Living Eucharist - Gathered, Nourished, Sent

Growing in Faith

Living Eucharist

On Sunday, November 25, 2007 the Solemnity of Christ the King, Bishop Robert N. Lynch introduced his Pastoral Letter:

Living Eucharist: Gathered, Nourished, Sent

The video below is a Companion Resource Tool to Bishop Lynch's Letter.

Living Eucharist Initiative

On Sunday, November 25, 2007, the Solemnity of Christ the King, Bishop Robert N. Lynch introduced his Pastoral Letter:"Living Eucharist: Gathered, Nourished, Sent." This marks the beginning of a Diocesan wide, multi-year process with the goal of fostering a deeper experience and understanding of Eucharist.

To achieve this goal the following objectives have been identified and will be attained through catechesis, dialogue, and faith sharing during this journey of faith together. By parishes, families, and individuals committing to participate in this process, we as Church, will do the following:

Strengthen the bonds among the people of God as we share faith
Enrich communal prayer and reflection on the word of God
Enhance participation and celebration of Eucharist
Develop a greater consciousness of what it means to be the Body of Christ
Send the Church forth to act in justice and mercy

Year One (2008) "Gathered" The Pastoral Letter is the first step and the guiding document for the next three years as the Diocese will focus on a different aspect of the Mass for each year. The first year’s theme will be on the Liturgy of the Word, the beginning of the Mass. The kinds of questions that will be a part of the focus for this initial year will be related to the following: How do we prepare as individuals, families, and as a faith community to participate in the Sunday Liturgy? Do we read and reflect on the Sunday readings ahead of time? How do we gather on Sundays as a Church? How welcoming are we to those around us? Do we reach out to new faces and people of all backgrounds? How do we become people of the Word, rooted in Scripture, and allowing God to shape us?

Year Two (2009) "Nourished" The second year will be concentrating on the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the second part of the Mass. The gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. And, as we receive, we are transformed becoming the Body of Christ. Some of the questions for us to reflect upon will be the following: As individuals and as a community, do we know that we encounter and receive Jesus – body and blood, soul and divinity? How can we as individuals, as family, and as parish better teach and articulate to others these fundamental aspects of our faith? How do we prepare ourselves to receive? Do we genuinely seek and promote full, conscious, and active participation in Mass, or do we remain content as a Church with passive observers only? How can we as a parish more enthusiastically celebrate these mysteries by raising our voices in prayer and song to give thanks? Do we humbly stand in awe and reverence of what our God has done and is doing for us?

Year Three (2010) "Sent" The third year will focus on being sent forth in mission to be Christ to the world. We have been shaped by the Word of God, we have been transformed by His Body and Blood, and now we are to be Jesus to the world. As Jesus we are to serve the poor and marginalized, reach out to those who no longer practice the faith, invite those who have never been a part of our faith, and build a more just society. With this in mind we need to ask ourselves the following: How do we seek out the lost, reach out to the suffering, embrace the poor and marginalized, heal the sick and wounded, be present to the lonely, and spread the Good News? We have been given much, and, now we have to give, to share, to love as Christ. We are sent forth to continue the mission of Jesus.

Pastoral Letter

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Companion DVD

The Companion DVD to Bishop Lynch's Pastoral Letter, is available both in English and Spanish. To order your companion DVD please print the form below and mail with your payment to:

SMU Productions
30145 US Highway 19 North
Clearwater, Florida 33761
(727) 781-3970

Click here to download Companion DVD Order Form