A time of joy and sorrow makes a youth’s bond to God and the Eucharist stronger

Margeaux Stewart smiles as she shares one of her many adventures with her grandfather, Dan Stewart, who helped her grow in her Catholic faith. She shared her testimony in an exhibit hall during the National Eucharistic Congress. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

It has been less than a year since 17-year-old Margeaux Stewart lost one of the people she could always count on, someone who shaped her life and her faith.

So when she was asked to stand before an audience and share her testimony in the exhibit hall of the Indiana Convention Center during the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 19, her thoughts quickly turned to her late grandfather, Dan Stewart.

“He meant a lot to me, and so did our relationship,” said Margeaux, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Corydon. “My grandfather was the one to tell you the truth no matter what, but he would be there for you no matter what as well. He was the person I could always go to when I had questions about the career path I wanted to pursue after high school and college because he did great things in that industry and had almost all the answers you could ever want.”

Still, his biggest impact on her came from the way he shared his faith.

“I remember one conversation we had. He said, ‘Margeaux, I know I might not seem like this type of person, but look.’ And he pulled out prayer cards from his shirt pocket and told me he takes them everywhere, every day. He was a businessman that had a love for team roping—a rodeo event—but also a very deep love for God.”

Margeaux had to turn to her faith in a deeper way when her grandfather died in August of 2023.

“This experience moved me closer to God because after his passing I was asked to read the first reading at Mass,” she recalled. “At this time, I was so frustrated and questioning why my grandfather had to leave so early but then I read the reading—Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.”

The reading begins with, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl 3:1). It also includes this note, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Eccl 3:4).

“It showed me how God is in all moments, the good and the bad—and that even the not-so-good moments will help us flourish in life,” Margeaux said.

That knowledge made her want to give her testimony during the congress as part of the Preach Challenge program at Marian University in Indianapolis, a program designed to prepare young people “to have the confidence and skills to share their witness with others.”

During the congress, Margeaux continued to feel the presence of her grandfather and the presence of God in the Eucharist.

“The Eucharist is extremely important in my life,” she said. “It reminds me that it is God right there that you see, and also who you receive at Communion. I just think how cool it is to know we have a good, good God.

“My hopes are to just continue my love for our Lord Jesus Christ and grow even deeper into my love for the Eucharist.” †

 

(See all of our coverage of the National Eucharistic Congress at www.archindy.org/congress.)