As a part of the Eucharistic Revival initiated in the United States by the Catholic Bishops’ conference, Campus Ministry invites our campus community to join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, for a Eucharistic Procession. The Eucharist is at the heart of Catholic faith, and Catholics believe that the bread and wine offered at Mass become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus is really and truly present in this way, and Catholics refer to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is customary then to reserve the consecrated bread, Christ’s Body, in Catholic Churches and Chapels. The Chapel of Christ the Teacher and each of our residence hall chapels has a tabernacle in which the reserved Blessed Sacrament resides. You can find it by locating the lit red candle that burns in each chapel. This signals to us that Jesus is present in the Eucharist in that space.
In many parts of the world, one custom is to carry the Eucharist in procession. Our Eucharistic Procession will begin at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher and follow a route throughout campus, passing by every residence hall and our academic buildings as a way to show our faith in Jesus’ presence among us in the Eucharist and ask for his blessing on our campus. We will sing Taizé hymns and litanies as we process, and we hope that you will join us! After the procession returns to the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, we will then spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available until 9 p.m. The evening will conclude with Benediction, which is a blessing given by the priest over the people with the Blessed Sacrament. This is the first event that Campus Ministry has planned as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, and we hope that you will join us in this prayerful event.
Please contact Fr. Tim Weed, C.S.C. (weed@up.edu) or x8919 for further information or with questions.
* In the event of rain, the procession around campus will be canceled, and we will have extended Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher.