From the Pastor’s Desk: June 23, 2019

 
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." -- John 6:53, 54
 
     Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Today in our celebration we share in the essence of our faith what Jesus tells us in the Gospel, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my body has eternal life." The significance of Jesus’ statement is echoed by St. Paul who reminds us that we "participate in the body of Christ", when we break the bread and the cup we drink is "a participation in the blood of Christ." On this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we proclaim the greatest gift of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, "the source and the summit of the Christian life" - reality from which everything in our life flows (source) and the reality toward which everything in our life is directed (summit), reality that gives us – the faithful – an energy, vision and hope to foster a true civilization of love.
 
     " The Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of the God-man are really, truly, substantially, and abidingly present, together with His Soul and Divinity, by reason of the Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  This takes place in the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass. "
 
     Our belief in this Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist derives from the literal interpretation of the promise of Christ to give His Body and Blood for our spiritual food and drink, as found in St. John's Gospel, Chapter 6, and also in the four independent accounts of the fulfillment of this promise at the Last Supper (Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22; 1 Cor. 11).  Eucharistic theologians explain the Real Presence by a process called transubstantiation: the entire “substance” of bread and wine is changed into the glorified Body and Blood of Christ, retaining only the “accidents” (taste, color, shape, etc.) of bread and wine.
 
     The week of June 22-29, 2019, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Religious Freedom Week under the title: Strength in Hope. Religious freedom gives us the space to carry out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to the Church. Religious freedom means that Catholics, and all people of goodwill, are free to seek the truth and to live in accordance with that truth, and so to strengthen our common life as a nation. In the midst of our current challenges, we should join together in prayer to seek the Kingdom and find strength in hope.
 
     I want to share with you that Mrs. Theresa Hedberg has announced her retirement effective June 30, 2019. For the last 19 years, Theresa worked as the Office Manager at St. Luke Parish. Her dedication, commitment and love for the community made her such an integral part of every aspect and facet of the parish life. Personally, I am most grateful for her assistance and patience when I became a new pastor. There is no doubt that we will miss her tremendously. On behalf of the entire St. Luke Parish community, please join me to express our gratitude and appreciation for her years of service and ministry to the parish, and assure her of our prayers and wish her many blessed days in her retirement. Thank you and may the Lord bless you!!!
 
     I also want to share with you that Kristen Barreto had accepted the responsibilities as the new Parish Manager effective July 1, 2019. Congratulations!
 
I wish you a blessed week and may the gift of the Eucharist transform our lives into the One we receive– Christ Jesus!
 
With prayers,
Fr. Andy