Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There is a famine in the land!  That is not meant to startle you or make you anxious about another catastrophe in our mists, but rather to draw your attention to a great hunger if not starvation that is prevailing.  Just as there are belly pains when we do not receive essential nourishment so too there are pains in our heart and soul when we do not receive Our Blessed Lord’s Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.  In truth, this lack of reception of the Bread of Life is a far greater deprivation to our wholeness and spiritual and psychological well-being.

Granted, this has been a most challenging time because of the pandemic and many have struggled to stay connected with Christ, at least by hearing His Word and remotely viewing Holy Mass, but it is no substitute for being in the Real Presence of Our Savior and offering our lives in person and in turn being filled with God.

It has been so gratifying to see parishioners returning to Sunday Mass and once again being so deeply and intimately connected with the Lord.  I am sure upon your return home you were overcome with the joy and satisfaction of again being in the presence of Christ.  This Sunday we celebrate God’s greatest gift to the world.  Corpus Christi or the Body and Blood of Christ.  Our Lord left us this mystery beginning on Holy Thursday night and completed by His offering of Himself on the Cross and fulfilled in His glorious Resurrection.  Every time the Mass is offered we joined in the Paschal Mystery and all the graces God could possibly bestow upon us.  You cannot get THAT in live-streaming.

We are extremely grateful to those who have worked so diligently to provide the live steaming of our Masses.  Our parishioners who are homebound are very happy to receive this service and we shall continue the broadcasting.  Your priests and deacon regularly bring them the Holy Eucharist so they may receive the fullness of heavenly grace.

At the 10:30 Mass, we shall have the Eucharistic Procession around St. John’s.  It is our way of declaring to the world  our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and our joy in knowing that He is with us always.

With Blessings,

Father Langan