THE TABLET, OCTOBER 8 2005

DIOCESAN FAMILY UNITED IN PRAYER

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The special Year of the Eucharist, which was proclaimed by Pope John Paul II, of happy memory, last October, comes to an end this month. It was a call for all members of the Church to rediscover the transforming power of the Eucharist, the source and the summit of our community of faith that unites us ever more strongly through the power of the Holy Spirit. In our sharing of the Lord's Body and Blood, we become the Church, as John Paul told us in his Eucharistic encyclical, which described the Church as the Church of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist, as the summit of our faith, reminds us that we are meant to live the Eucharist at every moment as brothers and sisters who live in unity, charity and peace around the Bishop, who is the source of unity in the community, and with the priests who assist him and share in the Eucharistic celebration of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. We all share in the universal priesthood of the faithful; however, the ordained ministers who celebrate the Eucharist make available to us the presence of Jesus in a unique and transforming way.

The gift of the Eucharist is especially important as we face our daily personal and family struggles and sufferings. We cannot forget that the Eucharist allows us to participate in an unbloody manner in the redemptive act of the sufferings of Christ's death and resurrection through the power of grace. This means that our sufferings, fears and anxieties can be transformed into redemptive acts joined to those of Jesus, if only we recognize our ability to do so through our Baptism and participation in the Eucharist. The reception of the Body and Blood of the Crucified, Risen Lord gives us the grace and strength to face and overcome the challenges before us as individuals and families.

As we look to the week ahead, I am happy to announce that our first diocesan televised retreat, consisting of four evenings of prayer and reflection, will be available to everyone on the Prayer Channel Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 11-14, at 8 p.m. on Time Warner Cable (Channel 79) and Cablevision (Channel 30).

As many in our Diocese already know, we will commemorate the conclusion of the Year of the Eucharist on Saturday, Oct. 15, at KeySpan Park in Coney Island. The park, normally a place of sports events, will be transformed into an outdoor cathedral. All will come as pilgrims from parishes and ecclesial movements across our Diocese to celebrate our common faith and the real and enduring presence of the Lord Jesus in the sacrament of the Eucharist. We will come together to share the One Bread as members of the One Body of Christ, the Church.

It is my hope that this unique day of prayer will strengthen the bonds of unity and peace that exist among us in our Diocese and be a source of encouragement to everyone, especially families, whose participation we are inviting in a special way. Our gathering will also join us spiritually with our brothers and sisters throughout the world as we conclude this Year of the Eucharist. We especially will be united to our Holy Father, who will observe the closing of this special year of prayer and grace in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, Oct. 16, the day after our celebration.

Our diocesan observance will also provide a fitting occasion to celebrate the role that Catholic families play in the life of our parishes and in the work of the New Evangelization. To show the connection between the New Evangelization and vibrant families, I am issuing my second pastoral letter next week, which will concentrate on family life in the Church.

Vibrant families have always formed the foundation of our Church. For example, families remain the prime source for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and as a Church we must remain committed to do all that we can to affirm, protect and nourish our families in their journey of faith. Unfortunately, we live in a time when societal pressures have caused many Catholic families to experience increasing turmoil, division and stress. Given these trends, how can we hope to preach the Gospel with a new vigor, as asked for by the New Evangelization, if we do not at the same time recommit ourselves to pray for and strengthen Catholic family life in all its forms?

We ask the Lord to pour down the Holy Spirit upon all the families of our Diocese so that they may rededicate themselves, each in their own way, to live as the domestic Church and to witness to our Catholic faith, as stated in the theme of our KeySpan celebration: "One Bread, One Body, One Family in Christ."

Our celebration at KeySpan Park will be a unique opportunity to celebrate both our diversity and unity in Christ. Our diocesan family forms a rich mosaic of families from all cultures and ethnic backgrounds. May our celebration strengthen the bonds of unity among us as a diocesan family of faith.

By way of practical information, the day will consist of two parts. The morning program will feature songs, the recitation of a Living Rosary and a solemn Eucharistic Procession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It will begin at 9 a.m. and end at approximately 11:45 a.m. After lunch, we will celebrate the Eucharist beginning at 1:15 p.m. The day will conclude at approximately 3 p.m. It seems we are already at the maximum number of 9,000; however, your parish may have tickets available.

The theme chosen reveals the purpose and goal of the day. It truly is an exercise of putting out into the deep. "One Bread, One Body" reminds us of the great sacrament of unity that is the Eucharist, uniting us as "One Family" and reminding us that the Eucharist is the food that nourishes our families and the sacrament that makes us "One Family in Christ." As we deepen our love and knowledge of the Eucharist, our participation in the diocesan celebration as families of faith will bring us to a renewed understanding of what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ.

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