June marks the beginning of the “Year of Parish Revival,” the second year of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ three-year plan for a National Eucharistic Revival. The second phase, which runs from June 11, 2023, to July 17, 2024, is meant to foster eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening liturgical life through faithful celebration of Mass, eucharistic adoration, missions, resources, preaching and a movement of the Holy Spirit.
Mary Ellen Bilenki, a parishioner of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, Woodstock, and archdiocesan point person for the Eucharistic Revival, said the parish year will kick off in the Archdiocese of Baltimore June 10, to coincide with the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Homeland.
The afternoon will begin with adoration, opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and a self-guided tour of the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit, 3:30-4:30 p.m., followed by 5 p.m. Mass, a eucharistic procession, food and outdoor family fun. Bishop Adam Parker will celebrate the Mass and Bishop Bruce
Lewandowski will preach.
There will also be a blessing of Eucharistic Missionaries, men and women commissioned to foster love and devotion to the Eucharist throughout the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Bilenki explained that, throughout the year, point persons in each parish will organize various events related to the Eucharist, which may include eucharistic processions, increased adoration and catechesis about the Mass, as well as a small-group series provided by the bishops’ conference, “Jesus in the Eucharist,” to be presented in the fall – all with the intention of nurturing a greater awareness, belief in and increased worship of Jesus in the Eucharist.
An essential focus of the year is sharing a love of the Eucharist.
“We are still asking people to join the Eucharistic Revival as Eucharistic Missionaries,” Bilenki said. “As the Body of Christ, we are called to share the Good News, and this revival can help propel us in the work of evangelization by grounding us more firmly in the Eucharist. Our team members are called Eucharistic Missionaries because they are willing to share their love of the Lord.”
The Eucharistic Miracle Exhibit, born from the devotion of Blessed Carlo Acutis, is an example of the power of sharing the love of the Eucharist. Blessed Acutis, an English-born Italian Catholic who died when he was 15, was known for documenting eucharistic miracles and cataloging them on a website. A traveling photo exhibit of all the miracles has visited dozens of different countries across five continents.
Those interested in signing up as Eucharistic Missionaries are encouraged to contact their pastors or apply at bit.ly/aob-missionaries
For more about Blessed Carlo Acutis and the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit, visit carloacutis.com
For more about the National Eucharistic Revival, visit eucharisticrevival.org
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