The True Presence of Christ

Dear Parishioners,

   According to a Pew Research Center a few years ago it was discovered that only 31% of Catholics even believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The US bishops took note and have decided to initiate a National Eucharistic Revival with the mission to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.” This will begin a three-year effort to enhance devotion and faith in the Eucharist.

   As we all know attendance at mass dropped off dramatically in the last decade or so and Covid didn’t help. We are in a situation where many Catholics do not think Sunday mass worship is important anymore and is no longer a part of the Sunday routine. Studies show that once a person or family has stopped coming to mass on a regular basis it is very hard to start again. How can we help this? First be an example ourselves and show how important Sunday worship is to you and encourage your family and friends to come back to regular mass. Let us all make it a prayer intention that we intercede on behalf of Catholics in our parishes so that they be touched and draw to come back to worship Our Lord at Eucharist.

   Part of my revival effort here is to enhance our liturgies as best we can. We have to approach worship like we care and believe in what we are doing. As you may realize I put a lot of prayer and preparation into my homilies because I think it is important. Likewise, on how we approach our worship ministries like music, lecturing and serving, we should be doing all these things with the greatest care, reverence and preparation.

   Our reverence and belief in the Eucharist should also be reflected in our decorum in the church. When we are in the church we should always be cognizant that we are in the presence of Our Lord in the tabernacle. Therefore, we should use a whisper tone when communicating or greeting people in the church. There are people in the church who would like to pray and we should be considerate and help to create an atmosphere of silence and prayer. We should not simply regard the church as a meeting hall.

   Using incense at mass is an intuitive of mine to bring more reverence and honor to our Lord and his Real Presence in the Eucharist. As I have explained in a past letter that incense is part of our church’s ancient liturgy tradition. My intention is to give proper honor and glory to our Lord in the Eucharist but I do not want it to become a distraction. Some have complained that they are bothered by the incense. I want to be sensitive to that so I will be using incense only once a month and on feasts and solemnities. I will also be sensitive on how incense is used at each liturgy.

   I will also be promoting Eucharistic Adoration with an eye of setting up a Eucharist Adoration chapel as many parishes have done across the world. Please contact me if you would like to help me establish an Adoration Chapel here and promote Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament. I am delighted that we have the adoration time at St. Mary’s after the Friday mass and of course, the Eucharist Procession every Corpus Christi at Jump Off Joe is also a way to promote Eucharistic devotion.

For anyone volunteering directly with children in our church, such as at Faith Night, please complete the VIRTUS safe environment training by Sept. 14. Contact the office for more info. Click the image to the left to register.

www.virtusonline.org

8 a.m. Sunday Mass will be at St. Joseph's Church in Valley (Jump off Joe) until Oct. 2. Mass will be at Holy Ghost in Valley starting Oct. 9.