{"id":37478,"date":"2024-09-11T16:59:41","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T20:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/?p=37478"},"modified":"2024-09-11T16:59:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T20:59:50","slug":"diocesan-eucharistic-encounter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/es\/bishops-blog\/diocesan-eucharistic-encounter\/","title":{"rendered":"Diocesan Eucharistic Encounter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Source and Summit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, September 7, we arrived at our long-awaited Diocesan Eucharistic Encounter and were blessed with nearly 1200 participants! What a magnificent way to conclude the three-year National Eucharistic Revival and embark upon a lifetime of sharing the Good News of Christ, truly present in the Eucharist! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My opening words during Saturday’s homily were, ” It is good to be here,” echoing those of St. Peter at the Transfiguration as he gazed upon Jesus in His glorified state. This sentiment should be in each of our hearts as we look upon Jesus in His Eucharistic state. We came together on Saturday for prayer, reflection, Adoration, and since the gymnasium was quite warm, maybe even a little penance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The core elements of my message were simply three words: Meeting. Meal. Memory.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the word\u2014meeting. We come together to encounter Jesus and hear His word. We meet one another and share our faith in each other. We see that people who have a true and meaningful encounter with Jesus, whether those we read in the Scriptures or the saints and even those we meet in ordinary moments are never the same again. I pray that everyone in attendance had a good experience on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, I discussed how the word meal was significant to our time together at the Eucharistic Encounter. During Jesus\u2019 time on earth, we often read about how people come to Him for that meeting or encounter. They were hungry spiritually for what Jesus had to offer; however, as carnal beings, Jesus saw the need to feed them. We witness this in a most miraculous way during the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond our physical needs, Jesus is most concerned with our spiritual well-being. He offers Himself in the Sacraments and through an outpouring of His grace to help feed our need for forgiveness, wholeness, holiness, hope, and love. So, consider for yourself: What hunger can Jesus satisfy in you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0Lastly, I shared some thoughts on the idea of memory and how each of us would take different memories from the day and carry those with us to the rest of the world as missionaries. We shared meals, both a Eucharistic one at the altar and a boxed one on the many picnic tables outside. In the Mass, we heard the words Jesus shared at the Last Supper with the Apostles \u2014 take and eat, take and drink, and do this in memory of Me. They were tasked with keeping Jesus\u2019 teachings alive. Two thousand years later, we are still keeping that memory alive! Can you imagine the world if those men kept all that to themselves and never shared the message with others?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having encountered Christ, we will never be the same again. Yes, my dear friends, it is time for us to take up the torch with the fire that these three years have ignited and bring it forth to others. It is my hope and prayer that the faithful, whether present on Saturday or not, will accept the call to be missionaries, not holding back all the Eucharistic Lord longs to bestow on the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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