Pastor's Reflection - April 19, 2026

The Eucharist & Mission

During our parish mission I reflected on a post synodal document by Pope Benedict XVI (The Sacrament of Charity) which reminds us that the Eucharist is not only the source of our worship but the wellspring of our mission. When we truly receive Christ in the Eucharist, when we believe in, celebrate, and allow his presence to shape us, we cannot keep that gift to ourselves. A living encounter with Jesus always overflows into love of God and concrete love of neighbor.

A deep Eucharistic devotion clarifies the goal of all mission: to bring Christ himself to others, not merely a set of ideas or programs. The sacrament points to the unicity of Christ and the salvation he won for us; it calls every Christian into active witness. If we speak of love but fail to share the truth of Christ’s saving gift, we have not yet given enough.

This truth calls us both to prayerful catechesis and to practical charity. Let our catechesis keep pointing people to Jesus in the Eucharist, forming hearts that recognize the Mass as mission-training ground. And let our parish life show that Eucharistic devotion leads to works of mercy, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, inviting someone to Mass. Small acts made in the light of the Eucharist become genuine evangelization.

May the Eucharist we celebrate deepen our love for God so that it naturally spills over into love for our neighbors. As we grow in reverence and devotion, let us pray for courage to bring others to Christ, confident that the gift we share is nothing less than the gift of his very person.

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor