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Letter from
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I give thanks to God daily for all of you! As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our Catholic Diocese of Memphis, I am grateful for the steadfast support and continued prayers you offer on behalf of the Church, locally and universally. You have embraced the unity that we signify whenever we join together at Mass and receive Christ in Holy Communion. Be assured that you are in my prayers daily and, especially during these challenging times, I regularly bring your intentions before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
As part of our Golden Jubilee celebration, I am delighted to welcome you
to the first-ever Eucharistic Congress within in our Memphis Diocese. A Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious and community members to celebrate and glorify God in the Holy Eucharist and to share the graces our Lord offers in this great Mystery. Eucharistic Congresses are held
in Dioceses throughout the world. In fact, the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress was recently held in Budapest, Hungary, which included a closing Mass with Pope Francis, marking the first Congress to be visited by a Pontiff in 21 years.
The theme of our Eucharistic Congress is That All May Be One (John 17:21).
In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, St. Paul writes, There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one Hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesus 4:4-6). I encourage everyone here, in the land between the rivers, with the same words. I call on us to remember that we are all members of the one Body in Christ through our Baptism and that we are blessed to be able to receive His Body and Blood whenever we receive Holy Communion.
This belief in the Real Presence of Christ under the auspices of bread and wine is a core tenet of our faith--this is not a symbol, it is God himself present with us and, ultimately, present in us. This is why the Church describes the Eucharist as the source and summit of our Christian faith. Let us rejoice in that gift, and give thanks! Remember, the word Eucharist is itself rooted in the Greek word meaning ‘thanksgiving.
So what will transpire at our Eucharistic Congress? There will be faith-filled speakers and presentations as well as inspiring music. But, there are other things to nourish mind and body as well. One of the most powerful experiences of prayer is that of Adoration, sitting before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and having a deep conversation with Him from the depths of your being. The opportunity to participate in Adoration will be a another fundamental part of the Congress.
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