What an opportunity to focus on the Eucharist

On the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29, we begin a new liturgical year.  The liturgical year is a microcosm of the Christian Faith.  We begin by waiting for the birth of the Messiah like our predecessors, the Jews did for millennia.  We then celebrate His birth.  Much of the year is filled with ordinary time, like the daily routine of our lives.  We fast during Lent like Christ did in preparation for His mission.  We then walk through Holy Week and share in His passion and death.  Then we celebrate the fact that Jesus conquered sin and rose from the dead.  The Liturgical Year ends with celebrating that Christ is King, like we will be able to do for all eternity in heaven.
So why this brief introduction of the Liturgical Year?  Archbishop Rodi has designated the upcoming year (Liturgical Year, beginning on the First Sunday of Advent) as the Year of the Eucharist and the Parish. What a great opportunity to spend a year focusing on the Eucharist.  The Church has consistently called the Eucharist the “source and summit of the Christian life.”  Maybe some of us don’t stop to think about how spectacular the Eucharist is.  Maybe some of us do not know what the Church teaches and believes about the Eucharist.  Maybe some of us know what the Church teaches but have a hard time accepting/believing it.  Maybe some of us believe and treasure the Eucharist, but we don’t really feel attached to our parish.
This year, we as the people of the Archdiocese of Mobile will be focusing on what we believe and why we believe it.  Please keep a look out for opportunities within your parish to learn more about the Eucharist and to experience the Person who loved us so much that He gave His own flesh for the life of the world.  
Our families gather as a parish family and our parishes form the more extended family called the Archdiocese of Mobile, and when we look across space and time we see the universal family of Jesus called the Universal Church.  Look for opportunities to plug into your parish family.
— Pat Arensberg is the Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life.  Email him at [email protected] 
For more information concerning the events of this office, visit us at mobilefaithformation.org