INDIANAPOLIS — This week, Indianapolis is welcoming tens of thousands of Catholics for the National Eucharistic Congress.
The city has hosted so many major events, but this one is truly unprecedented: More than 55,000 people, a once-in-a-generation event for Catholics and the first of its kind in 83 years.
Designed to renew the Catholic Church and revive people's faith, the National Eucharistic Congress a huge religious convention is about to start downtown.
It's not only historic - the first since 1941 - it is big, even for Indy.
"This is not a small gathering," said Joel Stepanek, vice president of programming and administration for the National Eucharistic Congress. "We're expecting 55,000 Catholics from across the United States and even the world."
Many of them are making a pilgrimage to the crossroads of America, driving and walking thousands of miles for months, from the four corners of the country.
We spotted a group yesterday in their final stretch, walking at 10th and Rural.
All are converging on St. John the Evangelist Church downtown.
Chas Firestone East started his route in California in May.
"It's been a long, really rewarding journey — a mixture of riding in our Eucharistic van and walking from church to church, town to town," Firestone East said. "Now we're here at this congress, in which everyone is now coming to one point, to celebrate one God, one Lord and the Eucharist and bring that diversity together in one really concentrated spot and to share that with everyone around them and learn more and hopefully walk away really changed."
"To know that Jesus is coming from west, north, east, south right here in our city, right here at St. John's, the oldest Catholic church in Indy, it just means so much," said Annie Harton, an attendee from Indianapolis. "I love being Catholic. I love the Eucharist and I'm just so excited."
The five-day event, held at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Convention Center, is expected to make a $62.2 million economic impact, according to Visit Indy.
Catholics participating say the impact for them is priceless.
They'll experience daily Mass, they'll participate in acts of service like making thousands of meals for the hungry and they'll attend keynote talks and worship.
"We'll have opportunities for prayer, for liturgy, for service and for teaching," Stepanek said.
There's also a large procession downtown planned for Saturday at 3 p.m.
Tens of thousands of Catholic attendees will be going from Capitol Avenue and Georgia Street to Monument Circle to the War Memorial.
Roads will be closed in the area from approximately 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.
More than 100 Indiana State Police troopers, Capitol Police officers and IMPD officers will be on patrol, keeping things safe.
"It's unique because we have never in our past, that I can recall, moving 40,000 people at one time for about 1.2 miles," said IMPD Special Operations Commander Chuck DeBlaso. "We're asking for the community's help, too, just not the day of, but if you see something disturbing on social media, please, contact the police and report it so we can keep things safe."
Indy was chosen for the National Eucharistic Congress because of its central location and its ability to host large-scale events.
For Catholics, our city is now a place to celebrate sacred tradition in a personal, yet public and profound way.
"It's simply to come and pray and worship God together," Stepanek said. "We're very excited to be in the city. Don't avoid the area. Come, interact with our participants, be a part of what the Lord is doing here in Indianapolis."
The event officially begins on Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
For more details on the schedule, visit here.