June 23, 2022 REL Topic - Catechesis, REL Sacraments- Eucharist, REL PD - Catechist, REL PD - Leaders
By: Allie Johnston
The National Eucharistic Revival, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, kicked off on June 19, 2022. The revival is a grassroots movement of Catholics, responding to the gift of the Eucharist in their own ways. In Episode 20 of their weekly Catechist Stream, Deacon Matt and Steve explored and explained the Eucharistic Revival. This article will share a summary and key takeaways of the episode hosted by Steve Botsford, Sadlier’s Senior Director of Digital Catechesis, and Deacon Matt Halbach, PhD, Sadlier’s Executive Director of Catechesis.
If you missed it, watch the full episode here!
What does the National Eucharistic Revival mean for catechists?
The National Eucharistic Revival is a call for catechists to be more intentional about catechizing and evangelizing about the Eucharist. There has been a growing decline of Eucharistic faith and devotion, potentially attributed to misunderstanding of Church teaching or other factors. A recent Pew research report has revealed that only one third of Catholics say they believe in transubstantiation, the core teaching and belief that, during Mass, the bread and wine used for Holy Communion become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Transubstantiation is central to the Catholic faith. We refer to the transubstantiated bread and wine as the Eucharist and the Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.
In response to this decline of Eucharistic faith and devotion, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us that Jesus is truly present and ready to heal renew and unify the Church and the world through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This national movement was begun by the Conference, led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Chair of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization & Catechesis. (Bishop Cozzens shared more on the Revival, and the document called “The Mystery of the Eucharist and the Life of the Church,” in Sadlier’s Rediscovering the Eucharist: Challenges and Opportunities for Renewal 3-Part Masterclass which is available on demand).
Mission and Vision of the Eucharistic Revival
The USCCB’s Eucharistic Revival web site is a key resource for the Eucharistic Revival, and includes sections on the mission, vision, and timeline. According to eucharisticrevival.org, the mission of the Eucharistic Revival is “to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist.”
