Lord, how good it is for us to be here -- Matthew 17

Browsing Fr. Rob's Weekly Message

August 17, 2025

Dear Friends,

The Men’s Retreat last weekend at Notre Dame Retreat House saw 15 men come together from our two parishes!!!

The theme was “Signs of Hope: Being the Eucharist in Our World.”  Father Ed Palumbos led our retreat for the second annual year, and it was well received.  His presentations were spot on and follow-up discussions, as I speak for my group, were poignant.

A couple things I would like to share with everyone from the retreat are Father Ed’s questions, “How is the presence of the Eucharist experienced by you?” and “How do you glorify God?”.

Much was expressed by the men as the reflected on thoughts such as: do you see Christ pulling into the church parking lot, in the assembly gathering around you, listening to the Word of the Lord, in the elements of bread  and wine being consecrated as the Body and Blood of Jesus, and in the Presider?  Do we become what we eat?

Father Ed shared a powerful story about his friend, Joan.  In a shared experience discussing being present at Mass, Joan said to Father Ed, “sometimes we celebrate the Eucharist and other times, we are the Eucharist.”

Discussion spoke of our after communion dismissal. Some people always leave early. Sometimes with good reason, sometimes we wonder why.  The dismissal is to go forth, carrying the Body of Christ within ourselves (we are His  sacred vessels) and to be “Eucharist” as we leave the doors of our churches.

I know I have mentioned this before our congregations. We are carrying the Lord, the Eucharist, within us when we depart from our parishes. We are to be vessels that bring Him before others.

Do you think about that? Do you bring Him to where you are heading next? Do you bring Him, proclaiming Good News, to those you will be encountering, meeting on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday?

It was a well-spent 24 hours.  I hope those of you who were not with us might join everyone next year.

An FYI, even with our need of rain, there has been some hospitality of sharing produce from personal gardens at Saint Catherine’s.  A reminder our cart is outside church and you are welcome to share the abundance of your gardens with others and folks attending mass are welcome to help themselves to what may be there every week.  Thank you to the providers! Your stewardship is much appreciated!

And, thank you to all who acknowledged my passage to another decade. I am blessed and so grateful to our Lord and each of you for making life joyful!

With heartfelt love and faith,

Father Rob   

 

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