Many of the approximately 250 diocesan delegates who participated in last month’s Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana were commissioned as Eucharistic missionaries on Aug. 24 by Bishop Edward Malesic. They received a special blessing during the vigil Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
As Eucharistic missionaries, they will take a renewed fervor for their faith into the diocese and share it with others.
(See photo gallery above.)
The bishop noted that those gathered for the liturgy on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time included some extraordinary people. In addition to the about-to-be-commissioned Eucharistic missionaries, he welcomed many attendees of Catholic Guy Con III who were at Mass. That event was organized by Lino Rulli, Sirius XM radio personality and host of “The Catholic Guy Show” on the Catholic Channel. The sold-out event was Aug. 23-24 in downtown Cleveland. Rulli was among those at Mass.
Reflecting on the Eucharistic Congress, which took place July 17-21, Bishop Malesic said the Cleveland Diocese was one of the best-represented dioceses in the country. Delegates spent five days in prayer, catechesis, confession, evangelization, adoration, procession, music, faith sharing, community and formation for mission. He and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, as well as several deacons and priests from the diocese, joined the delegates. They represented a broad cross section of the diocese and its ministries from seminarians and young people to families, senior citizens and ethnic groups.
“Bishop Woost and I were so proud to be with you,” he told the missionaries, many of whom wore their red T-shirts from the Congress. “It is so good to see you all again here, at this Mass, where not only will we be renewed by Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity once again, but I’ll be praying a commissioning prayer over you Eucharistic delegates as you have work to do. Now that we have begun the mission phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, I am counting on you who have been formed by the Congress to be sent out to share what you have received.”
After the homily, which reflected on St. John’s Bread of Life Discourse, the bishop asked the delegates to stand. Most were seated together at the front of the church. He prayed over them and offered his blessing as they begin their missionary work throughout the diocese.
“My job and the job of these priests here at Mass is to consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. But your job, dear Eucharistic missionaries, your job is to consecrate the world. May you do it and do it well,” the bishop told them.
He pointed out the Bread of Life Discourse was the foundation for the Gospel readings beginning the Sunday after the Eucharistic Congress concluded.
“Jesus tells us, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life,’” the bishop said. In addition, he tells us he is the good shepherd and the bread of life, claiming his divinity. “He also is telling us that the Eucharist is truly his body and blood, living bread; true flesh; life for the world … It’s really him.”
Jesus wants to give us food that will satisfy our hungry hearts and souls – not just our stomachs, he said. “And that food is himself, particularly in the Eucharist, the bread of life.”
The Church is the bride of Christ, which means we put ourselves under his order, under his protection, and then we imitate him by laying down our lives for others.
“This is what it means to be a Eucharistic missionary disciple. Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist so that we can become him for others and be sent from this place to glorify the Lord by our lives and to announce the Gospel of the Lord,” the bishop added.
After Mass, the bishop greeted the faithful outside the cathedral before returning to the church to pose for a group photo with the newly commissioned missionaries.
Click here to view a video with highlights from the Eucharistic Congress. Learn more about the Congress here.