Eucharistic revival on horizon

By Raymond L. Delisle
Special to The CFP

Look around you at Mass this weekend. Do you sense that some familiar faces are missing? Do you think it is pandemic related or are some people losing their sense of desire or appreciation for the Eucharist?
These questions and more have been on the minds of U.S. bishops as well as various research organizations as reports show a decline in participation at Sunday Mass. That decline was further exacerbated by the pandemic over the past few years, according to this month’s issue of Orantes, a newsletter published by the Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Worcester.
“In some ways we are dealing with a perfect storm, but one which has been brewing for years,” according to Msgr. James P. Moroney, director of the Office for Divine Worship. “The pandemic was just the crest of a wave of people losing touch with their parish communities. At the same time, those who have continued to go to church have become confused even about something as important as the meaning of the Mass. Reports tell us that there are many reasons for this, including the growing skepticism of our age, anger at the awful scandals we have lived through and all the demands faced by families with weekend activities.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced last year that there would be a focus on eucharistic revival throughout the nearly 200 dioceses in the country, beginning with the feast of Corpus Christi, which takes place this year on Sunday, June 19. The announcement was in conjunction with the publishing of a highly anticipated statement on the Eucharist drafted by the Committee on Doctrine of the USCCB, of which Bishop McManus is a member, and which was approved by the full body of its members at the November 2021 General Meeting. “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church” is both a reflection on the importance of the Eucharist in the life of the Catholic Church and a teaching document on what the Church has taught about the Eucharist over the centuries.
In preparation for a eucharistic revival on the local level, Bishop McManus convened a working group to advise and support the Office for Divine Worship. Its mission is to determine possible initiatives in support of this revival. The members have been meeting for the past four months to review available studies, develop questions which need further local study, and make initial recommendations in preparation for the opening of the diocesan renewal on Corpus Christi.
The group’s discussions have focused on three major areas of concern. First is the revival of our eucharistic celebrations in order that local parishes offer the best possible celebration of the Mass, given available resources. The second aspect is to direct efforts toward eucharistic catechesis particularly among adult Catholics, in order that they better understand the Eucharist from a Roman Catholic perspective. The third major area of discussion has been focused on the relationship between Eucharist and evangelization.
“Throughout the discussions we have been conscious of the fact that eucharistic revival and evangelization are interrelated,” according to Msgr. Moroney. “Our work is increasingly focused on eucharistic-centered evangelization, which simply means we invite people to a deeper relationship with Jesus through their celebration of the Mass. This is consistent with the Second Vatican Council’s teaching that the Eucharist, the celebration of the Mass, is the source and summit of our lives. We are nourished to become what we receive, and as a body of believers,
go out to witness to Christ’s love in the world.”
“Denying ourselves the Eucharist is spiritual starvation,” according to Bishop McManus. “One of the saddest aspects of the shut-down during the pandemic, along with the emotional isolation, was spiritual starvation whereby so many people could not receive the Eucharist. Unfortunately, just like other bad habits in life which can cause physical and emotional decline, allowing this bad habit to continue for Catholics is denying oneself the sacramental grace that is necessary for our own salvation and for our mission to help others on their journey to a closer relationship with God.”
“Given the fact that we, as Catholics, have an annual opportunity to focus on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist with the feast of Corpus Christi, the working group has focused on providing resources to best celebrate that solemnity,” according to Msgr. Moroney. “There are many devotional practices that can draw us more deeply into our participation in the Mass, remind us of the gift of Christ’s presence in the world and the sacramental gift which he offers to each of us.”
The May issue of Orantes provides resources to assist parishes with celebrations of eucharistic adoration and eucharistic processions in their parishes. Rather than holding one single event to initiate this three-year revival, the Office for Divine Worship is recommending that Bishop McManus and the pastors of each of our parishes prepare celebrations of Corpus Christi Sunday which are particularly rich and alive, and encourage devotional celebrations which will encourage the people of each parish to celebrate the Mass with their whole hearts and souls. “This makes it possible for the largest number of people to participate in our diocese,” Msgr. Moroney noted.
Corpus Christi weekend is also a perfect opportunity to initiate adult catechesis, according to Elizabeth Marcil, director of the Office of Religious Education and a member of the working group. An overview brochure about the Eucharist, produced by Our Sunday Visitor, is being recommended to all the parishes to distribute to everyone at Mass.
“We would hope that they would also encourage parishioners to take extra copies to share with family and friends who could not be present that day,” said Ms. Marcil. “In that small way they are practicing missionary discipleship, sharing in the evangelizing mission of the Church.”
“It is my fervent prayer that everyone will feel called to eucharistic renewal over these next three years,” Bishop McManus said. “As the bishops’ statement said in its conclusion, ‘what is most important is that we enter more deeply by faith and love into this great Mystery of Mysteries’ in order that our love of the Eucharist become so evident in our lives that it becomes an invitation to others to enter into a deeper relationship with Christ.”
The members of the working group have specialties that include ongoing priestly formation, liturgical practice and training of ministers, communications, pastoral life and family life. The members are Chairman Msgr. Moroney, Father Hugo A. Cano, Raymond L. Delisle, Father Nicholas Desimone, Father Ronald G. Falco, Msgr. Robert K. Johnson, Msgr. Francis D. Kelly, Allison LeDoux, Elizabeth A. Marcil, Father James S. Mazzone and Father Alfredo R. Porras.

– Mr. Delisle is chancellor of the Diocese of Worcester and director of the diocesan Office of Communications.