Dear Parishioners,

The Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ reminds us that the presence of Jesus is uniquely in our midst in the community, in the Word and in the Eucharist. From the Second Vatican Council, we are told that this sacrament is "the source and summit of the Christian life." Under the appearance of bread and wine is the full presence of Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine. The challenge of receiving the Eucharist is to be as fully present to the Lord and the Lord is fully present to us. There is no greater opportunity for us as believers to be in closer union with our God and Savior.

Belief in the Eucharist requires faith. However, our faith is not based on a simple hope or wish that Christ's presence is real and true. Our faith is based on Christ, Himself, who proclaimed it so at the Last Supper and the experience of those who have received and have believed. St. Paul relays to us the gift of the Eucharist that was handed on to him. He said,

"Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes."

Until Jesus returns a second time, he promises to be with us in the Sacraments and in the Church. His presence is not a passive presence but an active presence. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, every believer is empowered to bring the sacred presence of Jesus into the world by being His hands, His feet, His spokesperson, and His heart to all we meet. Through our words and through our actions, we fulfill the mandate of the Lord to go out and tell the Good News that Jesus is Risen and that Jesus is Lord.

I invite you to think about what the Eucharist means to you in your faith life. If one believes in the Eucharist as being the real presence of our Lord and Savior, there should never be a light excuse that would allow a person to miss weekly mass. All of us have a responsibility to nurture our body and our soul with the food that Christ gives us in Himself. All of us have a responsibility to nurture our relationship with Christ whom we receive in the Eucharist. All of us have a responsibility to allow the presence of Christ whom we receive to touch our lives and others with the holiness of God. All of us should be grateful for the incredible gift that God has given to us in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Tarantino
Pastor