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Michael Blissenbach's avatar

I actually attended the same Catholic parish in Saint Paul, MN that the Maas family attends and I would see them there. Such a small Catholic world!

I think we need a Lego set now with Lego likenesses of JD and Ed recording their weekly The Pillar Podcast! 😉

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Katie FWSB's avatar

Can confirm: I got in line at about 2:30pm and was fully checked in at about 4:30pm. I'm going to need the gift of bi- and maybe even tri-location to see and do all the things I want to see and do.

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Meg Schreiber's avatar

It was great last night! They did a good flex move and stayed open late to check in after the event and I did that since the line before was so long. This time I sailed through in 10 minutes or so. I loved the procession in and the reverence with Jesus in the monstrance.

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Nicole's avatar

My family loves Lego and we collect the Lego catechism books and booklets. They are so, so good. My children also love building Lego parishes and altars, though we haven’t yet added one of these kits to our collection. I wonder if the Maas family would ever consider doing a monastery with the option of brothers or sisters? Or a works of mercy setting. Lego baptism?

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Michael Blissenbach's avatar

Or maybe a classroom setting with Sister Lucy of the Nashville Dominicans as the teacher, since they run so many schools across the country it would be believable that they would run a parish school in Lego Land 🙂

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Michael Blissenbach's avatar

And if a Lego priest is possible, so would be Lego bishops, cardinals, and a Lego Pope! 🙂

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Susan Selner-Wright's avatar

Great photos, Giovanni!

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Joe Witkowski's avatar

“Apostolic nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre gave a lengthy speech” - did he mention his shameless intrusion into the Diocese of Steubenville’s ecclesial autonomy?

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Joe Witkowski's avatar

I can just hear it in my mind, the retro-traditionalists saying “I really like Fr. Leopold’s Mass…”

Jesus, eternal high priest and Messiah, please restore us to completing your GREAT COMMISSION in the world.

Verse 1

Lord you give the great commission

Heal the sick and preach the word

Lest the Church neglect its mission

And the gospel go unheard

Help us witness to Your purpose

With renewed integrity

With the Spirit's gifts empower us

For the work of ministry

Verse 2

Lord You call us to Your service

In my name baptise and teach

That the world may trust Your promise

Life abundant meant for each

Give us all new fervour draw us

Closer in community

With the Spirit's gifts empower us

For the work of ministry

Verse 3

Lord You make the common holy

This my body this my blood

Let us all for earth's true glory

Daily lift life heavenward

Asking that the world around us

Share Your children's liberty

With the Spirit's gift empower us

For the work of ministry

Verse 4

Lord You show us love's true measure

Father what they do forgive

Yet we hoard as private treasure

All that You so freely give

May Your care and mercy lead us

To a just society

With the Spirit's gifts empower us

For the work of ministry

Verse 5

Lord You bless with words assuring

I am with you to the end

Faith and hope and love restoring

May we serve as You intend

And amid the cares that claim us

Hold in mind eternity

With the Spirit's gifts empower us

For the work of ministry

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Joe Witkowski's avatar

Is there a 33-button cassock option available for the pontifical seminary graduate version of Presbyter Leopold? 🤯🤯

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Alicia's avatar

I’m excited to follow all the coverage of the NEC, and I’m praying for abundant fruit to grow from this event!

JD/Ed, seeing the photographs, I would be super interested to hear reactions from bishops who attended at the end of this. I don’t know how rare it is for bishops to be at these types of events but it feels like it might be a unique experience for them to be at such an event, that they attend but aren’t necessarily leading…?

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Nicole's avatar

Agree! I loved the photograph of them lined along the rail and wondered what it was like for them. What they were thinking.

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Renee A's avatar

"Maas, a Pillar reader (in a good way)" 😂

I know the registration speed bumps yesterday were distressing to those working the event, having worked so hard for a year or more on it, adding to that emotional toll you mentioned last week. May God's grace sustain them - it's been long days but so far the event they worked so hard to produce has been beautiful on many levels.

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Eric Anderson's avatar

Wonderful article, the first half brought me near to emotional tears, the second near to tears of laughter. Of all things, I did not expect fully HALF of the first Eucharist Congress article to be an in-depth discussion of the production and distribution of Catholic Legos, but I am not at all disappointed.

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Mary S.'s avatar

I’m heartened to read the people in line were patient. It’s a miracle!

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