May 31, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,
Happy Easter! With the upcoming celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, all of us diocesan bishops across the United States will inaugurate our Conference’s Eucharistic Revival. It is our deepest desire for the next few years that all Catholic disciples of the Risen Christ entrust ourselves to our Eucharistic identity. What this necessitates is for us to reaffirm our faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Since we already know that the ultimate way to increase our belief and appreciation of the Eucharist is our full and authentic celebration of the Mass – the “source and summit of our faith” (Constitution on the Liturgy, #10). Moreover, our belief and appreciation is further deepened with the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - which flows from the celebration of the Mass and guides us back to it.
Our Diocesan Worship Commission has been charged with the implementation of the Eucharistic Revival initiative. They are presently working on creating a comprehensive endeavor to afford our clergy, pastoral leaders, parish faith formation programs (for parishioners of all ages) and Catholic schools to be engaged in the Eucharistic Revival’s mission and aspirations. They have also identified the enclosed resource (from the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions) “A Liturgy Preparation Aid for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ” for your planning and preparation purposes at the parish level for the celebration of this solemnity on June 19th. Additionally, please see an initial overview of some of the ways the Diocesan Worship Commission envisions our diocesan-wide participation in the on-going Eucharistic Revival plans.
I would also like to take this opportunity personally to invite you to the diocesan celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at 2:00 pm at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption. The Mass will conclude with a Eucharistic Procession on the Cathedral campus. I am asking that my brother priests vest to concelebrate the Mass and that my brother deacons vest and be present as the Community of Deacons (further instructions will be forthcoming). I am inviting all the Directors of Parish Life and all the Chancery Staff to please join me as well. While we are all aware that this is Father’s Day, I am encouraging everyone who comes to bring along your family - or a family from your parish - to truly make this a festive celebration inaugurating the Eucharistic Revival initiative here in our Diocese of Saginaw.
With all best wishes and Easter Time blessings, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Robert D. Gruss
Bishop of Saginaw