St. Rose in Wilmington to host traveling exhibit of Eucharistic miracles

An exhibit of more than 150 posters detailing the many miracles associated with the Eucharist will be on display at St. Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington Aug. 21 and Aug. 22.

The list of miracles was assembled by an amateur computer programmer, Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 of at the age of 15. He was beatified last year, part of the process to be canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Katrina Plese, a member of St. Rose and the event’s coordinator, wanted to bring the Eucharistic miracles exhibit to her church after visiting a church in Minnesota a few years ago who had previously hosted the exhibit.

Plese said she was struck by the reverence that church’s members, especially the youth, had for the Eucharist and was told it the exhibit was partly responsible.

She felt such an exhibit could reinforce the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation – where the bread and wine used for Communion become Jesus’ actual body and blood. Plese referenced a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center that said 69% of Catholics believe the bread and wine are merely symbols of Jesus’ body and blood.

“I just have this feeling that, through the Eucharist of Jesus, it’s going to bring them back home to the church and, therefore, a relationship with Jesus,” Plese said.

Plese hasn’t seen the exhibit yet, but individuals with whom she talked said “some people walk around with tears in their eyes” when viewing it.

“That’s how impactful it is,” Plese said.

Rev. Sebastian Gargol, St. Rose’s pastor, said his church has discussed the topic of Jesus as the bread of life over the last few weeks, so the timing of the exhibit is perfect.

Gargol said he hopes attendees take time to reflect on the exhibit and leave with stronger beliefs and a deeper faith.

“Even if they believe, our faith can always be deepened and our love for the Lord can be more perfect,” Gargol said. “I invite everyone to take this opportunity and see with their own eyes. This is proof of God’s love for us. He gave us the Eucharist...he wants to strengthen us with the bread of life, which is Himself.”

The exhibit will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 21 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 22. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Aug. 21 and 7 and 11 a.m.

St. Rose Catholic Church is located at 626 S. Kankakee St. in Wilmington. For more information, call 815-476-7491 or visit St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Wilmington Il on Facebook.