of Christ?

Ideally, the procession moves from one church to another. Today, with the vast distance between churches, the procession often returns to the church of origin. When the procession arrives at the ending place, the people are blessed with the body of Christ.

The most common option for a eucharistic procession outside of Holy Thursday is on the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity, which was given formal and universal status in the Roman Catholic Church in 1264, celebrates the real presence of Christ under both species. In procession, however, only the consecrated host is processed in the monstrance. A eucharistic procession is fitting for this solemnity because the solemnity and the procession both celebrate the liturgical assembly’s belief in the real presence of Christ. The people give their public witness to that faith by processing through the streets praying and singing and honoring Christ Jesus. In procession are a pilgrim people processing with Christ Jesus, who is present not only in their hearts but also in the sacred host. Each time we receive Christ’s body and blood and leave the worship space, we process with Christ who transforms us more and more into his holy pilgrim people in order that we might give daily witness to Christ.

Fr. Jim Dugan, SJ returns, and will offer a seminar in July!

Finding Our Way In The Church Of Today And Tomorrow

We are all familiar with the contemporary challenges of religion andtheCatholic Church today. To mention only a few areas of concern: the declining number of ordained clergies, the absence of the younger generation in active membership in the Church, the opportunity of greater participation of male deacons and the prospects ofwomen being engaged in roles of greater service in and for the Church. Participants may wish to introduce other themes for discussion.

This seminar of four meetings, 90 minutes each, will offer the participants an opportunity to reflect on the theme andthese topics. We will examine the personal, social, emotional, and spiritual/religious dimensions as they developed and have been experienced individually and communally.

Fr. Jim Dugan, SJ, invites you to participate in the 4 sessions on the Mondays of July 3, 10, 17, and 24, 7-8:30pm, in the Parish Center (406 East 80th Street.)

Please register on our website stelmo79.org or call the Parish Center at 212-288-6250.

Five Minute Jesus

Using the Gospel for Prayer - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) June 11, 2023

It is simple. 1. Read the Gospel for the following Sunday slowly, reflecting on the story it tells. 2. Reflect on the questions assigned for each day. 3. Make some resolution about how what you read can be lived that day. 4. Then thank God for speaking to you through this reflection.

Gospel John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: 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.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Monday, June 5th

Was there something in this reading that spoke to me? Comforted me? Challenged me? What was it? Why did it have this effect on me?

Tuesday, June 6th

Two weeks ago, Jesus challenged me to consider the bread I eat. Is it perishable or does it endure to eternal life? Today Jesus declares himself to be the bread of life. He remarks, ‘Eat me; Drink me’ telling me that this is the only way I will have life within me. Do I have the life within me of which he speaks? How does it manifest itself in my life?

Wednesday, June 7th

‘Eat,’ ‘live,’ and ‘abide’ are all words that call me to live in Jesus. He invites me to bring anything in my life that disturbs or unsettles me to him. What, at this time, can I ask him to help me with?

Thursday, June 8th

In Hebrew, the expression “flesh and blood” means the whole being. While Jesus’ presence at the Eucharist is not easily understood, we do experience it. Repeatedly he asks, “abide in me.” What does that phrase, that experience mean to me on a very personal level?

Friday, June 9th

The term ‘living’ bread is profound. It implies that there is a life-giving relationship between Jesus Christ and me. Think about this relationship. How might I describe this relationship?

Saturday, June 10th

What shall I return to the Lord for all his reward to me as expressed in today’s Gospel?