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The sacrament is shown May 22, during the permanent diaconate ordination at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Year of the Eucharist

July 6, 2021
By Archbishop William E. Lori
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Charity in Truth, Commentary, Eucharist, Feature

Lost in the controversies surrounding the recent meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was a most wonderful initiative, namely, a multi-year Eucharistic Revival Project. Whatever divisions exist among the bishops, all of us agree on the need for a comprehensive effort to revivify faith in the Eucharist in every diocese of our country. Accordingly, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, mapped out for us a way forward. It is neither a mere program nor merely a series of events.

Instead, it is an initiative, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in which Catholics all around the United States, in every diocese and parish and nationally, will bear witness to the truth, beauty and goodness of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. In the joy of the New Evangelization, our fellow Catholics – lay faithful, religious and clergy – will renew the faith of church-going Catholics and to revive the Eucharistic faith of those who have disaffiliated. You can read more about this wonderful initiative at www.usccb.org.

Here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, we may be slightly ahead of the curve. Early this year, when we were still in the grip of COVID-19, I held a series of Zoom meetings with the priests of the archdiocese and another with the deacons. In those meetings, many expressed a deep desire to strengthen Eucharistic faith here in the archdiocese. They spoke with great concern about declining belief in the Real Presence (a decline confirmed by professional polling), and by declining Mass attendance, long before the pandemic. And while the prevalence of livestreamed Masses was rightly hailed as an advancement that is here to stay, many wondered aloud whether even church-going Catholics would return to pews once the restrictions were lifted.

Reflecting on their advice and counsel, I asked Deacon Christopher Yeung, my delegate for the Western Vicariate, to put together a team to address the concerns expressed by my co-workers. The result was “The Year of the Eucharist,” which we are observing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore from Corpus Christi 2021 until Corpus Christi 2022 (www.archbalt.org/eucharist). During the year ahead, we hope to begin the process of renewing and reviving the great treasure of our Eucharistic faith, a treasure we hold in common. We want to deepen and enrich the Eucharistic faith of those who regularly practice the faith.

At the same time, we want to till the soil and replant the seeds of Eucharistic faith among those who no longer practice the faith and among those who are searching for the truth.

Like the USCCB Eucharistic Revival Project, the Year of the Eucharist is not merely a program that will run its course and fade into history. Rather, this is our way of getting ready to participate wholeheartedly in the national project. It is our way of re-igniting “fully active and conscious participation” in the Eucharistic liturgy, our way of fostering a personal encounter with the Lord, our way of strengthening our unity, our way of renewing our mission of evangelization and charity, a mission firmly rooted in the Eucharist.

During the year ahead, we will reflect on the various ways in which Christ is present in the celebration of Holy Mass: 1) In the liturgy of the Word – when the Scriptures are proclaimed, it is Christ who speaks. 2) In the worshipping assembly – where two or three or gathered, Christ is in their midst. 3) In the priest who offers the sacrifice of the Mass – he does so in the Person of Christ. 4) Above all, in the bread and wine changed into the Body and Blood of Christ offered for our salvation. We can begin this journey of rediscovery right now. As the summer progresses, the Sunday Gospel readings will be from the Bread of Life discourse in the Gospel of John. What an opportunity for preaching, teaching and prayerful reflection on this great mystery of Christ’s self-giving love.

Also See

CARA study shows positive signs of Catholic belief in Eucharist, but underscores need for revival

New Norbertine abbeys reveal how these ‘apostles of the Eucharist’ are thriving in U.S.

Doubting Thomas, science and the point of eucharistic knowledge

Liturgical Commission reestablished to advance liturgical life in Archdiocese of Baltimore

Excitement about 2024’s National Eucharistic Congress is growing, says congress official

Eucharistic Adoration: Doing is good; being is even better

Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media

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Primary Sidebar

Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012.

Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977.

In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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