Fifth Sunday of Lent

Of all Jesus’ miracles, the most unsettling might be when he made a dead person alive. We know of three times when he did so: a girl, a young man, and Lazarus. The miracle teaches us he has the power of life and death. He anticipates his resurrection. Sin hurts us. Some sin kills us, spiritually. The three miracles reveal to us that no matter our circumstances, Jesus can give life to us.

The three miracles are instructive of the three ways we feel dead. The little dead girl symbolizes sin before it has time to mature. She’s in bed and, once alive, gets right back to her life. The young man is lying in his casket in a funeral procession. This is sin allowed to fester, to grow and become somewhat normalized. Once raised, he has a short walk back home. Lazarus, a full-grown dead man, lies wrapped in burial bands in the tomb. Once he is raised, much needs to be done. He’ll need to remove those bands, find new clothes, and travel all the way back home. That is sin allowed to go all the way, unchecked for months or years. It’s the most spectacular of the three and reveals Jesus’ glory more than the others.

What hope that should give us, for us and those whom we love! Jesus knows our sin hurts us and can even kill us spiritually. No matter the extent of the damage, he is always ready for the miracle of making the dead fully alive.

                                                                                  — Father John Muir

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Diocesan Prayer for the Eucharistic Revival
Jesus, Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation, You gave us the gracious gift of the Eucharist.
We give thanks and adore you fully present in the consecrated bread and wine.
Draw us closer to you and one another as we gather in person for Mass. Open us to receive the transforming gift of your great love. Make us new during this time of revival so that our lives will naturally reflect the faith, hope, and love that begin and end in you.  Amen.
  + Immaculate Mary, patron of the Diocese of Portland, pray for us.

Eucharistic Revival 2022-2025
           "My flesh for the life of the world." John 6:51
The Bishops of the United States (USCCB) are calling for a three-year grassroots revival of devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. They believe that God wants to see a movement of Catholics across the United States, healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist—and sent out in mission “for the life of the world.” The three years will focus on different levels of Church life and include the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in nearly 50 years.

Mission, Vision, and Goals of the Eucharistic Revival
Mission:
To renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
Vision:
A movement of Catholics across the United States, healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist - and sent out in mission "for the life of the world."
Goals:
This Eucharistic Revival seeks to bring together clergy, religious, laity, apostolates, movements, and parish and diocesan leaders to spur momentum, collaboration, and lasting impact for the renewal of the Catholic Church in the U.S. Grounded in prayer and responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the National Eucharistic Revival has four primary goals:
 + To provide a more profound encounter with Jesus Christ in the Sunday liturgy as a point of unity among all Catholics, and through this powerful encounter, to find personal healing and courage to take the Gospel to a world in need of authentic love – the love of Christ found in the Eucharist.
+ To spark personal conversions through the joyful discovery of a relationship with Christ by encountering the love of God present in Jesus in the Eucharist.
+ To elevate the truth and practices of our Catholic faith through the rediscovery of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
+ To form, inspire, and launch missionary disciples, filled with love of God and neighbor that comes from an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, to the margins of the Church and the world.

The Eucharist celebrated, received, adored, and lived
Embracing the Eucharist as it is celebrated, received, adored, and lived will guide the Eucharistic Revival in the Diocese of Portland.
+ The Eucharist celebrated focuses on how we celebrate the Mass and encourage parishioners to participate in the liturgy more fully, consciously, and actively.
+ The Eucharist received focuses on individual preparation for personal encounters with Jesus Christ in the Mass, especially ongoing conversion to ever greater faith and devotion through sharing in holy Communion.
+ The Eucharist adored focuses on honoring the Real Presence of Christ outside of Mass
+ The Eucharist lived focuses on people acting as missionary disciples changed by sharing in the Eucharist, cooperating with the Holy Spirit in serving others so the wider community may also be changed by the Father’s gifts of love, mercy, and generosity.

  
 
 

    As Catholics, we are called to not only live our faith for ourselves but in community with one another.  A living faith is an active faith and one that follows the example Jesus set for us. It brings us together to celebrate the Eucharist, to share our gifts, and to lift others up so that they may discover the gifts they, too, have to offer. 

One way that Catholics in Maine can help their faith come alive is by contributing to the annual Catholic Appeal. Each year, ministries supported by the appeal touch the lives of tens of thousands of people across the state, from newborns to seniors.

As a community of faith, we are called to be witnesses to the Gospel, changing individual hearts one at a time and transforming the communities where we live. This is our work, the work of our Church, made possible through your support.  Please look into your heart and step out in faith by prayerfully considering a gift in support of the 2022 Catholic Appeal.

If you would like more information or need assistance, please call David DiNapoli at (207) 321-7835.  Click on "Make a Gift" to make your gift TODAY!

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