eu ch a r i s ti c r e v i va l
ENC O UNT E R ING JE SUS IN TH E E U C H A R IST By Bob Sandford
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oday’s headlines lead with disease, disaster and violence, but Jesus ever de-
sires to heal, renew and unify the Church and the world. The National Eucharistic Revival launched June 19 invites all to come to him in the Eucharist. Below are vignettes of Eucharistic devotion as lived out in local parishes to inspire all of us.
A way i nto the fi re of Jesus’ love Fresh Fire at St. Thomas More is a prayer experience that invites people to encounter Jesus in adoration with praise and worship music, speakers giving personal witness and intercessional prayer teams. Jesus’ Eucharistic presence is at the center, with a structure recognizable to our Protestant kin of drawing people into an encounter with Jesus. Some non-Catholics have experienced Jesus in new and more powerful ways by opening themselves to his Eucharistic presence. Dana Epperly, parish Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinator, recounted her inspiration for bringing Fresh Fire to the parish. “Ten years ago, I was in adoration,” she said, “The Lord showed me a burning bush that never consumed Jesus on the altar … It was hot in the church and I saw so many people sitting against the brick outside shivering in the extreme cold … I said, ‘Lord, why would all these people sit outside?’ He said, ‘They don’t
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Catholic Key • August/September 2022 • catholickey.org
