Dear Parishioners,

Today is Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus makes the most astonishing reflection on the meaning of the Eucharist in the entire New Testament. Jesus says, I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. At this, many in the Jewish audience balked for obvious reasons.

Given the opportunity to soften his speech, to explain that he was speaking only metaphorically, Jesus intensifies his rhetoric, insisting on the literalness of his meaning: Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. For my flesh is true food and my blood true drink.

The doctrine to the Real Presence, which has its roots in these disturbing and wonderful words of the Lord, has always been a standing or falling point for followers of Jesus. If the Eucharist is but a symbol of Jesus, who cares? But if it is the flesh and blood of the Master, nothing could possibly be more important.

As I mentioned last week, the Bishops of the US are in a three-year “Eucharistic Revival” plan, an effort to enhance and strengthen the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist. We will do what we can to participate in the “Eucharistic Revival” on the local level.

Here are three ways for you to participate. First, the Diocese is having a Eucharist event in Spokane the afternoon of Sept. 10 called “Expo '23.” We are planning to charter a bus for a "pilgrimage" from Chewelah to this event, which will be at The Podium. Let us know if you are interested in taking part in this special opportunity. Secondly, Bishop Robert Barron has written a book entitled “This Is My Body, A Call to Eucharistic Revival.” We ordered 100 copies and plan to use this for book studies across the parishes. Furthermore, work has started in making an Adoration Chapel at St. Mary’s for private Eucharistic Adoration. We hope to have this chapel ready along with a new keyless entry system by the fall.

And finally, I need to share some changes. Chris Anderson has decided to step away from his position on the Finance Council and Sandy Anderson will be stepping away from being our Bookkeeper. This means we will be looking for a new bookkeeper, which will be a paid position that requires about 5-8 hours a week. If you have any leads please let me know. I want to thank both Chris and Sandy for all work they have done in serving our parishes over this past year.