Search
The love everyone yearns for
-
May 25, 2024The Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began in Brownsville and is now making its way through the Diocese of Corpus Christi. St. Gertrude Parish in Kingsville was the first stop, and by Friday evening, the pilgrimage reached Corpus Christi, where an Encounter Night was held at Most Precious Blood Parish.
In his 2005 encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict wrote, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” The goal of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage and its culmination at the Congress in Philadelphia is to help Catholics encounter Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and ignite the fire of renewed faith across the nation.
Bishop Michael Mulvey processed a gleaming monstrance to the altar as the Encounter Night began at Most Precious Blood. The Church was semi-filled with people of all ages, including several young families. Confession was available throughout, and the lines were full of eager penitents.
Bishop Mulvey gave a reflection after a reading from the Gospel of John. He began by thanking Fr. Joseph Lopez and his parish for hosting this night of encounter with Christ. He then welcomed the Eucharistic pilgrims and thanked them for being models and witnesses to us.
The bishop’s sermon focused on how we live in a time of spiritual renewal and that we are being called to be witnesses. “The Eucharist is the heart of the Church,” he said. “Love identifies Christianity. In the Eucharist, we encounter Jesus at the greatest moment of his outpouring of love... The Last Supper is a memorial of the life of the church. The believer is simply one who remembers.” We cannot continue to fulfill our Christian mission without remembering Christ’s sacrificial love. “I invite you in this time of renewal to take time to be with Jesus in the presence of the Eucharist... Be present, and he will have something to say to you.”
He went on to explain that the Eucharist calls us and enables us to be in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, according to St. Paul, and that we must learn to love and be concerned with one another in our communities, parishes, and homes. This is the love everyone yearns for and is often missing in places where it should be. “The true test of our faith is what people will say about us. Our love is made possible because, before us, tonight is the one who began all of it. Christ gave himself as a total donation for you and me. Enkindle a love for the true presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament tonight and always.”
After the Benediction, everyone went to the parish hall, where several tables and refreshments were waiting.
Bishop Mulvey presented a plaque of thanks to the parish for their service and invited one of the pilgrims to share some thoughts. Charlie McCullough, 23, just graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before he begins work in South Austin, he walks with the Lord on this historic pilgrimage.
Charlie shared why he became a pilgrim: “This pilgrimage is how I can thank God for everything He’s done for me. He was always with me, even when I didn't know it.” He described a point of reversion when he finally decided to accept a friend’s invitation to daily Mass after struggling with transitioning into his first year of college. “I received the Eucharist and returned to my pew, and then I suddenly realized the Lord had been with me every step. Every moment of my life has to be a response to His faithfulness. My life slowly began to change after that. I got to learn to be a man of virtue. I learned to pray. It’s like pilgrimages, with how the Lord walks with us and is present to us daily. My hope is that every moment of your life is an opportunity to walk with our Lord. He’s present when we go to work and do our chores. He’s pursuing you and wants to be with you. That’s what changes as we move on from here. It’s all about Jesus Christ. He loves you, and he chose to come here.”
The event ended with a few words from Jaime Reyna, who played an essential role in bringing the Pilgrimage through Corpus Christi: “We can witness to the world by witnessing to our community. We can keep this fire going.”
The Juan Diego Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began in Brownsville and is now making its way through the Diocese of Corpus Christi. St. Gertrude Parish in Kingsville was the first stop, and by Friday evening, the pilgrimage reached Corpus Christi, where an Encounter Night was held at Most Precious Blood Parish.
In his 2005 encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict wrote, “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” The goal of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage and its culmination at the Congress in Philadelphia is to help Catholics encounter Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and ignite the fire of renewed faith across the nation.
Bishop Michael Mulvey processed a gleaming monstrance to the altar as the Encounter Night began at Most Precious Blood. The Church was semi-filled with people of all ages, including several young families. Confession was available throughout, and the lines were full of eager penitents.
Bishop Mulvey gave a reflection after a reading from the Gospel of John. He began by thanking Fr. Joseph Lopez and his parish for hosting this night of encounter with Christ. He then welcomed the Eucharistic pilgrims and thanked them for being models and witnesses to us.
The bishop’s sermon focused on how we live in a time of spiritual renewal and that we are being called to be witnesses. “The Eucharist is the heart of the Church,” he said. “Love identifies Christianity. In the Eucharist, we encounter Jesus at the greatest moment of his outpouring of love... The Last Supper is a memorial of the life of the church. The believer is simply one who remembers.” We cannot continue to fulfill our Christian mission without remembering Christ’s sacrificial love. “I invite you in this time of renewal to take time to be with Jesus in the presence of the Eucharist... Be present, and he will have something to say to you.”
He went on to explain that the Eucharist calls us and enables us to be in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, according to St. Paul, and that we must learn to love and be concerned with one another in our communities, parishes, and homes. This is the love everyone yearns for and is often missing in places where it should be. “The true test of our faith is what people will say about us. Our love is made possible because, before us, tonight is the one who began all of it. Christ gave himself as a total donation for you and me. Enkindle a love for the true presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament tonight and always.”
After the Benediction, everyone went to the parish hall, where several tables and refreshments were waiting.
Bishop Mulvey presented a plaque of thanks to the parish for their service and invited one of the pilgrims to share some thoughts. Charlie McCullough, 23, just graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before he begins work in South Austin, he walks with the Lord on this historic pilgrimage.
Charlie shared why he became a pilgrim: “This pilgrimage is how I can thank God for everything He’s done for me. He was always with me, even when I didn't know it.” He described a point of reversion when he finally decided to accept a friend’s invitation to daily Mass after struggling with transitioning into his first year of college. “I received the Eucharist and returned to my pew, and then I suddenly realized the Lord had been with me every step. Every moment of my life has to be a response to His faithfulness. My life slowly began to change after that. I got to learn to be a man of virtue. I learned to pray. It’s like pilgrimages, with how the Lord walks with us and is present to us daily. My hope is that every moment of your life is an opportunity to walk with our Lord. He’s present when we go to work and do our chores. He’s pursuing you and wants to be with you. That’s what changes as we move on from here. It’s all about Jesus Christ. He loves you, and he chose to come here.”
The event ended with a few words from Jaime Reyna, who played an essential role in bringing the Pilgrimage through Corpus Christi: “We can witness to the world by witnessing to our community. We can keep this fire going.”
