“It was on display after all weekend Masses, and I was so pleased to see the number of parishioners who took advantage of this rare opportunity,” he said. “It is a beautiful display and a real source of grace and inspiration. I highly recommend any parish to pursue hosting this exhibit.”
The local exhibition was made possible through the generous donation of Jon Kern, a parishioner of St. Patrick’s in Carlsbad. Other parishes or schools interested in hosting the exhibit can contact Kern at jkernpt@gmail.com or (760) 460-1203.
