Pastor’s Corner — June 19th, 2022
Deacon Pat’s 50th Anniversary: Celebrations this Weekend
Next Friday June 24th Deacon Pat will celebrate his 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Diaconate. It is an incredible feat, and from what I am told, Deacon Pat is currently the longest serving deacon in the United States! We have been so blessed by Deacon Pat here at St. Pat’s. We are celebrating our good deacon in multiple ways here at the parish this weekend. In addition to a large private dinner celebration this Saturday at the PLC where I will give him a roast. . . ‘cough, cough’ I mean. . .toast, we are hosting gatherings for parishioners to celebrate him in McCann Hall after the 9:30 and 11:30am Masses this weekend (June 19th). There will be ample refreshments available with a smiling Deacon Pat there to greet you. Please come down to McCann Hall after these Sunday morning Masses, enjoy some parish fellowship, eat some good food and celebrate our one-of-a-kind and accomplished Deacon!
National Eucharistic Revival Starts Sunday
Starting on the feast of Corpus Christi this Sunday, the entire Church in the United States is embarking on a National Eucharistic Revival. The bishop leading this revival is Bishop Andrew Cozzens, (bishop of Crookston, MN) who was a formation director of mine when I was in seminary. Knowing him this revival has the chance of being extraordinarily fruitful for the Church in the United States. The revival is a three-year process, and as I’ve said before, I agreed to preach max three events/year for this revival. In addition to this full-page description of the revival, below you’ll find some information that I copied from the revival websites here and here.
“Scandal, division, disease, doubt. The Church has withstood each of these throughout our very human history. But today we confront all of them, all at once. Our response in this moment is pivotal.
In the midst of these roaring waves, Jesus is present, reminding us that he is more powerful than the storm. He desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world.
How will he do it? By uniting us once again around the source and summit of our faith—the Holy Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is the joyful, expectant, grassroots response of the entire Catholic Church in the U.S. to this divine invitation.”
Mission, Vision and Timeline
“MISSION: To renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
VISION: To inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist—and who are then sent out on mission “for the life of the world.”
JUNE 2022 - JUNE 2023: Year of Diocesan Revival
Launching on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi, the first year invites diocesan staff, bishops, and priests to what Pope Francis has described as “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ”—particularly the transforming power and mercy of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Each Diocese will offer events that encourage the faithful to grow in their understanding and devotion to Christ in the Eucharist, complemented by online formation and resources that will raise up Eucharistic Missionaries at all levels of the Church! Please join us in prayer for the renewal and healing of the United States as we answer this historic call to revival.
JUNE 2023 - JUNE 2024: Year of Parish Revival
The second phase will foster eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through eucharistic adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit. These local efforts will help convert hearts and minds to fall more deeply in love with Jesus Christ, truly present in the Holy Eucharist.
JULY 2024: National Eucharistic Congress
At this historic event, more than 100,000 Catholics of all ages will gather in Indianapolis to worship our Risen Lord in his humble disguise. The Holy Spirit will enkindle a missionary fire in the heart of our nation as we reconsecrate ourselves to the source and summit of our faith
JULY 2024 - JULY 2025: National Year of Mission
From the Congress in 2024 through Pentecost of 2025, the entire American Church will be sent on mission to share the gift of our Eucharistic Lord with their local communities and beyond. Let the light shine forth!”
You’ll no doubt hear more about this in the coming months as to how we are going to be doing this in our diocese. But please say a prayer for the success of this revival. As Bishop Cozzens has said, “We want to start a fire, not a program.”
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias