Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God's love for us is poured out in the sacrament of the Eucharist, where Christ is truly present for us, giving us life and healing. The Roman Catholic Church has consistently held fast to the belief in the Real Presence. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

"The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all sacraments tend." In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained." "This presence is called 'real' - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present." - The Catechism of the Catholic Church: paragraph 1374

In many ways, Our Lord, is calling us to worship and receive Him in the Eucharist. He speaks this desire in many ways: through the Pope and the Magisterium of the Church, in the Bible (Jn. 6), through his Blessed Mother in approved Marian apparitions, through the testimonies of Saints and Martyrs, through Eucharistic miracles, through Church approved messages given by Jesus by Divine Revelation, through our souls who long for Jesus in Communion, and through our suffering world which is in much need of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) this weekend, we celebrate the Eucharistic presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ among us which is the gift of His Body and Blood. Many well-intentioned but misinformed Catholics wrongly believe that the Eucharist is just a symbol rather than the actual presence of Christ among us. The truth is that the Catholic Church has, for over 2,000 years, celebrated the resurrected and glorious Christ who remains among us in a mysterious but real way in the Eucharist. For this reason, we call the Eucharist the Real Presence.

What does belief in the Real Presence mean for those who desire to be faithful Catholics? The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist calls for our Adoration and personal communion with Him, especially at Holy Mass. Our Lord's Eucharistic presence assures us that He remains among us and continues the work of salvation. Holy Mass is not just a ritual, but a deep and profound mystery of our faith. Holy Mass is the heart and the key to the life of the Church. It is the source and foundation of Christian existence. Without Holy Mass, the Christian faith would be reduced to just another philosophy; however, through faith we know otherwise. The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is the greatest miracle of our lifetime. His living presence, which nourishes us and always accompanies us always.

On this Sunday dedicated to the Real Presence of Christ, God with us, I want to stress the importance of the Adoration Chapel. During the month of May, we faced some challenges in covering the hours of Adoration, particularly during the night. We need a few more adorers. I urge those who have not yet taken the time to be with Jesus in the Eucharist to consider dedicating an hour a week. With a parish this size, there is no reason to reduce the Adoration time. I humbly ask for your prayers and your active participation to find the time to spend one hour with Our Lord.

I want to express my gratitude to the newest members who have responded to Our Lord's call to become Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Your love for Our Lord and your desire to bring Him to those in hospitals, care facilities and to the homebound is a blessing for you and those you serve. More Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are always welcome because active ministers may no longer be able to continue due to some health reasons and because they have moved from the area. If anyone is interested, please contact the parish office to learn how to be part of this beautiful ministry.

Today we have a chance to fall in love with Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Mass again. Holy Mass is where we meet Him every week! Let's make the most out of this miraculous event that happens everyday in every Catholic Church around the world. Jesus always has done great things with bread, even turning it into His Body. Just wait until you see the great things that Jesus can do with you if you let Him!

God Bless.

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