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To: Priests, deacons, religious, principals, parish staff and chancery staff
From: The Most Reverend Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Come Holy Spirit! Having celebrated Pentecost Sunday, we are nearing the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on June 6. This archdiocese has a beautiful history of devotion to the Eucharist in our parishes and in our past Eucharistic Congresses.
In the absence of a Eucharistic Congress this year, I have encouraged parishes to offer extended periods of adoration during the weekend of June 5-6 and to offer outdoor eucharistic processions where possible (or other opportunities for eucharistic devotion). I know our parishes celebrate this solemnity well every year, and I am grateful for the efforts this year.
In particular, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ this year, I am calling the archdiocese to enter a new period of Eucharistic Renewal for the sake of advancing a new phase of evangelization. This will be a multi-year effort, including steps and resources anticipated from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the coming months. Jesus’ invitation “Come to Me” (Mt 11:28) will be our guiding theme.
More information and resources are to come. As we begin this new period, I ask for your prayers. Initiatives come and go, but the church is called to ongoing conversion and renewal. I ask that this time of Eucharistic Renewal truly be a time when we are led by the Holy Spirit to respond faithfully to where the Lord desires this local church to be.
This will be a time to renew and deepen our encounter with the Lord Jesus, especially in his Blessed Sacrament, to grow as his disciples, and to respond to the Lord’s call to go forth and make disciples. All renewal in the church and in our hearts depends on the Lord Jesus—we are called to rely more and more on his grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist is Jesus himself, really and substantially present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. As we worship and adore him, let us pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to guide our next steps as individual disciples, as families and communities of disciples, and together as an archdiocese.
Many thanks for your attention, prayers and continued ministry. A webpage link of more resources and a video message will be shared as soon as it is available.
Chancery staff continue to pray for these efforts through the livestreamed “Novena of Thursday Holy Hours” which began Easter Thursday (April 8), at 11 a.m. (preceding each noon Mass on Thursdays until Corpus Christi). Thank you again for your prayers.
Come Holy Spirit!