From the first moments of the final nighttime revival session at Lucas Oil Stadium July 20, an electricity coursed through the air with an intensity surpassing all the prior events of the National Eucharistic Congress.

More than 100 bishops and cardinals, including Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori and Baltimore Auxiliary Bishops Adam J. Parker and Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., marched in procession with thousands of other Catholics.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, an alumna of Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, N.J., has secured her place on Team USA for the Summer Olympics in Paris by once again shattering her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic trials June 30.

As our culture continues to make choices contrary to Catholic teaching, Catholic education has become even more important if our children are going to be well formed in the faith and apply it in their daily lives.

I pray that this is a fruitful experience for those who are there, of course. But I have to imagine that an event like this can have a profound impact far beyond the event itself.