The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” – as we read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph No 1324. This is not an exaggeration. Jesus ascended into heaven but is present in His Church in the Eucharist. In the church we bow down in front of the altar which symbolizes Jesus, but we genuflect or kneel in front of the Body of Christ (in Latin Corpus Christi). The highest act of worshiping God is when we celebrate the Eucharist (the summit), and the highest possible connection with Jesus is when we receive His Body in the Eucharist (the source). The Eucharist helps us to live in a Christian way on earth and protects us in our struggles with our weaknesses and attacks of the Evil One.

Last year, the Church in the United States began the National Eucharistic Revival which is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to the great mystery of the Eucharist by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The culminating point of this revival will be the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July 2024.

Both the Eucharistic Revival and the Eucharistic Congress create an extraordinary opportunity for the American Church and particular dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, various organizations, movements, and groups to affirm the Eucharist as the source and summit of their activities and of the Christian life.

The Feast of Corpus Christi is a special feast for our parish which carries this special name. Every year after the main Mass at 10 am, we hold a special Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession to four altar stations prepared in our parking lot and along Lies Road. In this procession, we give a public manifestation of our faith. It is true that faith is something private and intimate but, at the same time, it is public and should be shared with others. The Eucharistic Jesus traveling on our streets during this procession blesses all people living in Carol Stream and neighboring towns.

Join us on Sunday, June 11 at the bilingual 10 am Mass for this Corpus Christi celebration, followed by the procession and picnic in our parish gardens. Everyone in the state of grace on this day (no mortal sin and rejecting venial sins), receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intention of the Holy Father, can attain a plenary indulgence.

Wishing you and your families a most blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!

Fr. Mark Jurzyk