"The Eucharist: God's Gift Encounter with Christ"
On Sunday, 16 August 2026, mothers from across Victoria gathered at St Michael's Catholic Parish in Traralgon for the 3rd Formation Gathering of Mothers Who Pray for Their Children.
Beginning the day with Our Lady
The gathering commenced with registration and a warm welcome before Australian Coordinator Michelle Dart opened the day. The Enthronement of Our Lady of La Salette, followed by the entrance of the ministry teams and flags, beautifully reminded everyone that this movement belongs to Mary and that, as mothers, we are called to bring our families closer to her Son.
The mothers then prayed the Chaplet Rosary of the Eucharist, preparing their hearts for the rich formation that was to follow.
There was great joy in hearing from Angela Abdo and Cristiane Cantele, who shared about the mission and spirituality of Mothers Who Pray for Their Children. Their presentation reminded us that what began as a small movement of mothers in Brazil has grown into a spiritual family united by one profound mission: the restoration of families through prayer
Emmaus: Walking towards Jesus
The first major formation session was presented by our Foundress, Angela Abdo, who reflected on “Emmaus: A Divine GPS to Encounter the Risen Jesus in the Eucharist.”
Using the journey of the disciples to Emmaus, Angela invited mothers to recognise the ways Jesus walks beside us even when we do not recognise Him.
How often, as mothers, do we find ourselves discouraged, worried or uncertain about our children and their future?
The Emmaus story reminds us that Jesus does not abandon us on the journey. He walks with us, listens to us and ultimately reveals Himself to us.
And where does He invite us to encounter Him most profoundly?
In the Eucharist.
The Eucharist: A Place of Encounter
Michelle Dart then led the mothers into a deeper reflection on “The Eucharist: A Place of Encounter with Christ.”
Throughout the morning, the mothers were continually brought back to the heart of our Catholic faith: Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is not simply something we receive. It is an encounter with a Person who loves us, knows our families and desires to draw each of us closer to Himself.
For mothers who spend so much of their lives pouring themselves out for their husbands, children and families, the day provided an important reminder that we too must allow ourselves to be filled by Christ.
The Mystery Lived and the Mystery Proclaimed
Fr Aju Varghese followed with a powerful reflection entitled “The Mystery Lived and the Mystery Proclaimed.”
His words challenged mothers to consider what it truly means to live the Eucharistic mystery beyond the walls of the church as the Eucharist changes us.
Our encounter with Christ is not meant to end when Mass finishes. We are sent back into our homes, our families and our communities carrying Christ with us.
For a mother, this mission can begin in the simplest places: at the kitchen table, beside a child's bed, during a difficult conversation, in the school drop-off line or in the quiet moments when nobody else sees what she is carrying.
Father also shared stories of his time at the last Eucharistic congress. This was held in Quito, Ecuador in 2004. This got everyone excited for 2028's next Eucharistic Congress held in Sydney, Australia.
A beautiful Eucharistic celebration
The heart of the day came with the celebration of Holy Mass, led by Bishop Greg, and concelebrated by Fr Aju Varghese, with Deacon Tony assisting.
It was a particularly special blessing for the mothers to have Bishop Greg celebrate Mass with them and to hear him speak so beautifully about the importance and power of a praying mother.
In his homily, Bishop Greg reflected on the unique role mothers have in the spiritual lives of their children and the profound impact that a mother's prayers can have on her family.
His words were a powerful encouragement to every mother in the room — especially those who may sometimes wonder whether their prayers are making a difference.
A mother's prayers may often happen quietly and unseen. She may pray while preparing meals, driving the children to school, sitting beside a sick child, waiting for a teenager to come home or lying awake at night with worries in her heart.
But God hears those prayers.
Bishop Greg's homily reminded the mothers that their vocation to pray for their children is both beautiful and powerful. A praying mother places her children into the hands of God and trusts Him with what she cannot control.
After a morning of formation and reflection, gathering around the altar and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist brought everything into focus.
The teachings, prayers, testimonies and conversations of the day all pointed towards this one great mystery:
Christ gives Himself to us completely.
A testimony that touched every heart
One of the most moving moments of the gathering came during the afternoon sharing.
Chana, a mother from the St Agatha’s prayer group, shared her extraordinary testimony of faith.
As a young Buddhist girl, Chana experienced the uncertainty and hardship of moving with her family through refugee camps. Her journey was marked by circumstances that could easily have led her away from faith, yet God was quietly working throughout her story.
Her journey eventually led her to the Catholic faith and, from there, to her vocation as a Mother Who Prays for Her Children.
As Chana shared her story, the room became completely silent. Mothers listened with open hearts as she spoke of the path God had taken her on and the way He had drawn her towards Himself.
There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Her testimony was a beautiful reminder that God is never absent from our story. Even in the most difficult and uncertain circumstances, He can be preparing a path that we cannot yet see.
Chana's story also reminded every mother present that our vocation to pray is not accidental. God calls us to stand in the gap for our children, to intercede for them and to trust that His plans are greater than anything we can imagine.
The Mystery Believed and the Mystery Celebrated
The final formation session was presented by Fr. Joseph Abutu, who spoke on “The Mystery Believed and the Mystery Celebrated.”
His reflection brought the day full circle, inviting mothers to consider how the mystery of the Eucharist shapes the way we believe, live and celebrate our Catholic faith.
The Eucharist is a mystery that calls for our faith, our reverence and our surrender.
As mothers, we may not always understand what God is doing in the lives of our children. We may pray for years without seeing the answer we hoped for. But the Eucharist reminds us that Jesus is already present, already working and already offering Himself for us and for those we love.
A renewed mission for every mother
As the Formation Gathering came to a close, mothers left St Michael’s with more than notes from talks and beautiful memories of the day.
They left renewed.
Renewed in their faith.
Renewed in their vocation as mothers.
Renewed in their commitment to prayer.
And renewed in their trust in Jesus.
The day was a beautiful expression of what Mothers Who Pray for Their Children is all about: mothers supporting mothers, mothers learning together, mothers praying together and mothers placing their families into the loving hands of God.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Greg, Fr. Aju Varghese, Fr. Joseph Abutu and Deacon Tony, as well as to St Michael’s Parish, Traralgon, all our speakers, ministry teams and volunteers who helped make the day possible.
And most especially, we thank every mother who travelled to be part of this special gathering.
To Chana, thank you for having the courage to share your story. Your testimony reminded us all that God can turn even the most difficult chapters of our lives into a pathway towards Him.
And to every mother who attended, may Bishop Greg's words remain in our hearts: never underestimate the power of a mother's prayer.
We may not be able to control everything that happens in the lives of our children.
We may not always know what tomorrow will bring.
But we can always pray.
And when we place our children into the hands of Jesus, we place them in the safest hands of all.
Our Lady, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us and for our children.
Written By:
Felise D'Costa
Communications Coordinato
Mothers who Pray for their Children