Happy Feast Day!

06-07-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, VC, Pastor

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.

I would like to begin by thanking all our parishioners who faithfully participated in our nine-day Corpus Christi Novena leading up to this weekend’s celebration. Thank you for your prayers, sacrifices, and commitment. When a parish prays together, God does great things among His people. Your participation has helped prepare our hearts to celebrate this feast with renewed faith and devotion.

Today, following the 10:30 a.m. Mass, we will continue one of our most treasured traditions: our Eucharistic Procession around the boundaries of our parish campus. Public Eucharistic processions are powerful witnesses of faith. They remind us that Jesus Christ is not confined within the walls of our church building. Rather, He walks with His people and desires to be present in every aspect of our lives, our homes, our workplaces, our schools, and our community.

Following the procession, I encourage everyone to visit our Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition in the Parish Center. The exhibition will remain available through July 14 and offers a remarkable opportunity to learn about the many Eucharistic miracles recognized throughout the history of the Church. These miracles remind us that the Eucharist is not merely a symbol, but truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

The Feast of Corpus Christi itself has a rich and beautiful history. In the thirteenth century, the Church was inspired by the visions of St. Juliana of Liège, who desired a special feast dedicated entirely to honoring the Blessed Sacrament. Later, a Eucharistic miracle in Bolsena, Italy, further strengthened devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In 1264, Pope Urban IV officially established the Feast of Corpus Christi for the universal Church. Since then, Catholics throughout the world have celebrated this solemnity as a special opportunity to proclaim and deepen our faith in Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.

For more than seven hundred years, this feast has strengthened generations of believers. Saints, religious communities, missionaries, families, and ordinary parishioners have found renewed faith through Eucharistic devotion. Today, we continue that same tradition.

When we hear the words “Corpus Christi,” we naturally think first of the Eucharist. Every time we gather for Mass, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It nourishes us, strengthens us, heals us, and unites us with Christ.

But the phrase “Body of Christ” has another important meaning. St. Paul teaches us that the Church itself is the Body of Christ. Through Baptism, each one of us becomes a member of that Body. Christ is the Head, and we are His members. This means that our faith is not simply personal; it is communal. We belong to one another. We pray for one another. We serve one another. We support one another. Together we become the visible presence of Christ in our world.

That is why our parish is so much more than a collection of buildings or programs. Corpus Christi Parish is a living community of faith. Every ministry, every volunteer, every family, every child, every senior, every prayer offered, every act of kindness contributes to building up the Body of Christ here in Ahwatukee.

One of the most beautiful ways we strengthen our relationship with Jesus is through Eucharistic Adoration. In Adoration, we simply spend time in the presence of Christ. We come before Him with our joys and struggles, our hopes and fears, our gratitude and petitions. We listen. We pray. We allow Him to transform our hearts.

The power of Eucharistic Adoration has become increasingly evident in the life of the Church. A remarkable example occurred in 2024 when the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops organized the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Catholics from across the nation gathered to renew their faith in the Eucharist. Many observers were amazed, not only by the size of the gathering, but also by the extraordinary number of young people who participated with enthusiasm and devotion.

Personally, I believe that the Eucharistic Revival and the National Eucharistic Congress have already borne tremendous fruit in the Church. Over the past two years, we have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of people entering the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), particularly among young adults. Here at Corpus Christi, we too have experienced the joy of welcoming many new Catholics into our parish family. Whenever the Church speaks with one voice and leads God's people in prayer, wonderful things happen.

We now look forward to another significant moment in the life of our nation and our Church. On June 11, the bishops of the United States will come together to consecrate our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I invite all our parishioners to participate in the ongoing nine-day Novena to the Sacred Heart leading up to that day. Let us pray together for our nation, our families, our Church, and for peace throughout the world.

In addition, I warmly invite everyone to join us in offering 250 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration in celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. Since we are blessed with a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, we have a unique opportunity to unite ourselves continuously with the Lord in prayer. This special period of prayer will begin at 2:00 p.m. on June 23 and conclude at midnight on July 3. I hope many parishioners will participate, and perhaps even consider making a permanent commitment to one of the hours in our Adoration Chapel.

As we celebrate our parish feast day, may our love for Jesus in the Eucharist continue to grow. May our parish continue our mission of truly becoming what its name proclaims: the Body of Christ. May we encounter Christ in the Eucharist, recognize Him in one another, and bring His presence into our community and beyond.

Thank you for being part of this wonderful parish family. Thank you for your faith, your generosity, your prayers, and your commitment to the mission of Christ and His Church.

Once again, on behalf of our clergy, staff, and parish leadership, I wish each of you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!

Congratulations to Fr. Jeff Pooley on His Priestly Ordination

It is with great joy and gratitude to God that we congratulate our very own Fr. Jeff Pooley on his ordination to the priesthood, which took place yesterday, Saturday, June 6, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, Arizona.

This is a moment of tremendous blessing not only for Fr. Jeff and his family, but also for our entire Corpus Christi Parish community. We are proud to have him as one of our own and are grateful for the witness of faith, perseverance, and generosity that has led him to this sacred vocation.

Fr. Jeff’s journey to the priesthood is both inspiring and unique. As a pilot, he once soared through the clouds, navigating the skies with skill and precision. Now, as a priest of Jesus Christ, he has been called to help guide souls toward heaven. Although he first sensed God’s call to the priesthood at the age of 17, the thought initially filled him with fear and uncertainty. Yet, through prayer, discernment, his studies in aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, and his involvement in youth ministry, he gradually discovered the deep joy and fulfillment that comes from saying “yes” to God’s plan.

Today, we invite all parishioners to join us as Fr. Jeff celebrates his First Mass of Thanksgiving at the 8:30 a.m. Mass here at Corpus Christi Parish. Following the Mass, a light reception will be held in the Parish Center, providing an opportunity for our parish family to personally congratulate Fr. Jeff and celebrate this special occasion together.

Please continue to keep Fr. Jeff in your prayers as he begins his priestly ministry. May the Lord bless him abundantly, strengthen him in his vocation, and make him a faithful shepherd after the heart of Christ for many years to come.

Congratulations, Fr. Jeff! We are honored to celebrate this joyful milestone with you.