Celebrating the Gift of the Eucharist Life Around on Corpus Christi Sunday, Catholics Celebrated Jesus in the Eucharist: His Love, Healing and Hope Faith, Family
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THE CATHOLIC MIRROR Vol. 55, No. 6 June 18, 2021 Deacon built Celebrating the gift of the Eucharist life around On Corpus Christi Sunday, Catholics celebrated Jesus in the Eucharist: His love, healing and hope faith, family By Anne Marie Cox Staff Writer Deacon Pat Kirkman was a builder. He and his wife of 51 years, Christine, raised a fami- ly with five children. He built a business, a home and a life that centered on God. “To love Pat was to love a man who knew how profoundly lacking and meaningless his life had been before (God) and how profoundly everything changed af- ter that,” said his pastor, Father PJ McManus of Christ the King Par- ish in Des Moines. The Feast of Corpus Christi, June 3, celebrates the Real Presence Now, of Jesus, Body and Blood, in the Eucharist. Parishes celebrated Father McManus envisions his with neighborhood processions to publicly witness their faith as parishioner building a mansion in a community. Top: Deacon Kurt Heinrich carries a monstrance heaven for those who will follow with the Eucharist for St. Augustin Parish in Des Moines. Top right: him. Father Jose Reynaldo Hernandez, of three Des Moines parishes - Deacon Kirkman died Christ the King, St. Anthony and the Basilica of St. John - carries June 2. He was 78. the Eucharist at St. Anthony’s procession. To far right: Fathers Chris Born in Des Moines in Hartshorn and Nipin Scaria, of Sacred Heart Parish in West Des 1942, he served in the U.S. Army Moines. Right middle: Father Fabian Moncada, of Our Lady of the and served as a Des Moines fire- Americas, begins a procession. Right bottom: Father Dan Kirby, of man and emergency medical tech- St. John the Apostle Parish in Norwalk, holds the Eucharist high for nician for five years. He was a his parishioners to see. carpenter by trade and owned his own construction company before Bishops appoint priest to focus on national Eucharistic Revival managing property. In 1997, he was ordained WASHINGTON (CNS) Msgr. Jeffrey D. Bur- ing place for over a year. a deacon. -- Ahead of the bishops’ spring rill, USCCB general secretary, Auxiliary Bishop An- “He was ordained a dea- assembly, the U.S. Conference of announced the appointment of drew H. Cozzens of St. Paul and con and appropriately so because Catholic Bishops in Washington Father Torres as a specialist for Minneapolis, chairman of the he had a servant’s heart,” said his has appointed Father Jorge Tor- the Secretariat for Evangeliza- evangelization committee, leads good friend, Monsignor Frank res, a priest of the Diocese of Or- tion and Catechesis June 7 and a bishops’ advisory group on Chiodo. lando, Florida, to help implement thanked Orlando Bishop John G. the National Eucharistic Reviv- The pastor of St. Antho- a planned multiyear National Eu- Noonan for releasing the priest al made up of chairmen of other ny Parish recalled a time when charistic Revival. for service to the USCCB. committees or representatives of he was serving in Leon and was In his new role, effective those committees, including doc- supposed to go to the airport but July 12, Father Torres joins the trine, vocations, divine worship, a snowstorm prevented him from conference as the Secretariat for Hispanic affairs, pro-life, Catho- getting there. Deacon Kirkman Evangelization and Catechesis lic education, and marriage, fami- drove from Des Moines to Leon The Sunday begins the promotion of a Nation- ly life and youth. and back to get his friend to the al Eucharistic Revival, known During the U.S. bish- airport on time. Mass obligation in the Diocese of Des Moines as ops’ spring assembly June 16-18, “That’s the kind of guy Eucharistic Renewal, to renew Bishop Cozzens is scheduled to he was. If somebody had a prob- dispensation the church by enkindling a living outline a plan for the National Father Dan Kirby, at St. John lem, he would help,” said Monsi- relationship with the Lord Jesus Eucharistic Revival, which will the Apostle Parish in Norwalk, gnor Chiodo. will be lifted Christ in the Holy Eucharist,” the begin in the summer of 2022 and carries a monstrance with the Deacon Kirkman used news release said. focus on dioceses and then par- Eucharist in celebration of the his carpentry skills to help the July 24-25. This Eucharistic ini- ishes. Feast of Corpus Christi. needy, said Deacon Dave Barte- tiative is part of the USCCB’s The document also out- gage partnerships with ministries, mes. See more on 2021-2024 strategic plan, “Creat- lines a proposal, subject to the apostolates and catechetical orga- “Several years ago, I page 3. ed Anew by the Body and Blood approval of the bishops in No- nizations to animate events at the became aware of a structural of Christ: Source of Our Healing vember, of a possible National local level and provide formation problem at one of The Catholic and Hope.” Eucharistic Congress in 2024. and resources for all ages and Planning for the national “At every level of the stages of faith.” Continued on page 5 Eucharistic Revival has been tak- three-year process, we will en- 2 www.dmdiocese.org The Catholic Mirror June 18, 2021 Summer Camp, Desire, and Sunday Obligation The late physi- reveals, “I have eagerly desired to choice, there is no substitute for lic culture. We allow the Spirit cist-turned-priest, Monsignor Lo- eat this Passover with you before “real presence”: of Christ to us gifts of piety/devotion and fear renzo Albacete, used to caution By I suffer” (Luke 22:15), radically in his Eucharistic gift, and in our of the Lord to be guiding forces young people about the spiritual Bishop identifying himself with the bread mutual presence to him and one stirring attraction and respect for peril he calls, “the reduction of William and wine they share. And rather another. There should be a grav- the Father who only asks that we desire.” He refers to the condi- Joensen than saying afterward, “Been itational pull on our hearts from receive his most precious gift: his tion whereby we become so ac- there, done that,” his self-offering the awareness that Jesus remains beloved Son. customed to accepting the status anticipates his passion and death always turned to us and available Even apart from the quo or other conventions that we on the Cross and stirs his desire at the altar and tabernacle, such pandemic, I am aware of folks is activated to offer ourselves to uncritically opt for the avenue that spans life on earth: “I tell that we would never settle for who see the summer months as him as we are without hesitation of least resistance. We accept you from now on I shall not drink anything less than his technolo- a chance to “take a break from or second-guessing. the dictates of the powers-that- this fruit of the vine until the day gy-free presence. We do not want Church,” to find God solely in na- As I’ve come to learn be and go with the flow without when I drink it with you new to be domesticated spectators but ture—even if that nature is a man- about the great legacy of St. exerting any creative energy or in the kingdom of my Father” partakers at the divine banquet, icured golf course. In response, Thomas More Catholic Youth resistance to the unhealthy forces (Matthew 26:29). The Eucharist any more than we would want to I would draw from Pope Francis, Camp near Panora, whose brand- either outside or within ourselves both satisfies and stimulates our watch Fourth of July fireworks who observes, “In the Eucharist, new stylish cabins await this that would pacify us. We neglect appetites for peace and consola- on TV or gaze at others who are fullness is already achieved; it is year’s campers (thanks to many inclinations toward goods and ex- tion, companionship, for renewed savoring barbecue at their local the living center of the universe, friends and benefactors who’ve periences that would ultimately be wonder and gratitude. neighborhood picnic. the overflowing core of love and made them possible), my sense is personally fulfilling. We become I received a note not long I communicate in an- of inexhaustible life.” “On Sun- that this summer extravaganza of “domesticated,” which might be a ago from a woman who has long other message my long-planned day, our participation in Eucharist fun, faith, and an incredible array good thing for pets and livestock, since returned with her husband decision to lift the dispensation has special importance. of exhilarating activities induces, but is ultimately unworthy for hu- to Sunday and weekday Mass. from the obligation to partic- In this way, Christian rather than reduces desire: de- man beings whom God intends to She had encountered a young-ish ipate in Mass on Sunday and spirituality incorporates the value sire for small-group sharing, for be passionate, prophetic partners couple who used to attend their holy days, effective this coming of relaxation and festivity.” Our young adult mentors to look up to, in his Kingdom project. parish regularly. When she asked July 24th-25th. That weekend, we souls, our world, grow larger, for creativity and uninhibited joy The remedy for the re- if they were back at Mass, they will proclaim the John 6 Gospel rather than drawing in on them- and laughter, for well-designed duction of desire, says Albacete, replied that, even though they had where Jesus multiplies the loaves selves: “The day of rest, centered risk-taking in the ropes course, is love—sheer, unadulterated received the COVID-19 vaccine and fish to feed the multitude, to on the Eucharist, sheds its light and for newfound gratitude for love.