09/06/2023
Faith in the Eucharist at this moment in history is in crisis. What does this mean? A Pew study from 2019 reported that less than 30% of Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Even more disconcerting, that study reported that 22% of Catholics said that while they understood the Church’s teachings on the Eucharist, they don’t believe it.
To repair the broken faith in the Eucharist in our Catholic Church today, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have begun a three-year initiative called the National Eucharistic Revival to enliven our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist throughout the country. Each diocese, and parishes within those dioceses, are planning liturgies, missions, programs, and events to help educate and evangelize Catholics on the very source and summit of our faith.
In the coming weeks of September, the Cathedral will be announcing initiatives and programs that will bring this parish into the larger Revival. Information on a Fall study on the Eucharist will be available in coming bulletins. Please visit the Archdiocesan webpage on the Revival at https://archdpdx.org/eucharist as well as the website for the National Eucharistic Revival to see the overall timeline and other resources: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who promised to stay with us always, until the end of the age.
Reawaken our wonder at His presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. May our hearts burn within us as He opens the Scriptures and breaks the bread.
Give us the eyes of faith to recognize His presence in our brothers and sisters, especially in the face of the poor and the suffering.
Nourished by the Eucharist, send us forth to walk faithfully as missionary disciples, proclaiming the Gospel to every heart and extending Your kingdom to every land. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
