The Diocese of Lake Charles is hosting a Eucharistic Congress for the first time in its 41-year history Nov. 12-21. The main event is Saturday, Nov. 13, at the West Cal Arena and Events Center in Sulphur.

A Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of Roman Catholic clergy, religious and lay persons to grow in the knowledge of the Eucharistic, according to Monsignor Daniel Torres, vicar general and pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

Bishop Glen J. Provost will deliver the centerpiece of the Eucharist Congress entitled, “Eucharist as a yearning for the Lord.” Torres will chair the event. The 54-year-old priest celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest May 25.

“The congress is also an invitation for other faith denominations as well as the unbaptized to learn about the power of the Eucharist and why it’s central to the faith of the Catholic Church,” Torres said. “The Eucharist is the living presence of the body, blood, soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. It restores God’s love and mercy, the gift of wisdom and the strength to help persevere in this world.”

Torres said lives have been healed and nations have been saved through the power of the Eucharist.

“Through my years growing up at Saint Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church and attending public schools, I found that the Eucharist was the strength that helped me in the good times and bad by helping me to persevere and to help me remember that God is with me,” he said. “When I attended Mass, I always found that I was ‘falling in love’ with God because I really believed that my heart was growing in the knowledge of why God created me as well as having the wisdom to make good decisions and discern God’s will in all things.”

As Torres was discerning what he wanted to do in life — pursue a career in the hotel industry, go to Major League Baseball Umpire School or join the business world to make as much money as possible — but said those thoughts did not give him as much joy as the times he spent with the Lord. That’s when he realized he needed to pursue a different calling.

“I am happy I did because I have been able to see the joy of baptizing people into the faith of Jesus Christ; hearing their confessions and witnessing the tears of joy that they have shed as they realized they were forgiven from their sins; bringing Jesus in the Eucharist to the people of God; and seeing joy in the faces of those to whom I have given the Holy Communion at their deathbed.”

Torres said he could not fathom no Mass during the pandemic lockdown. He said it brought tremendous heartache and depression to the faithful.

“It was truly sad for me as a Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church that I could not worship with the flock of Jesus Christ,” he said.

He did drive by the homes of parishioners as a reminder that God had not abandoned his people. He prayed for nine hours every Sunday.

“We persevered. We made it, and we have learned that ‘with God all things are possible,’ ” he said. People are coming back to church now since the vaccine have been offered and this last surge has decreased.

“The problem we are facing in the midst of the pandemic is the recovery efforts from the hurricanes, winter storm, flooding and tornadoes,” he said. “Many churches need repairs, however, the faithful priests are working tirelessly to pray the Mass, bring Eucharist and the Sacraments to the people and restoring hope to the afflicted. We are seeing people yearning for God. It is the strength of the Eucharist that gives priests strength to serve the people of God with love. Witnessing the fruit of that love and the power of the Eucharist, one can only say what Mama always said, ‘Give me Jesus.’ “