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Whether you were born into Catholicism or discovered it on your own, there is one founding principle of the Catholic Church that is central to our faith — the Real Presence of Christ---which means that during Mass, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is 'the source and summit of the Christian life.'
The Eucharist is the highest form of communal prayer because being one with God is the most intimate, powerful, and complete communion of love between us and the Triune God.
But the influence of secularism and the effects of living in a society where the Lord is often forgotten can make this truth of our faith a tough one to grasp and embrace for many of us. A 2019 Pew Research Study reinforces this current situation, revealing that only one-third of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
In response, the National Eucharistic Revival was launched in 2022 on Corpus Christi Sunday. The Revival is intended to help us, individually and as a faith community, to gain a greater understanding and love of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine at the Eucharist.
At St. Tom's, a Eucharistic Revival Planning Team of resident and student parishioners has been diligently working to set up a series of faith formation activities to help us explore the Eucharist and better understand it while deepening our personal faith and our sense of community.
You are starting to see some visual reminders, such as the “This is My Body” (Matthew 26:26) banners written in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese in the church and outside of the building facing Mitch Daniels Boulevard. Also, each week, a parishioner will share a short reflection on “What the Eucharist Means to Me,” appearing both in the bulletin and on the board between the Gather Space and the church. We hope that you will share your testimony by visiting www.boilercatholics.org/holy-eucharist.
In addition, St. Tom's is making available complimentary copies of the new book Beautiful Eucharist, a collection of essays by various Catholics on what the Eucharist means to them, and Bishop Robert Barron's booklet, This is My Body, which is short but more academic. Please feel free to choose one or the other book from the tables located at the Mitch Daniels Blvd. entrance and in the Gather Space after all Masses this weekend. (Spanish versions are available). For those interested, a small group study of Bishop Barron’s book will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Siena Room (downstairs). Participants will meet for three consecutive Wednesdays and should read Chapter 1 by October 4. This is My Body will be discussed during one group session in November. Both student and resident parishioners are encouraged to participate. (Note: This week's bulletin incorrectly stated that Beautiful Eucharist would be the first book discussed in small groups.)
Some other ways to encounter our Eucharistic Lord this semester include attending daily Mass in addition to weekend Mass (visit our Mass Times page), stopping by church for Eucharistic Adoration (Monday/Tuesday/Thursday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.), participating in the scheduled Eucharistic processions on campus (November 11 and December 8), and joining the St. Tom's community for the "Thank you God for the Eucharist!” breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 18. We will gather for breakfast, watch a brief video with Fr. Stephan Wang of Sycamore Ministries, and discuss the place of the Eucharist in our lives. Our Advent Mission on December 11 with Sr. Joseph Andrew, OP, will also focus on the topic of the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic Revival Planning Team is still meeting, and more opportunities will be announced as they are formalized. If you have questions an idea, or would like to become more involved, don't hesitate to get in touch with resident parishioner Jenny Bay, team coordinator, at [email protected].
