By Father Mark McCormick
Director of the Office of Vocations

“I offer all my sufferings for a true Eucharistic Revival in our diocese,” This line, from Bishop Peter’s announcement before he died of esophageal cancer on Saturday, February 17, has sparked many conversations. It has inspired the hearts of believers to live the Eucharist in their lives more deeply.

Fr. Scott Traynor, the Vicar for Lay and Clergy Formation for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, led the staff retreat for the Rapid City Catholic School System on Tuesday, February 20, and spoke of how this line from Bishop Peter stirred the hearts of several priests in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. His witness reawakened in their own hearts the desire to suffer for a true Eucharist Revival in the hearts of God’s people.

I know this line, “I offer all my sufferings for a true Eucharistic Revival in our diocese,” has encouraged countless others in our parishes to see and meet Jesus in their own suffering, living out Bishop Peter’s motto — Exemplum Dedi Vobis, “I have given you an example” (Jn 13:15).

However, I have also had several people approach me and say, “Well, Fr. Mark, the miracle we were praying for Bishop Peter did not happen.” My response is, “That’s not true!” Then I share with them the signs of the Eucharistic Revival I experienced in the hearts of our college students on Saturday evening, February 17, at Terra Santa. We had about 70 college students from South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City; Black Hills State University, Spearfish; Dickinson State University, N.D.; and Chadron State University, Nebraska; encountering Jesus alive in the Blessed Sacrament in adoration.

Listen to these reflections — these encounters of Christ that Saturday evening in front of Jesus. See what I have seen — the Eucharistic Revival is happening in the lives of God’s people through Bishop Peter’s offering of his suffering for the Eucharistic Revival. Look out, there is much more to come!

Matthew Mitzel (SDSM&T) — “I experienced the joy and love of Jesus in the Eucharist and during Adoration. ‘By His Wounds We Are Healed’ was the title for the retreat. At adoration, Fr. Mark came to each of us with Jesus in the monstrance. When Jesus came to me, I got the opportunity to let my misery come face to face with his mercy and to let His heart be laid over my heart. How else could I respond but with love, adoration, thanksgiving, and joy!”

Makayla Beulke (SDSM&T) — “As I was gazing at the Eucharist I saw my Abba, my father. He received me exactly as I am and told me that he loves me no matter how inferior I may feel, however imperfect, however unworthy … regardless he gives me his love and mercy and desires so much for me to love him in return.”

Jake Lindblom (Dickinson State) — “I was so grateful to see my Lord in adoration. But not only to see him — to quietly rest with him. To be with Jesus, who loves me so dearly that he lets himself be adored and consumed in the Holy Eucharist by me. The adoration night at the retreat left me speechless. In that moment, I did not need to give anything, did not need to prove myself; I only needed to receive Jesus. And that was enough.”

Parker Schlenker (Black Hills State) — “Bishop Peter truly has the heart of the Father. He suffered from esophageal cancer and offered up his suffering for the Eucharistic Revival in our diocese. He conformed his wounds with Jesus, and the fruits of his prayers are already manifesting. This retreat shows the depth of love we experience sitting in front of our Lord in adoration. He truly has given us an example of what fatherhood looks like, and I pray that I have a heart like him; a heart conformed to Christ; a heart offered up for his spouse, not for his own welfare but for ours.”

Marcus Herber (Chadron State) — “On my knees, only feet from the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, my entire body trembled. At that moment, I finally understood what it meant to be known, to be seen, and to be heard — true communion through the intimate love of Jesus, made visible so that I might understand. Now, I am left with a hunger which is fueled by the mystery of the Eucharist.”