When it comes to belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, Jim Pruszka leans into a Gospel passage in which a man asks Jesus to heal his possessed son.

When Jesus replies that everything is possible to one who has faith, the father cries out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” and his son is healed.

Pruszka, a member of the Worship Committee at St. Leonard, Muskego, said ,“I do believe, help my unbelief” characterizes his own belief and likely that of many Catholics when it comes to Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.

“This is hard. I need constant reaffirmation,” he said. After receiving Communion, he prays, “Lord, help me better understand what just happened. Help me understand it more deeply.’”

If you can relate, Pruszka says, you should attend at least one in a series of Lenten showings of five talks given at the National Eucharistic Congress held in July in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“A Lenten Walk Through the Eucharistic Congress” was developed by Jim’s wife, Lisa, and Jodi Staral, who also are Worship Committee members who attended the congress.

Everyone is welcome to attend as many nights as they wish. There is no cost.

The Monday series will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the parish gathering space. The April 7 one, however, will be held in the parish’s Youth Center on the south end of the parking lot.

Lisa Pruszka and Staral selected the talks they found most exciting and relatable from dozens of talks given at the five-day congress, which drew about 60,000 people. Reflection and discussion will follow each 25-35-minute viewing.

The dates, recorded talk titles and speakers are:

  • March 10 — “The Power of the Catholic Community,” by Dr. Edward Sri, a theologian, author and well-known Catholic speaker.
  • March 24 — “Alive! On Fire and In Love,” by Sr. Bethany Madonna, who with her fellow Sisters of Life accompany vulnerable pregnant women and minister to college students through their presence and evangelization.
  • March 31— “The Greatest Love Story,” by Fr. Mike Schmitz, a Diocese of Duluth priest known for his YouTube videos and “Bible in a Year” and “Catechism in a Year” podcasts.
  • April 7 — “Repentance and Revival,” by Sr. Josephine Garrett, who was raised Baptist and is now a sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, licensed counselor, host of the Hope Stories podcast, speaker and author.
  • April 14 — “Testimony: John 6,” by Jonathan Roumie, a Catholic actor known for his portrayal of Jesus in the hit streaming series “The Chosen.”

The event came about after Staral and the Pruszkas returned home from the congress and found that many people were curious about the talks that they found to be so inspirational.

That high interest led the Worship Committee to set a goal last fall to offer an event related to the congress.

Lisa Pruszka, who also coordinates the parish’s Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, said the congress talks helped solidify her appreciation for the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and what that presence does for Catholics.

If coming to a “Lenten Walk” has that effect on someone else, “I’d be a happy person,” she said.

Questions? Contact Lisa Pruszka at jrpruszka@aol.com, with “Lenten Walk” in the subject line.