Kaitlyn, I Love You

Fr. Matthew and the St. Isidore Youth Delegate team represented our parish at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. In this newsletter series, our youth share reflections on their encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

I grew up going to school at St. Isidore, so I had been to Adoration before, but never like this. I walked into Lucas Oil Stadium with absolutely no idea of what to expect. I had zero clue that my life would be changed forever. Once everyone was welcomed in, the lights turned off and the whole stadium went silent. I was confused for a second, until I saw a spotlight beam down in the middle of the stadium.

I looked up and saw Jesus. My savior. The man who loved me enough to die for me, continues to love me unconditionally and completely, and loves me exactly the same amount even when I sin and drive more nails into him. My eyes became fixed on Jesus and nothing could take them off of him. As I stared and sang the words, “What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus Christ my King,” I was immediately overcome with emotion. Tears started streaming down my face, and they didn’t stop. I had never felt anything like these kinds of tears. They were more like streams of God’s grace. I didn’t expect them. Even though I was caught off guard, I had never felt more free.

Kneeling down among 60,000 people in the stadium, I understood that Jesus was there for me, to tell me one thing. He said, “Kaitlyn, I love you!” All of a sudden, nothing else mattered. Every worry, burden, and thought left my head, as I stared at Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul, and divinity.

This was incredible, even more so because it was only night one. As a group, we got to experience countless more profound moments throughout the week, and for me, it opened my heart to all the ways that Christ was working in me.

Kaitlyn, I love you!

—Kaitlyn, St. Isidore parishioner and high school junior