ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ URGED FAITHFUL TO FOCUS ON THE EUCHARIST’S CORE, JESUS, DURING EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE HELD TODAY AT THE CATHEDRAL
August 13, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

–Nearly 3,500 Catholics attended the one-day conference where experts shared the meaning and significance of the Eucharist as part of a Eucharistic Revival Movement that began in June 2022 and will end in 2025—

Archbishop José H. Gomez urged Catholics to focus their lives on the Eucharist meaning and significance, the life of Jesus, during a special bilingual Mass (English/Spanish) to close the Eucharistic Conference held for the first time today at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, where six experts addressed nearly 3,500 attendees during English and Spanish tracks held throughout the day. Concelebrating were Auxiliary Bishop Alex Aclan for the San Fernando Pastoral Region and guest Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, president of the National Eucharistic Congress Corporation and one of the speakers at Conference. Information about the conference can be viewed on lacatholics.org/eucharist.

“The Eucharist is the mystery of the almighty God’s presence among us, it is a mystery of our Creator’s love, the mystery that he decided to share his divine life, his intended friendship with each one of us,” said Archbishop Gomez in his homily. “We mean so much to Him that He offers his body and blood for us. We are worth so much that He would endure the pain of the cross and the shame of the cross so that we can live forever in the fire of his love.” The entire Mass and homily can be viewed here.

“The best way to thank Him is to venerate him and give our life to Him,” said Archbishop Gomez. “In the Eucharist Jesus gives us a vision for living, He gives our lives a mission,” said Archbishop Gomez. “The gift that we receive at this table we are called to share with our neighbors… Let us become Eucharistic missionaries. Let’s keep going always forward in joy and let’s keep our eyes always fixed on Jesus,” said Archbishop Gomez.

In June, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles joined the three-year-long National Eucharistic Revival Movement (June 2022 to June 2025) led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) when the faithful will be called to commit to prayer, pilgrimage, and worship to rekindle the fire of their love for Jesus in the Eucharist and renew their relationship and walk with Jesus.

“The Eucharistic Conference is an opportunity to deepen and renew our relationship with God,” said Fr. Juan Ochoa, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Worship, which spearheaded today’s event at Cathedral. “We will continue to hold more Eucharistic Conferences at the different pastoral regions of the Archdiocese, and more events specifically for youth and children.”

“This Congress is part of the fire that we’re trying to start around the whole country, of Eucharistic renewal and revival,” said Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, one of the speakers at the local Conference. He is president of the National Eucharistic Congress Corporation, overseeing the organization of the Eucharistic Congress at a national level. “And so to see thousands of people gathered here in Los Angeles, who are growing in their own love and devotion for the Eucharist is part the fire that we hope will spread and effect not only Catholics across this country but other Christians as well, so that they can grow in understanding how Jesus desires to be with them.”

Other speakers included Religious Sister Hilda Mateo, director of formation for the U.S. province of her religious community, Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit; Fr. Agustino Torres, founder of Corazón Puro (Pure Heart), an organization dedicated to forming youth; youth minister, author and TV host Chris Stefanick; Noel Diaz, founder of L.A.-based broadcaster El Sembrador Ministries; and Sister Miriam James Heidland, member of the religious community Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), a missionary community that serves global areas of apostolic need. Also present was Auxiliary Bishops Marc Trudeau for the San Pedro Pastoral Region.

The idea of a Eucharistic Revival movement developed after a 2019 Pew Research Center’s study revealed that only one third of Catholics understand the meaning of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. The need to rediscover the meaning of the Eucharist was accelerated by the pandemic, as many Catholics are still slowly returning to in-person Mass. The goal is that the faithful are empowered to develop a missionary action by recognizing Jesus in the vulnerable —the hungry, the elderly, the incarcerated, single mothers, the unhoused, among others.

The strategic pillars of the three-year Eucharistic Revival include:

  • To foster encounters with Jesus through the proclamation of the Gospel and experiences of Eucharistic devotion.
  • Contemplate and proclaim the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist through the Truth of our teaching, Beauty of our worship, and Goodness of our accompaniment of persons in poverty and those who are vulnerable.
  • Empower grassroots creativity by partnering with movements, apostolates, parishes, and educational institutions.
  • Reach the smallest unit: parish small groups and families.
  • Embrace and learn from the various rich intercultural Eucharistic traditions.

It is expected that parish activities will culminate in the first National Eucharistic Congress on July 17-21, 2024, where thousands of Catholics will journey on pilgrimage to Indianapolis to personally encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and be sent back out into their parishes and communities to put into action their service to the most vulnerable.

About 25 seminarians participated in the local Conference, and several departments of the Archdiocese, including Life, Justice and Peace, Office of Religious Education, Safeguard the Children, Catholic Schools and Vocations, had booths with important information for the attendees and the community.

For more information about the National Eucharistic Revival, visit the USCCB’s website, eucharisticrevival.org. For local information visit lacatholics.org/eucharist.

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Under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, covering approximately 9,000 square miles in 120 cities. The nearly 5 million Catholics in the Archdiocese come from some 70 countries and from every continent. Weekly Masses are celebrated in 42 languages throughout 288 parishes, and more than 73,000 students attend an Archdiocesan Catholic elementary or high school. For the latest news, and events and to subscribe for media alerts, visit media.la-archdiocese.org.