Corpus Christi Blog

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last November and December, 187 parishioners took the time to complete the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey. This survey was conducted in parishes throughout our Diocese and across the country as part of a broader effort to better understand and strengthen parish life. I would like to begin by sincerely thanking everyone who participated.

Not too long ago, the cardinals of the Catholic Church elected the first pope from the United States of America, Pope Leo XIV, which was an exciting time. We waited to see what kind of pope he would be. Before that, the first pope from the Americas, Pope Francis, was elected, and before that, Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. Prior to that, Pope John Paul II was the third-longest-serving pope in the Catholic Church. Each of these popes has a distinct personality, leadership style, and spirituality.

When the Church was first established, with Peter as the first pope and the Apostles as the first bishops, it was under specific conditions. In the early years of the Church, the customs and rules of Christianity were still being formed. So, we see a process develop very early in the Acts of the Apostles, in which the Church would address questions as they arose over time through ecumenical councils. The first Ecumenical Council of Jerusalem in the Book of Acts (Chapter 15) can be summarized as follows:

While the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has just passed (June 12^th), the entire month of June is also dedicated to Jesus’ Sacred Heart and devotion to it is always encouraged. Therefore, we are going to explore Pope Pius XI’s call for all the faithful to renew their devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in response to the expansion of sin and evil that he saw in the world at the time. We recognize now that this urgency has only increased since then.

Happy Feast Day to all our parishioners! Today, as our parish family celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, I extend my heartfelt prayers and best wishes to every member of our community. This is a day of great joy and thanksgiving for us because we proudly bear the beautiful name Corpus Christi, which means “The Body of Christ.”

As your pastor, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of gratitude every time I say the name of our parish. It is a name that reminds us of the greatest gift Jesus left to His Church: Himself in the Holy Eucharist. It is also a name that reminds us of who we are called to be as members of His Church, the living Body of Christ in the world today.