More than 3,000 Catholics gathered in Bellevue, Washington, for the ASCEND Eucharistic Revival, an event the organization described in a May 20 press release as one of the “largest gatherings of Pacific Northwest Catholics in decades.”
The ASCEND revival, which occurred May 16, featured Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation talks, and an outdoor Eucharistic procession through Bellevue as part of a broader effort to renew devotion to the Eucharist in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Archbishop Paul Etienne celebrated Mass at the event, which also featured Catholic author Chris Stefanick, speaker and evangelist Deacon Charlie Echeverry, and singer-songwriter Marie Miller.
Organizers said they hope ASCEND will help foster ongoing Eucharistic renewal across the region by encouraging Catholics to deepen their faith in the Eucharist, according to the organization’s website.
Father Nicholas Wichert, ASCEND’s ecclesiastical advisor, thanked God for sending the Holy Spirit to “work in the hearts” of those involved in the revival. He noted the event had been nearly two years in the making and involved more than 200 volunteers.
According to organizers, ASCEND was inspired by the experiences of several Seattle-area Catholics who attended the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis and wanted to bring a similar opportunity for renewal to neighboring Catholics.
The Seattle metro area is among the most secular in the U.S., according to a study Pew Research Center published in 2025 that found that 44% of local adults identify as religiously unaffiliated.
Bellevue, Washington’s fifth-largest city with a population of about 158,000, is a major technology and business hub east of Seattle. According to the city’s website, Bellevue is also known for its growing skyline and diverse population.