“Commit yourself to becoming a Eucharistic missionary, someone who lives deeply a Eucharistic life and having received that gift, allows themselves to be given as a gift.”
-Bishop Cozzens
This is a quote from Bishop Cozzens at the closing of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. In his brief comments, he repeatedly exhorted us to share the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist with the world in service as we enter the final year of the National Eucharistic Revival – this year – the year of mission. It’s no mistake that many of the teachings of our founder, Fr. James Flanagan, were echoed in this talk and many of the other talks and sessions during the congress. The themes of the primacy of the Eucharist in our lives, the role of Our Lady as the model disciple and intercessor for us, seeing all as gift and sharing our gifts, being friends with and walking with someone in need, and the missionary call of the Church, were consistently repeated throughout the week. We can see all of this reflected in the SOLT charism and in many of the teachings that are central to who we are – living Communion to Communion, Marian-Trinitarian spirituality, discipleship, graced friendships, order of gift, and the vision of bringing all people into communion with the Most Holy Trinity.
While this is encouraging, motivating, and maybe even comforting for those in SOLT to hear, we should also take this as a challenge. We have been prepared for this by our founder and all of the priests, sisters, brothers, and laity who are now, and have been, part of our community. And now, we are being called by the Church to go out and share our spirituality, our way of life, and our very selves with the world as part of this revival. To be clear, we’re not the only ones who have been prepared – countless other orders, societies, movements, apostolates, and individuals have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to serve the Church in this moment and have been given unique gifts to enable them to bring Christ to those who need Him. Mother Adela Galindo put it this way, “We were born for these times. It is our time to go out in haste … like Our Lady, to a world that urgently needs to know God’s love and God’s truth.” For the Lay Members of SOLT, this revival should serve as confirmation in your calling and provide renewed vigor in your life of service. Bishop Barron said that the laity are to “bring the lumen to the gentes, bring the Light of Christ out into the secular world.” So, while the universal call to holiness requires, perhaps demands, that we are active in leavening the temporal order – bringing the light of Christ into the workplace, the marketplace, the community, and our homes –this revival also strengthens the missionary call of the laity. As members of a missionary community, SOLT Laity are often called to something deeper depending on their current circumstances, to seek out those who are hidden, lost, or forgotten, giving themselves in ministries and apostolates that are in need of people, resources, and energy. Energized by the model and companionship of Our Lady, they bring the love and truth of Christ to those who need Him most.
SOLT Family Mission Experience (SOLT FME), an apostolate that flows from the Lay Association of SOLT, is a tangible fruit of this time of revival. Starting in the latter part of 2023, year 2 of the National Eucharistic Revival, we have spent the last 10 months building the foundation for this apostolate to grow and invite many families to serve in mission together as a family. Our mission experiences invite the family into the life of the mission – spirituality, community, and service. Daily Mass is the cornerstone of everything we do and is where we are sent out to serve. By reflecting each day on the Mass readings for the next day, each person – parents and kids – see how God is working in their lives as they serve each day. The meals and sharing each evening, give us time to get to know each other and encounter Christ in those we serve alongside. All of this prepares their hearts not just for service the following day in mission, but also for a change that the missionary families take home with them – a new or renewed missionary zeal that can change their family, parish, and community. SOLT Family Mission Experience is ready to support the Church in this call to missionary service – a call for everyone, even families.
With the Church in the US focused on being Eucharistic Missionaries this year (and hopefully beyond), SOLT FME is uniquely positioned to provide powerful eucharistic missionary experiences for any and all families. SOLT FME is seeking out more partnerships with dioceses and schools, offering them a tangible way to activate the missionary spirit of their families and provide a structured, proven way for them to serve. In our mission trips we will continue to be very intentional about our focus on encountering Christ in the Eucharist while on mission, and to be a visible sign that in the Eucharist we are sent out to serve those in need. God willing, SOLT Family Mission Experience will provide a valuable service to the Church, empowering families to serve during this year of mission and bring that newfound missionary zeal back home with them. In the words of Mother Adela, “Let us go as missionaries, like Our Lady – missionaries of the Eucharist.”
DEACON KEN DAWSON currently serves as Regional Lay Servant for the North American Region and as Mission Servant for SOLT Family Mission Experience
To read the full article featured in The Mission magazine, click HERE.
Yorumlar