Category: Fr. Abraham’s Weekly Column

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

The World Youth Day celebrations (August 1-6, 2023) are concluding today. More than 28,600 young adults from 1,300 U.S. groups travelled to Lisbon, Portugal, to participate in this global event for young people that takes place about every three years, offering a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ through liturgical celebrations, networking, faith sharing, catechetical sessions, and prayer with the Holy Father. We are happy that our parishioners Emily Chavez, Mary-Frances Chavez and Jasmine DeLeon are there attending this spectacular event. I hope you have been watching some of the exciting and inspiring WYD programs.

“Mary arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39) is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the World Youth Day. This quote from the Gospel of St. Luke opens the account of the Visitation (Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth), a biblical episode following the Annunciation (the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God). During their conversation of the Annunciation, the angel also tells Mary that her older cousin, thought to be sterile, is pregnant. It is then that Mary sets out for Ain Karim, a village near Jerusalem, where Elizabeth lived and was awaiting the birth of John, who would become St John the Baptist.

This week we keep the feast of St. Lawrence (August 10th ). The esteem in which the Church holds Lawrence is seen in the fact that his memorial day ranks as a feast. He is one of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early Church. Celebration of his feast day spread rapidly. He was a Roman deacon under Pope Saint Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Deacon Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches in Rome and a favorite place for Roman pilgrimages.

The feast of Deacon Lawrence naturally reminds us of our own wonderful deacons – John Radvanski, Russ Demkovitz and Ron Caimi – who have been ministering us for years.

The word deacon derives from the Greek diakonia, meaning “service,” thereby indicating that a deacon is called like Christ to be a servant. The Church teaching clearly states that the Order of Deacon has three essential functions: the proclamation of the Gospel, the service of the liturgy, and the administration of charitable works. Deacons may baptize, witness the exchange of vows and bless marriages, distribute Holy Communion, impart benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, bring Viaticum to the dying, read Sacred Scripture to the faithful and especially proclaim the Gospel, preach, officiate at funerals and burials, and administer the sacramentals. Besides, they should dedicate themselves to other charitable works, particularly within the parish community. (Confer the Catechism, No. 1569-70, and the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, No 29).

This feast is a wonderful opportunity for our community to thank our beloved deacons for their selfless ministry to us all. Their life should be an inspiration for the men of our parish to consider taking their place as deacons. I invite our men to pray about it and speak with one of our deacons.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Did you notice the refurbished Stations of the Cross around our church? Those who noticed spoke of their joy and appreciation. It was a worthy project that our Knights of Columbus undertook.  Sam Fallivene, Frank Rees, Bill Isele, Dave Ryden, and Peter Kostik, with the engineering skills of Sean Smith, worked hard to repair the various stations and made them look beautiful and sturdy. I wish to thank the Knights in the name of our community of St. Matthias for volunteering to do this good work.

Speaking about volunteering, many of our parishioners do so much good in and around our church. The Statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was given a thorough wash and the area was beautified – thanks to the goodwill of Alma and Jaime Valdez. The music ministers planted flower plants that you see blooming in front of the church. The bell that you hear rung before Mass was donated by Anne Marie Francis. Enhancing our worship environment is something that parishioners Claudette Gaspard, Emile Capuno, and others are doing in collaboration with our Sacristan Mike Lanyi. Every Monday, we have one of the two teams of committed volunteers counting the Sunday collections: Annie Dupras, Margaret Varela, Nanzy Inzano, Marge Richards, Peg Joyce, John Galat, and Tom Fullerton, coordinated by Vinnie Natale. The regular live-streaming of the 10 AM Sunday Mass by Joe and Eileen Mancuso, bringing their own equipment, is another example for which they deserve our gratitude. Yanick Andre is to be commended for consistently sharing the sacristy duties for specific days of the week alternating with Deacon Ron. Last weekend you saw Pat Cullen and Jo-Ann Piagentini promoting our “Spread the Light Christmas Trees” with great enthusiasm.

The list is long and there are still many more names that could be mentioned if not for the space limit. But there are many other volunteers who work behind the scenes not receiving any applause. Those preparing the schedule for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers and other liturgical ministers who help us all to have a smooth experience of the Holy Eucharist, dozens of ministries and committees that are actively giving of themselves for the good of our parish – all these faithful disciples of Jesus are what make our Catholic Community of St. Matthias very unique.

Like the numerous parishioners who volunteer, we all give our time off to our families and friends, to our work and duties, to school and scouts, to other institutions and good causes because of the “treasure” we have found in Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:44) – as Deacon Russ reminds us in his reflection elsewhere in this bulletin. May our hearts grow more into communion with Jesus our treasure, the “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:45-46).

With a grateful heart, praying for God’s blessings upon all of us,

Your brother in Christ

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Hearty Welcome to Fr. Lancelot McGrath! Many of you have asked me if I was getting another priest in the place of Msgr. Brennan who retired and moved out. I am happy to share the good news that Bishop Checchio has appointed Fr. Lancelot McGrath as the Parochial Vicar at St. Matthias Church.

Fr. McGrath has been serving as Parochial Vicar at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Township, for the past four years. I am happy to welcome him to our parish, though his appointment will be effective from September 1, 2023.

In the meanwhile, I am happy that we can avail the services of different priests. I am happy that Fr. Nick Gengaro, who is so familiar to us all, Fr. Tom Lanza, the Vocations Director of the Diocese and Fr. Jose Lim, the newly ordained priest of our Diocese, have been the presiders at different Masses these past weekends. The Consolata Missionaries, who have helped us in the past, will also be helping us whenever possible. These opportunities give us an exposure to different priests who give us a different taste of priestly ministry, especially in preaching.

Today is World Day for Grandparents and Elderly.  This day was established by Pope Francis to be celebrated on the fourth Sunday, closer to July 26, the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. The goal is “to draw attention to a category all too often placed on the margins, remembering instead their value and encouraging actions in their favor.” The Pope is celebrating the Mass for and with the grandparents and the elderly today (Sunday, July 23) in St. Peter’s Square.

“His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50) is the theme chosen for this year. This choice was intended to connect the Rome event to the great celebration of the World Youth Day in Lisbon (Aug. 1-6), to ideally put young and old ‘in dialogue’, as the Pope has always desired. The theme was chosen to be in tune with that of World Youth Day in Lisbon:  “Mary arose and went with haste,” taken from Luke’s Gospel. Even the short passage “His mercy from age to age” is taken from Luke’s Gospel and is the end of the first part of the Magnificat, when Mary immediately goes to meet her elderly cousin Elizabeth after the Angel’s annunciation. Thus, it is a theme that highlights the importance of dialogue between generations. Indeed, dialogue between the elderly and the young helps to obtain a more complete vision of the way in which a more humane and fraternal society can be built.

As we celebrate the grandparents and the elderly of our parish, let us remember that they have a thing or two to teach us about enduring change and handling life’s adversity. Respecting them can be the most gratuitous return for their selfless efforts that benefited us in different ways. Bible is very clear on this: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. (Ephesians 6:1-3). “Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. …. Treat older women as you would your mother….” (Timothy 5:1-3).

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Summer is a time for growing vegetables in your garden. Glad to hear that many of our parishioners are growing tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, eggplant, beans, peppers, melons, squash, kale, carrots etc. July-August is the best time to grow these heat-loving crops. Jesus used many stories related to farm life to teach his listeners about the kingdom of God. Today’s Gospel is all about what a farmer does. Jesus takes the whole process of sowing seeds and uses it as a metaphor for sowing the Word of God in our hearts. If the seed has to yield a rich harvest, it has to grow in a soil that is tilled, fertilized and watered. So also, if the Word of God should produce good fruits in our lives, our hearts and minds should be open and prepared to receive God’s Word. Thank God that all of us, in our own way, are making efforts to welcome the Word in our hearts, and our own family garden is a very real symbol of that!

Recently I had taken some visitors to my previous parish of St. John Neumann, Califon, to show them the parish and especially the parish gardens. Both the “Project Earth Garden” and the “Gift of Good Land Community Garden” are lush with all kinds of vegetables and flowers. Many large trays of ripe strawberries, blueberries, asparagus and other produce were donated to food pantries and soup kitchens. The lettuces, celeries, varieties of squashes, tomatoes, potatoes, peas – and what not – are almost ready, for harvest. The greatness of this garden is not only because we get some good produce, but also because it creates community and fellowship. In addition, it is the way St. John’s community puts into practice the invitation of Pope Francis in his landmark document on creation, Laudato Si. Here are two paragraphs worth reflecting on from that great document:

“In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the word “creation” has a broader meaning than “nature”, for it has to do with God’s loving plan in which every creature has its own value and significance. Nature is usually seen as a system which can be studied, understood and controlled, whereas creation can only be understood as a gift from the outstretched hand of the Father of all, and as a reality illuminated by the love which calls us together into universal communion.”

 “It must be said that some committed and prayerful Christians, with the excuse of realism and pragmatism, tend to ridicule expressions of concern for the environment. Others are passive; they choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent. So what they all need is an “ecological conversion”, whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.”

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus who literally walked on this earth was very much aware of creation? That’s why he spoke of the sun, rain, birds, animals, flowers, cultivation and harvesting. As we reflect today on the most notable parable of Jesus, “The Sower and the Seed” (Mt 13:1ff), we are invited to plant and nurture the seeds of our relationship with Jesus.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Pride is a word that can be confusing.  There is a positive sense in which we can be proud of many things. Last week we all celebrated July 4th with great pride. We can be proud of our parents, achievements, faith, friends etc. St. Paul could say: “I have reason to be proud of my work for God” (Rom. 15:17). But there is a negative sense in which some people can be “puffed up” or “full of themselves” exhibiting a haughty attitude. C.S. Lewis, whose influence on Christianity is long lasting, wrote: “According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind…… it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began” (Mere Christianity, p.111).

But our culture seems to celebrate pride as a virtue whereas humility is seen as a weakness! Thus we see pride and arrogance among many rich and powerful, celebrities and stars, and even among some religious leaders. What does Bible say? “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18). Pride leads to over-confidence and arrogance in one’s own abilities. But it will eventually backfire on the proud because they are unable to see fault in themselves. We all are familiar with stories of “fall from grace” of many contemporary famous personalities.

No wonder, Jesus condemns intellectual pride in today’s gospel and says that the mysteries of the Kingdom are “hidden from the wise and the understanding, but revealed to little children” (Matthew 11:26).  He knows that ordinary people with large, sensitive hearts can accept the “Good News” he preaches, while proud intellectuals cannot. Even the learned rabbis of Jesus’ time recognized that the simplest people were often nearer to God than the wisest.   They composed stories to show that ordinary people often practiced great love and compassion, for instance, the story of the man who lent his tools to someone in need, or the woman who helped her neighbors.  Jesus says that such people will inherit Heaven rather than the learned and the wise who pride themselves on   their intellectual achievements but do not love. This is why spiritual masters of all persuasions insist that pride is the devil’s most effective and destructive tool! Let us take to heart what Jesus tells us today: “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29)

Our Monday adoration is an opportunity to learn many things from Jesus. One gift we can learn from him is silence. Jesus welcomes us with a listening heart. Prayer is a dialog of talking and listening. We can speak to him in silence. But he will talk to us only when we have quieted our hearts and are completely silent. The more time we spend being with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in silence, the more we will begin to hear God’s voice. Let us use the Monday adoration for cultivating this gift of silence.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Happy Independence Day! Fourth of July is a beautiful time to come together and celebrate our nation’s independence and to remember that true freedom comes from God. This quintessential summer holiday is to be celebrated “ideally with sun on your skin and sand between your toes” as one travel guide put it.

Summer, generally speaking, is a time to relax and refresh. We think of slowing down our hectic pace of life, plan a vacation, and find some time for ourselves to do the things that we wanted to do. Despite all the good intentions, some may find that many of their summer plans have to be postponed due to the very hectic pace that they had hoped to get a break from. But everyone can benefit from the summer season by intentionally planning to do something worthwhile.

Summer reading plan is one of those things that can be done this season, even if we don’t get time to go for a vacation. There are many summer reading programs for children to keep reading and learning during their hiatus from school. We know reading for pleasure helps children grow and develop. But, what about adults? There are many book clubs for adults too. They all post a list of recommended books for summer reading. One librarian who organizes book club said: “Reading is a serious stress-buster, and after a really stressful year, it’s a great way to unwind and relax. Honestly it is a form of self-care that we often overlook.”

Now that we have begun the Parish Phase of the Eucharistic Revival, I would ask all of us to focus on reading some books on the Holy Eucharist this summer. There are many books out there. I have lined up to read three books this summer. The first one is: “Telling the Story of Jesus: Word – Communion – Mission.” The author, Cardinal Luis Tagle, tells the readers to be in communion with Jesus and that this communion is found in the Eucharist as well as among the lost, the tired, and the abandoned people of this world. He focuses on three fundamental dimensions of Christian experience: 1) authentic spiritual worship of Jesus in and beyond Eucharist, 2) our communion in the Word of God, and 3) the mission each one of us has to tell the story of Jesus based on our experience of him. I look forward to being enriched by this and other two books: This is My Body (Bishop Barron) and Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life (Timothy O’Malley).

But, summer reading on the Eucharist need not be limited to books. There are many resources on line about the Eucharistic Revival that are easily accessible. Here are just four websites with a ton of materials:  www.eucharisticrevival.org, www.wordonfire.org, www.usccb.org, and www.fdlc.org/eucharistic-revival-resources/ You will find great videos and information about this revival, enriching articles on the Eucharist, powerful speakers on the Eucharist, free webinars and easy activities for the whole family centered on the Eucharist.

In the meanwhile, let us keep up the enthusiasm with which we have entered the Year of Eucharistic Revival here at St. Matthias. The Monday adoration is well attended as people come to experience personal communion with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This should lead us to have better communion with others. That is how we become the Body of Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

 

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

What is Adoration?

The Benedictine Sisters of Sacre Coeur de Montmartre.

The following article on Adoration was taken from the Magnificat special edition, The Magnificat Adoration Manuel.

Adoration is due to God alone. To adore the thrice-holy and supremely lovable God in the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar means that we offer ourselves to the ineffable love of God who has begun to manifest himself in creation, who has been revealed to us since Abraham, who has laid in Jesus Christ the foundation of the Church through which he acts in the world.

To pray before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar is to cast a glance of faith upon Jesus Christ, true God and true man, truly present in the Bread of the Eucharist.

This prayer of adoration manifests God’s mercy and tenderness for humanity and calls each one of us to intercede for the needs of men. God so loved the world the he gave his only Son, Jesus, the source of salvation, is offered for our contemplation and adoration incessantly. From him, all who pray to him receive and abundance of grace to live in this world as beloved children; and through him, in the Spirit, each of us returns to the Father; the God of tenderness and mercy, to bless and glorify him. Moreover, regardless of our poverty or wealth, through prayer, we can draw from the unfathomable riches of the Heart of Christ, given to us in the Eucharist, for the good of all people. Let us ask the Lord to make us worshipers in spirit and truth, witnesses of the love of God before the men and women of our time.

In prayer of adoration, it is not a question, like the hypocritical Pharisee of the Gospel, of giving thanks for our own righteousness, and of praying only for others love of God, given for us in Jesus, exposed before our eyes in the Blessed Sacrament, it is a question of recognizing ourselves as poor and sinful, to see that without him we can do nothing (cf. Jn 15:5), to let ourselves be saved by him, to let ourselves be healed, to let ourselves be converted. It is a question of offering ourselves to God the Father in the one and perfect offering of Jesus his Son, under the movement of the Holy Spirit, in order to fully accomplish his will. In this way, our prayer will be true: it will transform us, and in the Communion of Saints, it will shine forth as the grace of salvation for many men and women of our time who do not know God, who have distanced themselves from him, or who refuse his love.

The Basilica of Sacre Coeur de Montmartre has been the site of continuous perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Paris since 1885.

Msgr. Brennan

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

The Eucharistic Procession last Saturday was a beautiful experience. The vast majority of those who attended the 5 pm Mass joined the procession and entered back in the church and attended the Benediction. We began the weekly adoration on Monday and the response was truly amazing. With 42 people praying silently before the Blessed Sacrament in the first half hour and then having an overage of 30 people present for every half-hour slot of the rest of the time. I invite you all to sign up for one of those slots or simply drop in for whatever time you can between 6-8 pm on Mondays.

I am very grateful to Msgr. Brennan for setting this plan in motion with detailed instruction and training of the EMs about exposing and reposing the Blessed Sacrament. Please read his letter on page 8 about his retirement plans, as approved by the Bishop. He does not want a formal farewell but I know you will certainly express your gratitude to him for his presence and ministry with us. I have requested him to return and help us whenever possible.

Though changes are part of life, it is painful to accept. On the last day of our school, there was a lovely prayer service with all the students gathered in the parking lot. It was moving to see Mr. Joe Gidaro sprinkling holy water on the students and the teachers blessing the students with the sign of the cross. When Mrs. Mary Lynch announced the names of those teachers and staff not returning after the summer, there were expressions of sadness from the students. Those expressions were very palpable when the names of Mr. Gidaro and Mrs. Josephine Pugnet were announced. Both of them touched the students with their caring and loving service: Mr. Gidaro faithfully served as Vice Principal and Mrs. Pugnet as the Cafeteria Manager, overseeing the lunch program and providing the students with choice meals. Both will be missed in the school and their services are gratefully remembered.

Graduation itself is another change, but a happy one, as you can see in that lovely picture of the class of 2023 on page 7. The 32 young men and women have completed their ACADEMIC life with us as they move on to the next level of their life’s journey, but we hope they will continue their spiritual life with us as we strive for a solid faith formation through Catholic education”. As the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, we, together with their parents and school faculty and staff, are very proud of them. We will continue our mission of Catholic education to the best of our ability.

Happy Feast to all Fathers! Having a good father is a gift of God’s grace. A good father is not afraid to show love, is patient, forgiving, joyful, and believes in his children. A good father leads by example and is present to help rear his offspring. In Scripture and in church, God is often called Father. Why? Is it so we can bring God down to our level of understanding, or is it to encourage our earthly fathers to live up to a higher standard? If it is the latter, men have some really big shoes to fill! Of course, the Catechism teaches that God is neither male nor female (CCC no.239), and God’s grace and mercy go way beyond the goodness that any of our fathers can exhibit. Yet, let us be aware of and practice our need to thank God daily for our fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, and men friends.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

Today’s bulletin is a special edition as we inaugurate the Parish Phase of the National Eucharistic Revival that our nation’s Bishops Conference has initiated. Please read in this bulletin the objectives and practical plans of this revival.

What are we doing here at St. Matthias for reviving Eucharistic spirituality? Our newly formed Eucharistic Revival Committee has proposed many ideas for me to consider and implement those that are practical during the course of the year. We begin with the following:

  1. Eucharistic Procession: This weekend we are celebrating the feast of “Corpus Christi” which is the traditional name for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. We have announced holding the Eucharistic Procession after the 5 pm Mass. Processing with the Holy Eucharist around our church and school praying and singing is a public expression of our faith in the Eucharist.
  2. Weekly Adoration: Being in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord is a very pious personal devotion. Sitting quietly in front of the Blessed Sacrament is a spiritually fulfilling experience that Catholics all over the world love. We are dedicating two hours every Monday from 6-8 pm. Many have already signed up. Most welcome to experience it.
  3. Closing the door near the Tabernacle: You may remember during the Jubilee Year of 2000, all our side doors were closed and everyone had to enter through the main door in the front. This time, only one door near the Tabernacle side in the church will be closed in order to signify the sacredness of the area. It is only human that we stand near the Tabernacle, having chitchat and laughter, taking the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle for granted. Leaving that door closed is just a symbolic reminder to us of the reverence and silence we need to have in front and near the Lord in the Tabernacle.
  4. Communion from the Chalice: During the pandemic, we had suspended our practice of receiving the Precious Blood of the Lord from the Chalice due to the fear of the risk of cross-contamination. In this post-pandemic times, it is only right that we offer the chalice to those who wish to receive. We will plan the logistics and try this soon.

There are more ideas and plans in the offing as we intend to promote the four pillars of the Eucharistic revival: 1) Reinvigorating worship, 2) Personal Encounter with Christ, 3) Robust Faith Formation, and 4) Missionary Commissioning. (see page 5 of this bulletin for more on this).

Congratulations to three of our parishioners – Ricky Michel, Ivette Michel and Donna Vattelana – who have been trained as Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers. Their commissioning at the 5 pm Mass this weekend is a reminder to others to consider becoming such a Minister of Holy Communion.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal

The Most Holy Trinity

Posted on by Nathalie Godet

 

Dear Friends,

You have seen the change of colors in the church to green, reminding us that we are now in the “Ordinary Time” of the Liturgical Calendar. It is called “ordinary” simply because the weeks of Ordinary Time are numbered. It stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, the numbered weeks of Ordinary Time in fact represent the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in more severe penance (as in Advent and Lent).  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42). Not much drama here. The usual stuff of daily life. Worshiping together, eating together and learning together. Yes, a big segment of our life consists of the ordinary.

The Church uses this time for a more vigorous understanding of our faith. Hence, today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity. Our faith in the Triune God is a mystery that was revealed to us by Jesus himself. Trinity pervades our life – both internally and internally. When we were baptized, the triple pouring of the water on us is an external reminder of the internal transformation that took place in our soul. The signing of the cross is recognized as the universal symbol of Christian profession, reminding us that the Holy Trinity lives in us.

Next Sunday is the Feast of Corpus Christi. Its liturgical title, “Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ,” shows its centrality in Christian life and worship. But, in the recent decades, faith in the Real Presence of Jesus has waned in the mind of Catholics in general. Studies and researches have shown a sad reality of only about 30% of Catholics believing that the bread and wine do transform into the body and blood of Christ. That is the reason for the US Bishops Conference to call for a National Eucharistic Congress. Its Diocesan phase is coming to an end and the Parish phase begins next Sunday with the Feast of Corpus Christi.

As announced, we have formed a Parish Eucharistic Revival Committee who will initiate and implement many ideas and plans to strengthen our faith in the Eucharist and to invite people back to church. Two ideas with which we will begin the Revival are:

  1. To have the Eucharistic Procession around our campus following the 5 pm Mass next Saturday. Please come and be part of this important expression of our faith.
  2. To have a Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 6 – 8 pm. You have seen the sign up chart in the narthex. Try for a half-hour slot on one or more Monday evenings and see what a beautiful experience being in the presence of Jesus can be.

There will be other ideas that we will implement. Let us enter into this Year of Revival entrusting ourselves to Jesus Christ our Savior whose promise to be with us always is most tangibly realized in the Holy Eucharist.

Your brother in Christ,

Fr. Abraham Orapankal