Eucharistic Revival: Year of Parish Revival

By Kanobia Russell-Blackmon

The National Eucharistic Revival enters its second year with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). This phase, envisioned as the Year of Parish Revival, is intended to foster devotion to the Eucharist at the parochial level in an effort to strengthen liturgical life and spiritual life through the organic movements of the Holy Spirit. After all, the parish is the visible place where the Christian faithful come together to celebrate the Eucharist. Initiated by the United States Conference of Catholic bishops, the Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative to help Catholics reawaken our devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The bishops invite Catholics to participate in this movement through prayer, discernment, reflection, and education leading up to – and extending beyond – the National Eucharistic Congress scheduled for July 2024 in Indianapolis. Over the next year, our parishes are encouraged to find creative ways in our respective communities to invite people into a deeper relationship with Jesus through the Eucharist – not only those in the pews, but also those who may not be in regular practice of the Faith.

Bishop William A. Wack, CSC joins his brother bishops in calling the Christian faithful to bring about more fully the renewal and enrichment of our Eucharistic identity, missionary action and witness as church, and stewards of our dynamic faith. Our bishop is asking us to revive our love with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist to increase our union with the Lord, to strengthen the bonds of charity between us and the Lord, and to reinforce our unity and the Mystical Body of Christ (cf. Catechism, 1416).

Our parishes are encouraged to participate in this Year of Parish Revival by focusing on four key invitations: reinvigorate worship, create moments of personal encounter, engage in robust formation, and send Catholics forth as missionaries. The staff of the National Eucharistic Revival has released the Leader’s Playbook: Year of Parish Revival, a companion guide for pastors and parish leaders that offers ideas centered around the four key invitations. As our parishes are different and unique in their own way, we encourage parish leaders to use the playbook to strengthen each respective community’s Eucharistic culture. For more information and resources, please visit www.eucharisticrevival.org/lead and www.ptdiocese.org/revival.

May this next year of grace be an opportunity for collaboration, communion, and fellowship. By cooperating with God’s grace, we can help others to better understand that we – the Christian faithful – are invited to be healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, and that we are constantly being sent out in mission “for the life of the world” (cf. John 6:51).