CHESTERTON – As parishes across the United States prepare to take part in the National Eucharistic Revival this summer, the community of St. Patrick recently hosted a revival of its own. The Jan. 18 gathering revived the parish social event that was sidelined by the pandemic and had not taken place since 2019.
Guest speaker Father Jacob McDaniel started his talk by sharing memories of his high school football days and the repetitiveness of the drills at practice with those in attendance. He recalled his coach’s words on the importance of those drills, “We have to go back to the basics.”
The current chaplain at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso said when it comes to the Eucharist, it’s important to get back to the basics, beginning with the Eucharist as a Sacrament.
Father McDaniel said the best definition of a sacrament he learned takes him back to third grade when his teacher taught the class that “a sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible God.” As an example, he noted that while the waters of baptism are visible, the reality of the soul being cleansed is not.
“With the Eucharist, as the priest prays over the bread and wine, we certainly believe in our hearts, but we don’t see the invisible sense of what is happening,” he said. “That’s the mystery, the profoundness, the power of the Eucharist.”
He added, “Sometimes we may feel distant from God or that God may not seem visible in our lives. He’s made very visible, made very manifest in the Sacrament of the Eucharist for us. There’s the promise that Jesus will bide with us. Jesus Christ is present – body, blood, soul, and divinity – in the Eucharist. It’s the fullness of His promise that’s afforded to us in the Eucharist.”
Father McDaniel reminded the crowd that with the reception of the Eucharist, venial sins are forgiven, but stressed it’s still important to regularly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Eucharist goes beyond the individual, as it unites the person to the Church, according to Father McDaniel. “If we believe the Eucharist is the Body of Christ, we are united with God. When we commune with Him, we also are the Body of Christ and we are drawn together as one.”
Father McDaniel also confirmed that each time a person approaches to receive the Eucharist, they make a firm statement. “When the priest, deacon or Eucharistic minister presents the Body of Christ, there’s that, ‘Amen,’ that ‘Yes, I believe. I believe what the Church offers to us and that I believe what God offers to us.’
“The more we receive Him in the Eucharist, the more we conform to Him, the more we become more like Him,” he said.
While knowing the basics are important, Father McDaniel believes it’s just as important to let our lives be transformed by the “basics” of the Eucharist. “What are you going to do to take advantage of the gift of the Eucharist? Is it an opportunity to recommit, reengage going to Sunday Mass? Maybe the chance to go to daily Mass?”
He asked those gathered to reflect on how they prepare to receive the Eucharist, including whether they fast before Mass, emphasizing that fasting “allows us to truly hunger for the Lord.”
In conclusion he urged the faithful to take time to pray before the Lord, present in the Eucharist, especially in Eucharistic Adoration. “As we reflect on the gift of the Eucharist and the freedom we have to say yes to it, it can be a time to really challenge ourselves, to really push the limits and take advantage of that gift of the Eucharist,” said Father McDaniel. “Prepare to receive it well (and) take time to pray with our Lord present to us in the Eucharist.”
Marisa Kohnen, a St. Patrick parishioner and committee member, described the wine and cheese event as a time for the nearly 50 adults to come together for faith and fellowship.
“It was an opportunity for all of us to gather together as a parish, as a community for fellowship and social time … to uplift us and to keep pushing us forward in our faith,” said Kohnen. “It’s nice to see people wanting to come back together again.”
Jim Raffin said the event allowed people to come together on a social level as well as a catechetical level. “I’m a social person. It’s important to socially reach out to people … and tonight’s catechetical formation is an important part of it. Both things put together makes for a good event.”
Gabriella Raffin, Anna Kohnen and Noelle Fath, all St. Patrick School seventh graders, provided childcare for families with children. The girls and the children spent the evening doing crafts, eating snacks and watching a movie.
The teens said babysitting was a ministerial opportunity for them while it allowed their parents a chance to gather with other adults.
“It was a lot of fun hanging out with the kids,” said Anna. “It helps the church out a lot, especially the parents, so that they can come here and be with the community.”