U.S. Bishops Discuss Eucharistic Revival and Synodality at Spring Meeting

During the first public session of their spring meeting in Orlando, Florida, the U.S. bishops engaged in discussions regarding the spread of the love of the Eucharist as part of their three-year Eucharistic Revival initiative and the Holy Father's emphasis on synodality. The bishops received updates on both efforts and explored the interconnectedness between them.

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Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/16/2023 (11 months ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: U.S., Bishops, spring, meeting, USCCB, Orlando, Florida

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, delivered an address emphasizing that synodality is more than a program; it is a way of being the Church. He compared synodality to a compass, with Jesus Christ and His kingdom as the true north. To find the right path, the bishops must immerse themselves in the reality of the people and attentively listen to their questions and concerns.

Pierre also highlighted the significance of living the Eucharist as a mission, stating that it represents the synodal style exemplified by Jesus and emphasized by the Holy Father. He described the Eucharist as a dynamic sacrament that infuses everything with Christ's self-giving love because of His real presence. Pierre expressed the need for the Eucharistic Revival to have a missionary character, where the faithful recognize that receiving the Eucharist should make them ambassadors of Christ to those who have not yet encountered Him.

Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, provided an update on the Eucharistic Revival initiative. He highlighted the achievements of its first year, such as 81% of dioceses designating a point person for the revival, over 100 revival events conducted by eucharistic preachers nationwide, and nearly 11,000 prayer partners committed to supporting the revival.
Cozzens discussed the planning of a two-month National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, set to begin in May 2024, with multiple major routes converging at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 16, 2024. This pilgrimage will serve as the culmination of the three-year effort, aiming to unite the Church across the United States and ignite a missionary spirit within the faithful.

In his first address as USCCB president, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, praised the Eucharistic Revival as an initiative to proclaim the truth about the mystery of the Eucharist and the real presence of Christ. He also touched on other important issues, including advocating for effective and humane border management as part of comprehensive immigration reforms. Broglio requested prayers for Archbishop Jose Gomez and the Los Angeles faithful, as the Los Angeles Dodgers planned to honor an anti-Catholic group called the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence," expressing concern over disrespect toward the truths and traditions of the Catholic faith.

During the meeting, the bishops unanimously voted to advance the cause on the local level for the beatification and canonization of the Shreveport Martyrs. These five French Roman Catholic priests ministered to the sick in Shreveport, Louisiana, during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic.

The bishops postponed a vote on revising a portion of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services concerning the relationship between Catholic medical professionals and patients. The decision suggests a desire for further discussion, possibly aligning the revision with a March doctrinal note from the bishops regarding interventions that aim to transform sexual characteristics or participate in their development.

Overall, the U.S. bishops' spring meeting addressed the Eucharistic Revival and synodality, underscoring the importance of the Eucharist as a mission and a means to foster a deeper unity and missionary spirit within the Church.