Become a Part of the Revival

By Shawna Hanson Eucharistic
Revival Committee Chair

“From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others.”
– Pope John Paul II

On June 19 this year, the Diocese of Rapid City joined hundreds of other dioceses across the country in launching the National Eucharistic Revival with a special Mass and procession.  As part of our efforts during this “Diocesan Year” of the Revival, we would like to offer every Catholic who participates in any way as a “leader” in their parish an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and love of Jesus.  Leaders serve in so many ways across the Diocese, from paid Directors of Religious Education to those who help provide funeral luncheons, to those who organize cleaning and maintenance in our parishes.  We are so grateful for all who serve Christ in big and little ways across our diocese, and we would like to invite you to become a part of the National Revival. Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Diocese of Crookston, Minn., and Director of Revival at the USCCB, has emphasized that the revival is not a program, but a movement. As such, it invites every Catholic, not to a new “job” in or for the church, but to spend time enkindling a greater love for Jesus in our own hearts. 

The Diocese of Rapid City is offering several opportunities to grow both in our knowledge and our love for Jesus in the coming months. Beginning in July, the St. Katharine Drexel Monstrance, the monstrance used for our Diocesan Corpus Christi Procession on June 19, began a pilgrimage to every parish in our diocese. We pray that this gives people across the diocese a special opportunity to meet Christ present in the Eucharist, spend time with him, and worship him.  We believe it is a tangible way to extend the celebration of Corpus Christi and to unite us as a Diocese. With much the same desire, we will host the relics of two great saints in our Diocese from October 28–November 1. There will be six opportunities across western South Dakota to venerate and pray with these relics (https://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/relic-tour/). 

And it is with great joy that we offer several opportunities for parish leaders to “come away and rest” with Jesus, to learn, and to pray.  The first of these opportunities will be held Saturday, November 5 at Terra Sancta Retreat Center from 10:30 am-3:30 pm.  In our first session this day, come learn why Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once commented, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host.” After Mass and lunch, Sr. Rachel Gosda, Director of Pastoral Ministries for the Diocese of Rapid City, will share the why, what, when, and how of the National Eucharistic Revival and the day wraps up with an opportunity to experience the work and life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the young man from Italy, who from a very young age had a great love for Jesus and a desire to use his gifts and talents to draw others to God and to Jesus, present in the Eucharist. 

Register here for this great opportunity!

Mark your calendars for other opportunities to grow and learn in the coming months:

December 9 & 10 – “A Weekend With Dr. Mary Healy,” international speaker, scripture scholar, healing evangelist, and author.  Registration and more information at:  https://terrasancta.org/drhealy/

Saturday, February 5 – Parish Leader Training #2 – Encountering the Merciful Love of Jesus

March 6 & 7 – Pastoral Ministries Days – Our annual Diocesan Formation Days will have a Eucharistic Theme this year!