Saints Peter and Paul Parish Eucharistic Revival activities

Diocese of Salt Lake City

+ Enlarge

WEST VALLEY CITY — Following the diocesan directives led by Bishop Oscar A. Solis and in keeping with the Eucharistic Revival called for by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City is putting the Eucharist at the center of its parish life.

This effort began three years ago, following Bishop Solis’ call to have a strong Catholic identity in Utah, said Father Sébastien Sasa, parish administrator. In 2022, the Sts. Peter and Paul community designated a parish pastoral year titled “The Eucharist as the source and summit of life,” and formed a parochial Eucharistic Revival team.

“Jesus himself told us that his body gives us life,” Fr. Sasa said, adding that “Christianity is based on the bread of life.” Also, the Book of 2 John “tells us that without the Eucharist there is no life, so we understand the importance of God’s people getting to know Jesus, getting to love him and have his real presence in their lives.”

The parish’s Eucharistic Revival team, known as EPAE, decided to have a catechetical presentation every Wednesday with the Eucharist as the main theme. The evenings begin with a Holy Hour. Some of the topics so far have been the Eucharist and the elderly, the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary, and the Eucharist and human work.

“The EPAE came to me and proposed certain presenters, who were evaluated by their spiritual formation, their Christianity and their charisms,” Fr. Sasa said.

“We have had nine catechism [sessions] based on the Eucharist and we are planning nine more,” Fr. Sasa said, adding that these will run until December.

People who attend the presentations will develop a better understanding of the Eucharist, he said.

“I hope that the parishioners get to know all the dimensions of the Holy Eucharist, and their social implications in their lives so they can transform the society that we live in,” he said.

The presentations are bilingual English/Spanish.

Sts. Peter and Paul is also offering Mass every day in English in the morning and in Spanish in the evening. In addition, they have daily Adoration, and are planning a parish Eucharistic Congress.