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Letter from
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ I I give thanks to God daily for for all of of of you! As we celebrate the the 50th Anniversary of of of o of our Catholic Diocese of of of o of Memphis I I am grateful for for the the the steadfast support and and continued prayers you offer on on behalf of of o of the the the the Church locally and universally You have embraced the the the unity that that we we signify whenever we we join together at at at Mass and and receive Christ in in in in in in Holy Communion Be assured that that you you are in in in in in in my prayers daily and and especially during these challenging times I regularly bring your intentions before the the the Lord in in in in the the the Blessed Sacrament As part of our our Golden Jubilee celebration I am delighted to to welcome you to to the the first-ever Eucharistic Eucharistic Congress Congress within in in in our our Memphis Diocese A A Eucharistic Eucharistic Congress Congress is is is is is a a a a a a a a a a gathering of clergy religious and and and community members to to celebrate and and and glorify God in in in the the the Holy Eucharist Eucharist Eucharist and and and to to share the the the graces our Lord offers in in in this great Mystery Eucharistic Eucharistic Congresses are are held
in in in in in Dioceses throughout the the world In In fact the the 52nd International Eucharistic Eucharistic Congress Congress was recently held
in in in in in Budapest Hungary which included a a a a a a a a a a a a closing Mass with Pope Francis marking the first Congress Congress to be visited by a a a a a a a a a Pontiff in in in in in 21 years The The theme of our Eucharistic Congress is is is is That All May Be One (John 17:21) In his letter to to to the the the Church in Ephesus St Paul writes There is is is is one one one Body and one one one one one one one Spirit just as you you were called to to to the the the one one one one one one one Hope that belongs to to to your call call one one one one one one one Lord one one one one one one one Faith one one one one one one one Baptism one one one one one one one God and and and Father of us us us all all all all all all who is is above all all all all all and and and and through all all all all all and and and and in in all all all all all (Ephesus 4:4-6) I I encourage everyone here in in the the the the land between the the the the rivers with the the the the same words I I call on on on us us to remember that that we we we are are all all members of the the the one Body Body in Christ through our Baptism and and and that that we we we are are blessed to to be be able to to receive receive His Body Body and and Blood whenever we we receive receive Holy Communion This belief in in the the Real Presence of of of Christ under the the auspices of of of bread and wine is is is is is is is is is a a a a a a a a a a core tenet of of of our faith--this is is is is is is is is is not a a a a a a a a a a symbol it it it is is is is is is is is is God himself present present with us us us and and and ultimately present present in in us us us This is is is is is is is is why the the the Church describes the the the Eucharist as the the the the the source and and and summit of our our Christian faith Let us us us rejoice in in in that gift and and and give thanks! Remember the the the word word Eucharist is is is itself rooted in in in in the the the Greek word word meaning ‘thanksgiving So what will will transpire at at at our Eucharistic Congress? There will will be faith-filled speakers and and presentations as as as well well as as as inspiring music But there are other things to nourish mind and and body as as as well well One of of of the the the the the most powerful experiences of of of of prayer is is that of of of of Adoration sitting before the the the the Lord in in in in in in the the the the Blessed Sacrament and having a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a deep conversation with Him from
the the the the depths of of of of your being The opportunity to participate in in in Adoration will be be a a a a a a a a a a a a another fundamental part part of of the Congress 1