From the Desk of the Pastor
From the desk of the Pastor……
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Please consider this a personal invitation to join me at our Eucharistic Congress on June 10, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at the Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center located at 3501 Lake Drive in St. Francis. I always referred to this area along Lake Drive as “Catholic Row,” beginning with the Franciscan Sisters, followed to the south by the Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, and finally the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, which is just across the road from the regional center for the FBI (presenting a fertile ground for evangelization).
As you know, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for a Eucharistic Revival. When the word “revival” is used, those of us in the Catholic community may envision gospel singing, the beating of tambourines, and tent ministries with fiery preachers challenging people to reform their lives and live their faith. All of this is done to raise the awareness of recognizing Jesus as the center of one’s faith. For Catholics, it is obvious that the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Jesus, is the source and summit of our faith. Unfortunately, we can fall into a routine when those coming to church on Sunday give little attention to the profound mystery that is taking place when we receive Jesus’ Body and Blood given to us as food for our journey through life. The bishops of the United States want to revive – to make us come alive and become excited with this gift of Jesus Himself in the Eucharist. Before we do our national pilgrimage, we need to ignite our local communities. Our local Eucharistic Congress is a coming together of people in this special case of “believers” to celebrate our witness and identification with the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The world in which we live rarely confronts the sense of mystery that surrounds us. In the Eucharist, the presence of our Lord confronts us and challenges us to live out our faith commitment. As Jesus says, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
The day has been organized to give maximum input to both the need for prayer as well as the need for understanding. There is a Latin maxim “Fides quaerens intellectum,” or faith seeks understanding. We will begin with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 8:30 a.m. and move to an outdoor Eucharistic procession, a symbolic willingness to walk with Jesus in the world in which we live. There will be opportunities for Reconciliation, and prayer teams will be available. At 10:15 a.m., there will be a family service opportunity creating care bundles and prayer cards for the homebound and homeless people, as prayer moves us to action. At 10:45 a.m., there will be three formation sessions to choose from; 1) Offering Our Hearts — Participation in the Eucharist by Fr. Justin Kizewski, who is a National Eucharistic Preacher; 2) My Sacrifice and Yours by Kim Mandelkow, Director of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Office of Worship and; 3) Esto Es Mi Cuerpo Se Entrega Por Ustedes by Fr. Jorge Perez. At 11:45 a.m., Fr. John Burns, a National Eucharistic Preacher, will give a keynote address and lead us in Eucharistic Adoration.
The day will end with a “grab and go” picnic lunch which can be enjoyed on the grounds or across the street on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.
Registration is required and a $10 donation for adults or $25 donation for families (two adults and children under 12) to cover costs. No one will be denied because of financial need, so please email [email protected] if you need assistance.
Please register here, by Thursday, June 1, 2023. Once on the page, scroll down to access the online registration form.
Prepare for the United States Eucharistic Revival by dedicating a few moments of your lives to understanding Jesus’ presence, which can only assist us in carrying out His mandate to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee