This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi Sunday, the Body & Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate this Solemnity every year, but in this year it takes on an even more special meaning as we kick off our year-long Eucharistic Revival. This revival is an invitation, an opportunity, for us, to reflect on what the Eucharist means to us.

   To me, the Eucharist is a constant reminder & reality that God is with us. When I receive the Eucharist, when I celebrate Mass & say the words of consecration over the bread and wine that are, through the power of the Holy Spirit transformed into the Body & Blood of Jesus, when I send those ministers who are taking Communion to the homebound out at the end of Mass, when I spend time in the quiet of the church in prayer with the Tabernacle, I am reminded that God is with us. God is with us in a very real, very concrete way.

   I would encourage & invite each of you to reflect upon that same question, “What does the Eucharist mean to me?” And to help inspire & support one another throughout the course of this year as we seek to deepen our appreciation of the Eucharist, I would invite you to share your testimony. You are invited to share your testimony simply by submitting a 1-3 sentence reflection on what the Eucharist means to you. Who knows, maybe God might be using your love & devotion to the Eucharist to help inspire someone else, so please share your reflections!

   You can drop a copy of your reflection off at the Parish Office or stick it in the collection basket at Mass (PLEASE PUT IT IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED EUCHARISTIC REFLECTION) & throughout the year we will share some of the reflections & testimonies we receive. You can also go on to our parish website where a form can be found for you to submit your reflections directly to us, so please check it out. I’d like to begin sharing our testimonies soon, so please don’t hesitate to drop them off at any time.

   Also a reminder about our Open Church Holy Hour tomorrow evening, June 12th in the church at St. Vincent de Paul from 6:30-7:30. Come for some or all of it & spend some time in prayer with our Eucharistic Lord. May we journey together to come to a deeper appreciation of the great gift that the Eucharist is!