Bishop Solis: Pastoral Congress will deepen understanding of the Eucharist

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SALT LAKE CITY — Bishop Oscar A. Solis is encouraging all Utah Catholics to participate in the Pastoral Congress that will be held Sept. 17 at parishes throughout the diocese. He chose the theme “Eucharist: Life, Joy and Thanksgiving” to highlight the importance of the Holy Eucharist and Christian stewardship.

“The Congress will be a joyous time for a Eucharistic Revival as we gather to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist, the summit of our Christian life and worship and strengthen the faith of our local communities,” Bishop Solis said. “Through Congress, the Holy Spirit guides and inspires us as we proclaim the Gospel messages of hope, love and missionary discipleship within our local churches.”

The keynote presentations for the Congress will be livestreamed, and participants will be able to take part in discussions after the presentations. The presentations also will be uploaded to the diocesan website to allow everyone to benefit from hearing them.

Some parishes may schedule their sessions at other times to meet the needs of their congregation.

This Pastoral Congress is a tremendous opportunity for the faithful to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and to give greater life to their faith, said Michael Murphy, who will present the keynote address in English. “It’s important that we reach a deeper understanding of Christ’s active presence in our lives and how we are transformed by the Eucharist so we can be that sacrament among ourselves and to the world.”

Murphy, who has a graduate degree in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame, is executive director of the International Catholic Stewardship Council.

By inviting all the faithful to attend the Pastoral Congress, Bishop Solis is following the initiatives of Pope Francis, who wants to strengthen an ideal of the Church that was recognized in the Second Vatican Council, said Dr. José Antonio Medina, the keynote speaker in Spanish.

Medina is a professor of pastoral theology for Saint Thomas University in Houston, Texas and Loyola Marymount University. He also is director of ongoing formation for clergy for the Diocese of San Bernadino and is an instructor for the Spanish-language lay ecclesial minister formation (Emaús) program in Salt Lake City.

“The Church by nature is missionary, and all of us who are baptized are missionaries,” Medina said. “Pope Francis has even turned into his motto an idea that is already present in the Gospels, that all of us who are baptized are or should be missionary disciples. This ideal is not yet part of the culture of Catholics in the United States, so we must insist that we must all know our faith, and the Congress is a great opportunity to do so.”

Addressing the role of the Eucharist in the faith life of ordinary Catholics is important because humanity is experiencing great division due to ideological or political opinions, Dr. Medina said. “However, it is a time when with technological and communication advances we can do a lot of damage; especially, we can really provoke violence and aggression against each other. The Catholic Church, with its 20 centuries of history, can offer paths of unity, of consensus, reconciliation, of mutual love, because in the end that is the Eucharist. We celebrate Christ who gave his life for us so that we are capable of forgiving, supporting, listening to each other, understanding each other and loving each other.”

Those who plan to participate in the Pastoral Congress may find praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit valuable in helping to prepare themselves for the experience, Murphy said. “I would first encourage all of us to pray that we come to the Congress with an open heart and a willingness to learn and share our own faith with fellow Catholics.”

He also suggested that people read and reflect on three Eucharistic readings in the Gospels: Luke 22:1-34, John chapters 6 and 13-17.

“Third, I would encourage us to prepare for the Congress by creating some sacred space within ourselves,” he said.

“It seems to me that any Catholic who is serious about his or her faith and does not otherwise have job commitments or personal obligations will embrace this extraordinary moment in the life of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, say ‘yes’ to the bishop’s invitation to reflect more concertedly about their faith, and share it with fellow disciples,” Murphy said. “Let us see this time we can be together as a sacred time, keeping in mind Christ’s promise that where two or more are gathered in his name he is right there in their midst.”

Medina echoed that sentiment, saying that if participants come to the Pastoral Congress with an open mind and heart, “God will do his work.”

Murphy encourages those who plan to participate in the Pastoral Congress to invite others to join them. “Jesus Christ is the fundamental sacrament of God’s presence in the world. We need many more among his communion of followers to reflect on, and give witness to, this sacred reality,” he said. “The Congress offers us this opportunity and this unique moment of grace.”

WHAT: 2022 Diocesan Pastoral Congress

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17

WHERE: Individual Parishes

The keynote addresses will be livestreamed, and participants will be able to ask questions of the presenters. Contact your parish for details about time and location.