Pastors Notes from July 30, 2023
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July 31, 2023Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” (Oscar Wilde)
Interesting week with RAGBRAI riders—multitudes—pedaling through Luther and Madrid the following morning on their way to Des Moines. A few paused to visit St. Malachy church as the route led the riders into Madrid; some pausing to participate in our morning Mass on the feast day of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne. Earlier in the week our office received a call from a trucker who was unloading at Fareway warehouse. He wanted to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation while he waited for his next assignment. In the “land of the giants” as my little Prius slowly drove through the Fareway semi parking lot searching for this certain rig. Adam was born in Burundi but spent his early years in an orphanage in Tanzania. With the help of others he and his mother were able to migrate to the United States, eventually settling in a community here in the Midwest. He received his Catholic faith during his early upbringing and Adam never relinquished it; rather, his faith has allowed him to balance out the changes and circumstances of his life and appreciate the blessings of our democracy and that of family. After offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation and sharing in the Eucharist, on that large parking lot, we bid each other goodbye with an open invitation if he is ever in the area again. Adam is usually over the road for two weeks before he has two days off. A ‘blessing moment’ reminding us of the breadth and extent of our Catholic faith.
In the next three years or so our Roman Catholic Church is embarking on a journey of renewal, the Eucharistic Revival. Officially, the Eucharistic Revival began this year on the Feast of Corpus Christi and will conclude on Pentecost, June 8th, 2025. The Revival is broken into three phases over the three years: The Diocesan Phase, the Parish Phase, and the Mission Phase. Built to inspire the faithful to enter more deeply into the Eucharistic Revival, the Playbook is organized around the four pillars at the core of the Revival: Personal Encounter with Christ, Reinvigorating Devotion, Deepening Formation, and Missionary Sending. Directed by the USCCB. the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, its mission is to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist.”
All the steps, programs, information, and activities are coordinated and directed by the Eucharistic Revival committee on the national level. From there each diocese in the United States will receive the information and coordinate the Revival program in a parish by parish format. Our efforts and information will come from the diocese, as they direct our efforts with the hope of renewing belief in the ‘real presence’ of the Eucharist, and re-affirm the relationship of Christ in our lives and those who have yet to understand the ‘good news’ and the grace of a sharing Catholic-Christian community. One of the prayers shared by the Eucharistic Revival Committee:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of the age. Reawaken our wonder at His presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. May our hearts burn within us as He opens the Scriptures and breaks the bread. Amen.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: Considering the parables Jesus shared in today’s gospel passage, I thought you might enjoy this short parable: Two people were on a train in France. The older passenger had the Bible open to the story of the loaves and fishes. Curious, the younger said to him, “Pardon me, sir, do you believe that story, or are you just reading it?” “I believe it!” He said. “Don’t you?” “No!” Said the younger. “I’m a scientist and that story conflicts with science.” Just then the train slowed. “This is my station,” said the younger. “Nice talking with you, Mr. . . . . .?” “Pasteur,” said the older, “Louis Pasteur.” The younger was shocked; he had just been speaking with. one of the world’s top scientists. (Mark Link, S.J. Action: Praying Scripture)