Vicar’s Message

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life”(1324-1327). The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. The centre of every Catholic parish is the Eucharist and the Word of God. If we approach the Eucharistic celebration and the adoration of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament with our whole heart and mind, the Lord pours out His blessings on our families and community. A Christian community must feed their baptismal life with an intense Eucharistic life. In prostrating oneself before the Blessed Sacrament, the adorer opens himself to the tender mercy of the Almighty which in turn, renews his heart and leads him to become more involved in his parish community.

Sometimes parishes can be like dryland where it is difficult to launch new pastoral projects or revive existing but dormant ones. Times of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are precious moments when the Lord pours out His Spirit on the various dream projects of the parish; “rivers of living water will flow from within him” -Jn. 7: 37-39. Our parish has been experiencing graces of charity and unity flowing from the Eucharist. The parishioners are attentive to each other and supportive of the priest. I believe Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will continue to overwhelm the heart of every parishioner and open it to the mission that we seek to accomplish. His spiritual waters will irrigate the dryland; leading it to produce abundant fruits.

St. Teresa of Calcutta says: “It was not until 1973 when we began the daily holy hour that our community began to grow and flourish.” St. Teresa distinguished three graces received from the Eucharistic adoration. Firstly, she learned to love her sisters with the love that flows from the heart of Jesus. Secondly, the recognition of Jesus under the appearances of bread helped her better recognize Christ in the poorest of the poor. Finally, adoration allowed her to give to the people she served, not just herself or what she possessed, but rather, Jesus who lived in her. Pope John Paul II wrote: “Proximity to Christ, in the silence of contemplation, does not separate us from our contemporaries but, rather, makes us attentive and open to the joys and sorrows of men, and it enlarges the heart to the dimensions of the world. It gives us solidarity with our brothers in humanity, particularly the littlest, who are the beloved of the Lord."

So I request all of you, young and old, to always remember the words of Jesus, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”. -Jn. 15:5. Any fruitful pastoral work stems from the union of the community with Christ. Since the Eucharist is the sacrament of communion with God and neighbor, the more we live the Eucharist, the more our communion with Christ will be authentic and therefore the more our love of neighbor will be genuine and concrete. “When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”   St. Francis de Sales.

I invite you all to be a part of Our Lady of Sorrows Church to experience the love of God in the Eucharist and give that love to others through your life.