Make your plans for New York State Eucharistic Congress

This past Saturday, May 27th, was the fourth anniversary of the phone call that literally changed my life and I found out that Pope Francis had named me the Eleventh Bishop of Syracuse. A lot has happened since that phone call, but one thing I realize more than ever is that our loving God was calling me to a deeper intimacy with the communion of the Trinity — a deeper sharing in the life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — and to shake off any complacency from me. For the most part, I think this is happening, but I am still a work in progress!

I share my own spiritual journey with you because I believe our whole diocesan Church is about to receive a wonderful gift to grow in our own communion with God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — as we enter the second year of our three-year national Eucharistic Revival. This year of the revival is meant to be observed specifically in the parishes of the United States and is to focus on three areas:

(1) Education involving a renewed understanding of the Holy Eucharist, especially as experienced in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; (2) more chances for Eucharistic devotion; and (3) a renewal of the ministries essential to the celebration of Holy Mass in our parishes.

This Sunday, June 11th, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Diocese of Syracuse will also resume the distribution of the Precious Blood from the chalice to communicants who desire to do so. As noted by Fr. Christopher Seibt from the Office of Worship and RCIA in an April 6th communication:

The USCCB’s Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America state that the Precious Blood has been distributed to the faithful since the earliest days of Christianity in fulfillment of Christ’s command to “take and eat… [and] take and drink” (no. 6). This ancient practice was generally discontinued during the scholastic era after the turn of the first millennium, due, in part, to concerns over spillage of the Precious Blood. However, recognizing the importance of the effective use of signs within the celebration of the liturgy, and reflecting on the institution of the Eucharist within the context of a sacred meal, the Second Vatican Council called for the reintroduction of the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds in 1963’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosantcum concilium.

As I once heard a Passionist Father say in a homily on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (which we observed this past Sunday): “The Holy Trinity is not a mystery to be solved, but a relationship to be entered into.” He then went on to describe God as “personal and relational” and that this was sealed by “a kiss” — quoting the early Church Fathers, he stated that “the Holy Spirit is the kiss between Father and Son.”

Now before we get too squeamish over such overt affection — is it not true that the Holy Eucharist itself is none other than God [who is Love] made flesh … made real for the life of the world? Is it not our gathering each Lord’s Day around his altar … his holy table … with the Priest Presider who is known as In Persona Christi Capitis … a sharing in the “kiss” of God’s love for you and me? In fact, the priest as God’s instrument invokes the Holy Spirit over the gifts of bread and wine so that they will become the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus for the assembly. It is this realization that I would like to be the focus of all members of this Diocesan Church in the coming year. To further our recognition of the presence of the Risen One who comes to us in the breaking of the bread, I would like to invite you to join me at the New York State Eucharistic Congress at Our Lady of the Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville, N.Y., the weekend of October 20 –22. You can find more information, a schedule of liturgies and events, and how to register at nyseucharisticcongress.org.

As the website notes:

It wasn’t enough for the Son of God to take on our humanity, even to suffer, die and rise for us and our salvation. He wanted to feed us and remain with us always until the end of time. That’s what he does in the Eucharist. In this New York State Eucharistic Congress we will thank him for this supreme gift and seek to bring others to thank him with us! Register today and bring your

Carrying the light of Christ

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia

family and friends.

Let me conclude with one of my favorite liturgical antiphons associated with Corpus Christi — The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord:

“How holy this feast in which Christ is our food; his passion is recalled; grace fills our hearts; and we receive a pledge of glory to come.” Amen.

Bishop Douglas J. Lucia’s schedule for the weeks of May 25 - June 7

June 8th: Baccalaureate Mass for Bishop Grimes Jr/Sr High School, St. Matthew, East Syracuse, 6:30 pm

June 9th: Baccalaureate Mass for Bishop Ludden Jr/Sr High School, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse, 7:00 pm

June 10th: Mass at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse, 5:10 pm

June 11th: Masses at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Syracuse

Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas, Binghamton, in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Little Sisters of St. Francis, 1:00 pm

June 13th – Friday, June 16th: 2023 USCCB Plenary Assembly – Orlando, FL

June 19th: Light a Child’s Future Golf Tournament, Turning Stone Resort becoming a priest began in kindergarten and stayed with him throughout school. His interest in the history of the Catholic Church and how the history of Catholicism developed in the United States, influenced his decision to enter the seminary in 2014. While discerning his vocation to the priesthood in Poland, Deacon Pawel received inspiration and advice from the pastor of his home parish, Father Stanislaw Res. “He offered support and good advice and I have chosen the path I want to follow for the rest of my life,” said Deacon Pawel.

Deacon Pawel arrived in the United States three years ago and has overcome much of the language and cultural differences. As a deacon, he feels his openness and ability to talk to others are one of the most important things in religious life. “I want to use these skills in my ministry. I would also like to focus more on my pastoral formation to better prepare for my priestly ordination. I will continue my intellectual formation at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore,” said Deacon Pawel.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Syracuse is his home parish. Deacon Pawel said pastor Father Andrew Baranski is just one of the priests in the Diocese whom he could rely on to set an excellent example on

Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia President

Dc. Tom Cuskey Editor

Tom Maguire

Associate editor

Eileen Jevis Staff writer

Willie Putmon Graphics production/ Design coordinator

Mark Klenz

Business advertising coordinator

Pamela Stepien

Circulation and office coordinator

Contact: 240 East Onondaga St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13202 (315) 422-8153 Fax: (315) 422-7549 info@thecatholicsun.com www.thecatholicsun.com

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Catholic Sun is published by the Syracuse Catholic Press Association, Inc. (Periodicals postage and fees paid Syracuse, N.Y.), 26 Thursdays during the year, every other week. Subscriptions are $26 annually and $31 outside of the diocese. Single copies are $1. Sun back issues, kept for one year, are available in limited quantities.

Subscribers: Please send new addresses with an address label from previous issue to the address above to ensure continued delivery of The Catholic Sun.

Space reservations: Advertising copy is due noon Tuesday, nine days before Thursday publication.

Printed at Sun Community News & Printing

Elizabethtown, NY

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: 240 East Onondaga St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13202 Vol 140; No. 12; ISSN# 0744267X; UPS 833 860 his journey to the priesthood. “I will continue to ask for guidance through conversations with God,” he said, “and I hope that Father Baranski will accompany me on my priestly path. I ask that your readers please pray for an increase in vocations to religious life, for all who serve and those already ordained. Prayer is essential because I will know that I’m not alone.”

Choosing a life of service

While completing his undergraduate degree at SUNY Fredonia, Deacon Ben Schrantz credits the Newman Center’s sense of family and community for his growth as a young Catholic. “I met a great bunch of college students who were serious about their own faith,” he said. “The community quickly became my second family.” Deacon Ben planned to earn a master’s degree in library science but his experience at the Newman Center placed a “kernel” in his heart that perhaps God was calling him to travel another path.

Instead of applying to graduate school, Deacon Ben took a gap year and worked full time at his home parish of St. Paul’s in Whitesboro. That experience led him to apply for the seminary at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. “Of the courses I’ve studied, I’ve enjoyed the Scripture courses because it allows us the opportunity to take a ‘deep dive’ into the Bible in ways I have not been able to do before,” said Deacon Ben. “I have also enjoyed the morality courses such as Catholic social teaching and biomedical ethics. We were able to focus on many of the hot-button issues.”

Deacon Ben will work at St. Peter’s in Rome, Oneida County, for the remainder of the summer. In August he will return to the Theological College in Washington to complete his final year of seminarian studies.

Deacon Ben said the promises he made as a transitional deacon — a life of service to the Church and her people — are the building blocks for his future ordination to the priesthood.

“In every walk of life, no matter what path we find ourselves on, there are people who can help and guide us,” said

Deacon Ben. “Over the past six years as a seminarian I met people who have helped me along the way. I think it is those people who I will seek out for guidance in the future.”

“God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts,” said Deacon Ben. “To find where God is calling us, we need to enter into that silence and follow the peace that comes from it. When you allow him to work in your heart, he will fill your life with an abundance of grace and peace.”

Happy Birthday

Bishop Robert Cunningham

From your friends at St. Mary’s of the Lake

Celebrating Father James Buttner in the next Catholic Sun…

Due to press deadlines, our coverage of the Ordination of James Buttner to the priesthood, scheduled for June 3, will be fully covered in our next print edition. In the meantime, visit us on Facebook and Instagram for photo coverage and consider subscribing to our free bi-weekly digital updates by signing up here: thecatholicsun.com/ subscriber-email-address-submission/