Parish Year of the National Eucharistic Revival Begins
June 12, 2023 | Gloria Jung joined her voice with those of her congregation to sing hymns of praise and offer prayers that could be heard in the streets along St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Holiday during a Eucharistic procession.
June 12, 2023 | Gloria Jung joined her voice with those of her congregation to sing hymns of praise and offer prayers that could be heard in the streets along St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Holiday during a Eucharistic procession.
She says she was happy to participate and hopes to inspire others to know the Holy Eucharist.
“It's a great love. It's beautiful. It gives you a calm, a sense of calm peace,” said Jung. “Once you understand that God really loves you, you have a conversion moment.”
The Eucharistic procession was a way for the parish to launch into the Year of Parish Renewal. It’s the second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the bishops of the United States to renew our devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
“Sometimes we do not recognize the Real Presence of God in our life, in the Mass and in the Church. So, it's very important to have the National Eucharistic Revival,” said Father Dominic Long, who led the Eucharistic procession and is the Parochial Vicar of the parish.
“We wanted to make the procession outside in front of the church, for the people driving through to see what we are doing and that we are here, not for ourselves, but for the Eucharist and for the Church.”
The National Eucharistic Revival was launched on June 19, 2022 on the Feast of Corpus Christi, by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The initiative, "Eucharistic Revival: My Flesh for the Life of the World," invites U.S. Catholics of all ages to become part of a national movement “to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”
Jung says it is importance for the faithful to publicly proclaim their encounters with the Lord in hopes of encouraging and inviting others to become close to Him.
“They need to see the peace and love and joy in our lives that we get from the Eucharist, to help them want to have the peace and love in themselves and be able to get that,” she said.
The launch of the Parish Year of the National Eucharistic Revival is just the beginning of a journey for St. Vincent du Paul Parish and all other parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
“At this particular moment for the Catholic Church in the United States, with its many challenges, the National Eucharistic Revival is an opportunity to reflect on Christ’s gift of Himself in the Eucharist and our response to that gift,” wrote Bishop Gregory Parkes in a message sent to over 60,000 parishioners in the local area on the Feast of Corpus Christi. In the message, he announced a prayer had been written for the Diocese of St. Petersburg's Eucharistic Revival. “ It is my hope that this prayer will help us to grow in our devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist,” Bishop Parkes added.
To learn more about the ways in which you can participate in the National Eucharistic Revival click here.
Eucharistic Revival Prayer for the Diocese of St. Petersburg
Lord Jesus, you make the world radiant with the splendor of your presence.
You embrace our humanity, so that we may share in your divinity.
You reveal yourself to us as the Living Bread that comes down from heaven.
Share your heavenly light with me, O Lord, so that I may see you in the Eucharist.
Fill me with awe and wonder for the gift of your Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
Through the mystery of the Eucharist unite our hearts to yours,
that we may be a sign of communion for the whole world, and may live with you forever.
Amen.
To view photos of parish celebrations on Corpus Christi, click on arrow below or here.
Katie Camario is a freelance writer and photographer in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
