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To: Priests, deacons, religious, principals, parish catechetical leaders, parish business managers and college campus ministers
From: Andy Lichtenwalner, director, Evangelization & Discipleship
Greetings in Christ and Blessed Lent. On behalf of the archdiocesan Eucharistic Revival Task Force, I am grateful to share updates and resources for the Eucharistic Revival and in anticipation of the Year of Parish Revival beginning in June.
Website: The archdiocesan webpages for the Eucharistic Revival have been updated to include various resources to promote the Revival, including logo and social media graphics, with more to come. See more info at archatl.com/revival.
Lent: Please consider including a general intercession for the Revival at Masses. Samples are available on the website. Lent is also a time to consider incorporating other Eucharistic devotions, such as a Forty Hours Devotion or a Night of Mercy (see resources online). Various online resources are available for small groups and ongoing formation as well.
Eucharistic Revival Missionaries: Approximately half of our parishes have pastor-designated Eucharistic Revival Missionaries (ERMs), a core group of whom have been meeting monthly with staff of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship for support and formation. We encourage pastors and other leaders to check in with your ERMs to see how they can assist the parish during the Parish Year. For questions about the ERMs, please contact Monica Oppermann at moppermann@archatl.com.
Parish Point Persons: The National Eucharistic Revival USCCB team has set forth a vision for the Year of Parish Revival that would include a parish point person nominated by the pastor to serve as a contact with the national team. This person will receive guidance and formation (e.g., through monthly webinars, materials and a parish playbook) in order to help implement the vision for the Parish Year which includes coordinating small faith-sharing groups. In some cases, current ERMs may be well-positioned to serve in such a role. In other cases, it may be better to find a staff person more connected to the calendar and daily work of the parish.
- Archbishop Hartmayer has asked that we move forward in designating one point person from every parish. In order to facilitate this work, the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship will first reach out to parish catechetical leaders, starting with our DREs and evangelization and faith formation directors, to assist pastors in identifying a parish point person.
- Saying yes to being a point person does not mean the parish necessarily needs to implement the small-group materials coming from the national level. That decision will be up to each pastor. However, every parish consider those resources. The archdiocese will also be supporting the Parish Year through the Rescue Atlanta event (see below) and an equipping day to help leaders run The Rescue Project at your parish, in addition to other resources.
Local Eucharistic Processions (Corpus Christi, June 10-11, 2023): Archbishop Hartmayer is asking each pastor to consider beginning the Year of Parish Revival with a Eucharistic Procession during Corpus Christi weekend, if possible. Some parishes or deaneries may wish to collaborate. Resources for organizing processions can be found under the community resources page for the Revival.
Rescue Atlanta (September 9, 2023, at Cobb Galleria Centre): The archdiocese is partnering with Fr. John Riccardo and his Acts XXIX team to host a unique, all-day evangelizing event focused on the kerygma, the essential Gospel message. Rescue Atlanta will be a transformative experience in support of the Revival. Clergy, lay leaders and their volunteers (catechists, core team members, etc.), Catholic school leaders, etc., will be invited first, given the limited space. Registration is opening soon. For questions, contact Monica Oppermann at moppermann@archatl.com.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage/Procession: A National Eucharistic Pilgrimage or procession is occurring in the spring and summer of 2024. Starting in four places around the country, the pilgrimage will converge upon the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-21, 2024. We are blessed to have the pilgrimage coming through the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Tentative dates are June 19-23, 2024. More information will be shared when available.
National Eucharistic Congress (July 17-21, 2024): Registration for the National Eucharistic Congress opened Wednesday, February 15. While the archdiocese is planning to have a delegation attend, everyone is invited to consider attending this historic event that will launch us into the Year of Missionary Sending. For more information, visit here. For questions, please contact Elaine Phillips at ephillips@archatl.com.
Thank you for supporting the Eucharistic Revival: We are hearing more and more about how parishes, Catholic schools and others are creatively engaging the Revival. Please keep it up and continue to pray about how the Lord is calling your community to respond! Also, we would love to hear what you are doing so we can promote and share ideas with others.
Thank you for your attention and consideration, and most especially for your prayers for the Revival, that the Lord’s will may be done.
If you have any questions, suggestions or items to share, please feel free to contact me at alichtenwalner@archatl.com or 404-920-7624. God bless you!