From Our Pastor: Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, also called Corpus Christi. We celebrate the true presence of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Eucharist. Throughout history the Eucharist is what unites us as a Church, but also sets us apart. Jesus told us He would be with us to the end of time, and through the Eucharist He keeps good on this promise. Through the theological term called "concomitance," we remind ourselves that no matter if we receive the tiniest crumb of the host or the smallest droplet of the precious blood, we receive all of Jesus. He cannot be divvied up, and we receive all of Him, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in either and/or both species of the Eucharist. His real presence is powerful and life changing. He is always waiting for you to pray in His presence, which is why the north door of the Church is open throughout most of the day every day. Take the opportunity to come sit and pray with him anytime.

This weekend, I invite you to come join us after at the 11:00 a.m. Mass, even if you come to another Mass, please come join us for a procession to take our Lord out into the world. Eucharistic processions are a beautiful experience where we process out into the area around our parish to bring Christ into the world and witness to the world our belief in the real presence. Christ's presence is transformative for our lives and our community. We will be processing and walking, but know that even if you can't walk that far around the block, we will return for Benediction in the church at the end. This is a great experience for us all, but your kids will love this opportunity.

Please don't forget the parish picnic is next weekend! A great opportunity for our parish to gather and be social and support our school! Next weekend June 12, the evening mass will be at 4:00 p.m., not the normal 4:30 p.m.

June 12 is the priesthood ordination for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Please keep Deacon Chris Trummer in your prayers as he is ordained a priest. The future Fr. Trummer is a great man and will be a great priest. His brother Fr. Michael Trummer was ordained last year for the diocese. What a great gift and witness these two brothers give to the Church! Please pray for Fr. Trummer as he begins his life as a priest. Also know you are welcome to come to the Cathedral on June 12 at 10 a.m.

We also have one last thing to announce and celebrate! I was called last week to be notified that the future Deacon Dennis Holbrook will be assigned right here in his home parish with us! Deacon Elect Holbrook will begin his assignment in assisting the pastor of St. Francis Solanus on July 1. We are so excited for him and his wife, Pat. What a joy it will be to have the help of another deacon here at St. Francis Solanus. We are so blessed to have Deacon Wayne Zimmerman and now almost Deacon Dennis Holbrook here serving and assisting us! Our very own homegrown vocation will be ordained in the morning of June 26, at the Cathedral in Springfield. I would like us to take a group over to see the ordination of one of our own! If you have never experienced an ordination, go! They are spectacular events of true joy!

Rev. Steven Arisman