Belmont Abbey College, ‘Passion of the Christ’ Star Participate in Catholic Event

BELMONT, NC —- Belmont Abbey College will join the Diocese of Charlotte when it hosts its first Eucharistic Congress on Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24, 2005 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The Eucharistic Congress is a teaching and worship event that is centered on the Eucharist, the source and summit of Catholic life.

The Congress will begin Friday, September 23, 2005 with a program of Sacred Music at the Charlotte Convention Center. The evening will also feature a talk by actor James Caviezel, best known for his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s film, “The Passion of the Christ.”

Caviezel, a Catholic, will speak about how the Eucharist sustains his faith. Caviezel is one of 14 speakers scheduled to appear at the Eucharistic Congress. The group also includes Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin and Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte, Catholic evangelist Johnnette Benkovic, and Fr. Leo Patalinghug, a priest from Westminister, Maryland, who uses martial arts and break dancing to entertain and inspire teens.

During the Eucharistic Congress, audiences will have the opportunity to select from four tracks: General, Hispanic, Children and Teens. The Eucharist will also be available throughout the day for adoration in a special chapel in the Convention Center. Audiences may also visit vendors and receive information about Catholic schools and colleges in the area.

The Congress will conclude with a Vigil Mass that on September 24, 2005 at 4:30 PM.

Approximately 300,000 Catholics reside in the Diocese of Charlotte, which is comprised of 46 counties in western North Carolina.

For more information on The Eucharistic Congress, please visit the Diocese of Charlotte website at www.charlottediocese.org.

Ranked one of the best comprehensive colleges in the Southeast by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review, Belmont Abbey College celebrates excellence and virtue steeped in its 129-year Catholic Benedictine heritage. The liberal arts College is home to students from over 34 states and 26 countries and welcomes everyone from any background or tradition committed to this vision of excellence and virtue. The campus consists of the College, the Monastery and the Abbey Basilica, which can be found on its sprawling 650 acres of picturesque landscape.

Just minutes from Charlotte, NC, the nation’s second largest banking center, Belmont Abbey College offers students numerous internship opportunities and career placement.

The College believes in development of the whole person – mind, body and spirit. By offering a wide array of clubs and activities including Division II athletics, theatre, publications, and study abroad, Belmont Abbey College invests in the personal growth of its students.

Founded in 1876, the College celebrates its heritage and is inspired by the Benedictine monastic tradition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the College and Abbey Basilica greet thousands of visitors each year.

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