Christ is fully present — body, blood, soul, and divinity — in the Eucharist, and yet we know not every Catholic believes in the Real Presence.
How would our faith lives be radically transformed if we personally encountered Christ in the Eucharist? How would our faith communities across the nation be renewed, healed, and unified?
The National Eucharistic Revival is focused on renewing the Church by kindling a living relationship with Christ in the Eucharist. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Revival is “intended to form, heal, and unite people of God through a renewed encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, and then send these ‘Eucharistic missionaries’ out to a hurting and hungry world.” There are four primary goals of the Eucharistic Revival or four primary “invitations” based on the pillars of the Revival: reinvigorate worship, create moments of personal encounter, engage in robust formation, and send Catholics forth as missionaries.
The Eucharistic Revival began in 2022 and will continue through 2025 and consists of three phases: the Year of Diocesan Revival, the Year of Parish Revival, and the Year of Mission.
Along with other faith communities,
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton began the Parish Phase, year two of the revival, on Sunday, June 11, 2023, with the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi. To mark this event at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, there was a solemn Eucharistic Procession in front of the church after the noon Mass.
There are so many ways parishioners can become involved in the Eucharistic Revival including seeking out Christ in the Eucharist in daily Mass and in Adoration, even if you only have a few moments to spend with Him. Currently, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton offers opportunities for Adoration every day.
Parishioners have access to a variety of free resources including cards with prayers to the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration booklets, and a booklet titled Importance of Eucharistic Adoration, Excerpts from In Sinu Jesu. Monthly homilies will focus on the Eucharist as did the Parish Mission in October and as will the Lenten Retreat in 2024.
For adults, monthly faith formation programs by priests and deacons with a focus on the Eucharist will be offered through June of 2024. In November, for example, Deacon Mike McKenna will speak on the “History of the Eucharist,” and in December, Fr. Jose Panthaplamthottiyil will speak on the “Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.”
Subcommittees are forming specifically to promote the Eucharistic Revival among youth and school children. There will be contests for young people to create works of art, music, and literature to foster Eucharistic faith. There will also be a Eucharistic Procession for school children with their parents during the school year.
As we renew our own faith, we also reach out to others with the invitation to join or return to the Church. Throughout this year, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton will host “Invite One Back” weekends to bring back fallen-away Catholics. We will also continue door-to-door and mailing campaigns to encourage people to return to the Eucharist. Social Media will be used to promote the Eucharistic Revival, and in the fall, a Eucharistic Procession outside the campus and through the streets will make the Revival visible to our local community.
The Year of Revival will culminate in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July of 2024, and
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton clergy and parishioners will hopefully be in attendance.
This is the year to transform your relationship with Christ in the Eucharist. Draw upon parish and diocesan resources as we join with faith communities across the nation in renewing a personal relationship with Christ.
