Have you ever had a time when you were going to do something you knew was what God wanted for you, but just didn't have your heart in it? A couple of weeks ago, that is what happened to me when I was taking Holy Communion to the Catholic patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Hot Springs. I was tired, sad and anxious that what I was doing in my lfe and for the Eucharistic Revival was not enough. I felt that I was not enough. I got my list, pyx, name tag and akey to get Jesus' body from the tabernacle in the chapel and made my way to the first room. It happened to be on the labor & delivery floor. I knocked on the door and was invited to enter. God did what God always does when I least expect it. I showed up with an open, yet discouraged heart andhad an encounter with Jesus. Her husband was raised Protestant, but they both decided they wanted to be part of the Catholic faith and are currently in the RCIA program at their parish. Their heart are burning with the love of Jesus. Their love for each, their child and Jesus was palpable. The Eucharistic Revival is just like this. It is about an encounter with Jesus, often when we least expect it; in the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the priest and in the Mass through the Word, the Holy Euchrist and each other. It is about healing and transformation so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus. For me, it was being reminded through the encounter with this young couple and our conversation, that I AM enough. God, through Jesus, receives us just as we are and uses what we bring in each situation so we and/or others may experience and encounter with Jesus Christ. I left the room that day uplifted and inspired by the conviction and faith of this young couple. I realized the feelings I had prior to my visit were not from God, but from evil one. Jesus knew I needed to be fed, and I was. The Eucharistic Revival and my involvement as parish point person has widely opened my heart. I invite you to "Come and See" what Jesus can do with what you bring. May this Eucharistic Revival be a time of healing, renewal and transformation for you ant the lives of those you touch every day.
The focus of the second year of the "National Eucharistic Revival" is on the parish where the Eucharistic Celebration (the Mass) is the first and most important activity and ministry that happens (in most cases) every day! While some people (especially agnostics and atheists) deny the reality of miracles, I hope that many Catholic (including all of you) would quickly assert or confirm the statement that a miracle occurs during EVERY Mass that is celebrated, as Jesus becomes miraculously and personally present to us through the power of the Holy Spirit as bread and wine, the gifts that come to us from the basics of God's creation (wheat and grapes) becomes the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ! It is truly the greatest of blessings of Jesus (after the gift of eternal life that He won for us through his passion, death and resurrection) that he offers to us throughout our sojourn in this life and, hopefully, before our soul departs from this world through "Viaticum", (food for our journey).
The Eucharisitc Revival is both an invitation and a challenge. I must admit I don't care much for the word "invitation" because it speaks to some people as an option to say yes or no to what is being presented. Our Baptismal commitment was a definite "yes" to God and to a lively and growing faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Hopefully, throughout our life, we challenge ourselves to grow in union with Jesus and his "Body" the Church. Sometimes the challenge comes from outside of ourselves and our response to it should always echo the "yes" of our baptism. While we are blessed to have quite a few regulars at our daily Masses throughout the week, I have only seen a relatively small number who commit to at least one daily Mass during the week. I once again challenge all of you who are physically able, to participate i at least one daily Mass every week, recognizing that growth in the Lord will come from such a commitment.
With all the instability and immorality that happens in our world today, WE ALL NEED the stability and strength that comes from participating in the miracle of the Eucharist and spending at least an hour a week in the loving, mreciful, and peace-giving presence of Jesus in the Monstrance, the miracle that perpetuates itself (or really Himself) with us all the time!!!
The Eucharisitc Revival is both an invitation and a challenge. I must admit I don't care much for the word "invitation" because it speaks to some people as an option to say yes or no to what is being presented. Our Baptismal commitment was a definite "yes" to God and to a lively and growing faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Hopefully, throughout our life, we challenge ourselves to grow in union with Jesus and his "Body" the Church. Sometimes the challenge comes from outside of ourselves and our response to it should always echo the "yes" of our baptism. While we are blessed to have quite a few regulars at our daily Masses throughout the week, I have only seen a relatively small number who commit to at least one daily Mass during the week. I once again challenge all of you who are physically able, to participate i at least one daily Mass every week, recognizing that growth in the Lord will come from such a commitment.
With all the instability and immorality that happens in our world today, WE ALL NEED the stability and strength that comes from participating in the miracle of the Eucharist and spending at least an hour a week in the loving, mreciful, and peace-giving presence of Jesus in the Monstrance, the miracle that perpetuates itself (or really Himself) with us all the time!!!
One of the many challenges (and blessings) for any parish and pastor is to encourage and inspire parishioners to give (in answer to their baptismal commitment) their time, talent and treasure to various activities and ministries that a parish has to offer. In some instances, people step forward on their own and find great reward in the ministry or activity they want to do. Others step forward when a need presents itself to them and others, whether it be a one-time need or an ongoing one (like our Helpin gHnads ministry). The there are instances where I, as pastor, need t discern God's will and ask someone to take on a particular leadership role that I believe they are capable of and qualified to do.
Our VIP for the month of October, Deb Troxel, was recently asked and agreed to be our parish point person forthe national Eucharistic revival that is going on right now in our diocese and throughout the United States. I knew before asking her that she has a love for Jesus and his "Real Presence"in the Holy Eucharist as she is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass (she often attends daily Mass) and for the sick at CHI St Vincent Hospital. She participates in Eucharistic Adoration here and is a valuable substitute who often covers for absent Adorers more than a few times each week. She has shown herself to be a competent leader in the Walking with Purpose Bible Study, as well as, our Advent and Lenten studies as a facilitator. She is a trained and experienced spiritual directory/companion who ha used that gift and is available for parishioners who desire a deeper union with the Lord. Deb is a regular cantor at our Sunday Masses (especially the 8:00 a.m. Mass) and enjoys leading people in give thanks and praise to the Lord. She and her husband, Jack, moved to the Villate and to our parish in 2017 and she used her skills as a registered nurse at a CHI clinic until she retired in 2020. She is a regular participant in Linda Broome's exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday and is testifying this weekend before two of our Masses about the benefits of participating in this or any exercise regimen in the hopes that more of you will give it a try. As with anyone who says "yes" to a call from the Lord ot serve, I was happy when she said she would be the point person for our participation in the national Eucharistic revival and, in a short time, she has exhibited her organizational skills, her communication skills to me and to others and initiative in recruiting parishioners to help her lead our parish in growing in our love and appreciation of the gift of the Holy Eucharist for our spiritual food and our adoration! (By the way, she has recently offered to run for a parish council position as a representative of the education commission). Thanks, Deb, for all you have done, are doing and your willlingness to do more!
Our VIP for the month of October, Deb Troxel, was recently asked and agreed to be our parish point person forthe national Eucharistic revival that is going on right now in our diocese and throughout the United States. I knew before asking her that she has a love for Jesus and his "Real Presence"in the Holy Eucharist as she is an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass (she often attends daily Mass) and for the sick at CHI St Vincent Hospital. She participates in Eucharistic Adoration here and is a valuable substitute who often covers for absent Adorers more than a few times each week. She has shown herself to be a competent leader in the Walking with Purpose Bible Study, as well as, our Advent and Lenten studies as a facilitator. She is a trained and experienced spiritual directory/companion who ha used that gift and is available for parishioners who desire a deeper union with the Lord. Deb is a regular cantor at our Sunday Masses (especially the 8:00 a.m. Mass) and enjoys leading people in give thanks and praise to the Lord. She and her husband, Jack, moved to the Villate and to our parish in 2017 and she used her skills as a registered nurse at a CHI clinic until she retired in 2020. She is a regular participant in Linda Broome's exercise classes on Tuesday and Thursday and is testifying this weekend before two of our Masses about the benefits of participating in this or any exercise regimen in the hopes that more of you will give it a try. As with anyone who says "yes" to a call from the Lord ot serve, I was happy when she said she would be the point person for our participation in the national Eucharistic revival and, in a short time, she has exhibited her organizational skills, her communication skills to me and to others and initiative in recruiting parishioners to help her lead our parish in growing in our love and appreciation of the gift of the Holy Eucharist for our spiritual food and our adoration! (By the way, she has recently offered to run for a parish council position as a representative of the education commission). Thanks, Deb, for all you have done, are doing and your willlingness to do more!