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E-Newsletter for
December 2, 2022
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On the Solemnity of Christ the King, which fell on November 20th of this year, Fr. Gary Dailey was invited to speak in order to mark the relocating of the tabernacle from the side of the sanctuary to the very center. He gave a rousing reflection on the Eucharist as the very center of Catholic life and now the center, the very heart of our parish church. I wanted to share with you, in this first of many e-newsletters, an excerpt from his reflection. May his words here become fuel for our meditations this Advent Season.
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St. Thomas Aquinas, in his epic gospel sequence that he wrote back in 1264 for the inauguration of the feast of Corpus Christi, touched upon the spirituality that should motivate Catholics in our approach to the Holy Eucharist. He wrote in the second of 24 latin verses, “however much you can do, so much dare to do.”
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Many Catholics no longer show a lavish gratitude toward the Eucharistic Lord. Many seem to believe they love Him “enough.” Some outright take Him for granted.
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This Eucharistic crisis is shown, for example, in the fact that only 1 out 5 catholics in the United States come to Mass each Sunday. It’s also evidenced in recent surveys that show that only 3 of 10 catholics, and only half of those who attend Mass each Sunday, believe what the Church boldly professes about the Eucharist: that the Eucharist actually and astonishingly is jesus - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity - under the appearances of bread and wine; God Himself is really, truly and substantially present on our altars, in our tabernacles and within us who receive Him.
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The Second Vatican Council famously described … the Eucharist is the source, summit, root and center of Catholic faith and life. If, therefore, Eucharistic faith and practice are weak, then all of Catholic life is weakened. Far too many Datholics throughout the globe no longer practically realize that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ, showing it by no longer coming to Mass. Others, in coming to Mass, don’t come with adequate love, but seem just to be trying to fulfill a duty as fast as possible.
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We have to acknowledge that to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is not easy. It requires great faith in Jesus, in His words and in His power. What starts off as bread and wine is, after the words of consecration, His own Body and Blood, the same Body and Blood that He took from the Blessed Virgin, that hung upon the cross for our salvation and that now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
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So because we believe, unequivocally, that Jesus is present in the small wafer of bread we receive in Holy Communion, then it is only fitting that we reserve the Eucharist in an appropriate place we call a tabernacle. We reserve the Eucharist in the tabernacle primarily for the sick and homebound, but also to adore Him as we sit in His Presence. The tabernacle helps people see and understand in a better way the pattern of worship the Lord set forth for them to approach Him. And so today we come to this church of Holy Name and celebrate this Holy Hour in celebration of enthroning our Eucharistic Lord in His rightful place. As I mentioned at the beginning, it is fitting that this take place on the Feast of Christ the King. We have given the King of kings his rightful place.
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News & Events
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Please watch here for news and events, and join us for good Catholic community!
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Christmas Wrapping:
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The Pope Francis Prep Key Club will wrap your Christmas presents the weekends of Dec 3-4 and 10-11.... Bring your presents to the Social Center before Mass and the kids will wrap while you pray!
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Sr. Melinda's Farewell Letter:
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Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
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is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses at Holy Name are at 8:15am; 12pm; and 6pm.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass
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Join us on Monday Dec 12th for a Bi-lingual Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe! Mass is at 6pm with a reception to follow in the social center.
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Advent Confessions
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will be held on Sunday Dec. 11th from 2pm-3pm at St. Catherine of Siena Parish on Parker St in Springfield and on Sunday Dec. 18th from 2pm-3pm at Holy Name. Several priests will be available for confession, including Spanish speaking priests! Don't miss this opportunity to go to confession before Christmas!
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Christmas Mass Schedule:
- 9am (daily Mass)
- 4:30pm Christmas Vigil
- 10pm Mass at Midnight - both Masses are in English
- 9am (English) and 11am (Spanish)
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