This weekend we celebrate the beautiful and profound Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ—Corpus Christi. It is a sacred reminder that the Eucharist is not simply something we receive; it is something we become. St. Augustine once preached, “Behold what you are, become what you receive.” When we come to the table of the Lord and receive the consecrated bread and wine—the Body and Blood of Christ—we are being drawn into the very mystery of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. We are not passive recipients, but participants in the divine life. We are the Body of Christ. We are called to be the living bread broken for the world.
The Eucharist is the beating heart of our community. I pray that, if you are able, you come to Church this weekend. There is something irreplaceable about gathering together as the Body of Christ. When we gather and receive the Eucharist, we become the living presence of Christ for others—nourishment for a hungry world, peace for troubled hearts, and joy for those in despair. In these days of uncertainty and war in our world, we need that peace and we need to be that bread for the world.
At its core, the word Eucharist means “Thanksgiving” and the Mass is the Church’s great act of gratitude—to give thanks for what we have, for who we are, and for whose we are. It is through gratitude that we remember our true identity: beloved children of God. Every time we come to the table, we are invited not only to receive, but to give thanks and to become that thanksgiving in the world outside of the Church.
Thanksgiving and gratitude are more than moments; they are a movement of the heart. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama write in The Book of Joy, gratitude is a pillar of joy. It lifts our hearts beyond scarcity into the abundance of grace. When we live in gratitude, we learn to see with the eyes of love. The Eucharist forms us in this way of seeing. Each celebration of Mass is not just a ritual, but a training ground for joy, thanksgiving and gratitude!
Speaking of gratitude, this weekend we recognize those who have served faithfully in our Diocese as liturgical ministers and catechists. At each Mass, we will offer a special blessing for them and the Diocese has prepared certificates honoring their years of service. Alongside the priests and pastoral staff, these individuals have poured themselves out to make our worship, formation, and community vibrant. They continue to plant the seeds of faith and prayer—helping to form hearts, deepen worship, and strengthen our community. Let us offer them our heartfelt thanks and may their example inspire others.
This weekend we also begin our farewell to Fr. Chris, who has served our parish with generosity and care for the past six years. Though next weekend will be his final one at St. Simon, we are offering a blessing at all Masses this weekend in gratitude for his ministry. He will be speaking about his home diocese—the Archdiocese of Abuja in Nigeria—and we will take up a special offering to give back to his sponsoring diocese in thanksgiving for sharing him with us. I encourage you to leave time after each Mass to say goodbye to Fr. Chris, and, if you can, write him a note or card. These written words are powerful. I can tell you from my own experience at my 25th anniversary a few weeks ago—your cards are treasures to me. I have kept them, each one a gem of kindness and grace. They matter. They stay with us. Please take a moment to do the same for Fr. Chris. Online card here.
Looking ahead, we also ask for your prayers this coming week as we host our annual Vacation Bible School! Our young leaders are preparing to lead the little ones in a wonderful week of faith, music, and joy. It is a living witness to the vitality of our community and the future of our Church.
Let us remember that every Mass is both a Thanksgiving Feast and a sacred promise: that we will become what we receive. May we go forth this week as the Body of Christ, broken and shared for the life of the world.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan