Why Catholic bishops rocked out to megachurch worship hits

In mid-July, Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, was transformed into a place of worship as more than 50,000 Catholics gathered for the National Eucharistic Congress.

The stadium full of young people, nuns in an array of habits, and priests in black and brown faced an altar adorned with four candlesticks and a golden monstrance displaying a consecrated host for eucharistic adoration.

Then there were the Catholic bishops and other worshippers in the stands, hands raised in worship, singing “How Great Is Our God,” a megachurch-style worship anthem, as a church rock band played on stage. That song was one of several Protestant-style worship songs sung at the Eucharistic Congress. Others included “Way Maker,” Build My Life,” “Come to the Altar,” and “Praise,” the latest hit from Elevation, one of the so-called Big Four megachurches that dominate the worship music charts.