Living the Eucharist explained

Living the Eucharist explained
by PAUL A. BARRA

Many Christians have decided to resolve for the new year to expand their spiritual horizons and so to grow in holiness. The Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church family wants to help make that resolution easier for them.

The parish has decided to participate in a Paulist Fathers renewal program known as Living the Eucharist. Living the Eucharist (LE) is a renewal experience that promises spiritual growth and discipleship for all who join in; it promotes full and active participation in the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Catholic faith, according to the Second Vatican Council. LE can help adults, families and teens grow in holiness.

The Living the Eucharist experience runs for three years, during the six weeks of Lent in each of those years. Paulist Evangelization Ministries provides the materials and the guidance for the LE experience. Parishioners can participate in the experience by becoming part of small groups that are forming, some for teens and some for adults; the small groups meet weekly for the six lenten weeks to discuss a chosen topic each week, under the guidance of a group leader. The topics include: how the Eucharist empowers the man in the pew; how to fully participate in the Eucharist; finding peace and healing in the Eucharist; and the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. Each week of the six weeks has a different topic for discussion. Small groups are about ten people each.

Living the Eucharist also provides materials for family activities, to be undertaken in the home; these are especially useful for parents with small children. And JORS will mail to each parish family a Lenten reflection booklet, which provides prayers for meditation for each day of the season. 

Each week of Lent, the parish will also provide bulletin inserts that can be used as posters. And the parish will engage in a prayer campaign for all worshippers, designed to heighten our involvement with the Mass.

Father Frank and Father Ted are excited about the possibilities of the Living the Eucharist experience and have appointed a leadership team to implement it. Diaconate aspirant Bob Donofrio is the team chair. Please listen for announcements about the LE experience at mass and read about it in the bulletin. All else that remains to be done is for you to join in with the rest of us.