Dear Parish Family,

I am excited to celebrate with you this weekend Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ! Not only do we get to honor Jesus in His Eucharistic Presence with us, we also kickoff our Parish Year of the Eucharistic Revival. Stay tuned for some awesome faith formation and prayer opportunities that will be available to us throughout the year. 

We have an amazing opportunity this year to grow in our reverence and devotion to the Eucharist. We are called to prepare our hearts to be able to spiritually or physically receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Mass. When we receive His Body and Blood, we become one Body in Christ. Are we properly disposing ourselves before Mass to prepare to receive Jesus in holy communion and live this reality? After we receive communion, do we speak and act in the reality of being made one in Christ? The Eucharist transforms us when we cooperate with the grace God gives. Hold this gift of communion with reverence before and after Mass. When we forget who Jesus is, we forget who we are and who we are called to be. Our interactions with others will reveal to us how well we are holding this mystery of the Eucharist in reverence. See if you can go a whole week living only by the grace of God given in holy communion!

More than anything, I invite you to spend some time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. We have times of Solemn Eucharistic Exposition at St. Patrick's on the First Thursday of the month from 7-8 pm, and at St. Mary's every Wednesday from the conclusion of noon Mass until 7:00 pm. Even if you cannot make it to a time of Adoration, you can always visit a local parish during open hours to come adore Jesus present with us in the tabernacle. Time spent in adoration is immensely fruitful. Every good work that you and I are able to accomplish comes through His power working in us through the Holy Eucharist. It's impossible to overstate the necessity of the Eucharist and spending time with Jesus in adoration for our growth in holiness. This year of Eucharistic Revival is meant to deepen our faith in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist whether we are just coming to know Jesus for the first time, have known Him personally for decades, or if we feel stuck or lost in our spiritual journey.

In a special way, I would also ask you to participate in the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests this Friday, June 16 on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this day, the Church encourages priests to prayerfully reflect upon the gift of their vocation, and for the faithful to pray for all priests to live lives of holiness and fidelity to Christ and His Church. Thank you for your prayers for me and for the priests who faithfully administer the Sacraments of Jesus to us!

I am yours in Christ, 
Father Scott Goodfellow