From the Pastor's Desk:

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic Christian life. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. In the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. The whole Christ is truly present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- under the appearances of bread and wine, the glorified Christ who rose from the dead. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist.

Jesus is present in the Mass in three ways: first, in the assembled “Body of Christ,” gathered to pray in his name; second, in the Word of Scripture; and third, in the bread and wine that, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of Christ, truly become His Body and Blood.  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the sacrament’s purpose is our “intimate union” with Christ.  After receiving communion, we spend a few quiet moments giving thanks to Jesus for the gift of himself.

We give thanks for all creation, symbolized by the gifts of bread and wine.  We give thanks for Jesus’ Paschal sacrifice which redeemed us.  We give thanks for the continuing sanctification of the Church, nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.  Most of all, we give thanks for the REAL PRESENCE of Christ.

When our churches were closed during Covid, we began live streaming our masses and have continued to do so that our elderly and shut-ins could watch mass from their own parishes.  However with the churches closed and people watching mass, it became easy for people to simply go through the motions without true worship.  The result has been that some have chosen not to come back to church.

Jesus left the Eucharist as a spiritual way of uniting with us that is unlike any other.  Communion means “union with”.  And union means there is a transformation of two into one.  That is what the reception of Holy Communion does.  It enables us to let Jesus unite Himself with us in our human nature.  In this unity, we share in His death, and His resurrection from death.  This is what the Christian life is all about.

This weekend our young people will be presented to the parish as they begin their public commitment of preparation for the celebration of First Holy Communion