1 June 2022 Prot. No. 484/2/22
Circ. No. 22.44

Reverend and Dear Monsignors and Fathers, Deacons and Subdeacons, Brothers and Sisters;

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including all of its Eastern Catholic Bishop Members, have launched an initiative to foster a greater awareness of the true presence of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Eucharist.

They have chosen to call this effort a National Eucharistic Revival, which has as its official kickoff date June 19, 2022, the Feast of the Body of Christ (in the Latin Church in the USA). The general idea is to re-catechize the faithful in the essence of the Eucharist, not as a medieval magical source, and not as a mere symbolic sign, but as a real gift given to us by Jesus, ensuring his actual physical presence among us on this earth until the end of time.

This Eucharistic Revival will come to its culmination two years from now, with the celebration of a National Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in Indianapolis, IN, from July 17-21, 2024.

The national office of the USCCB, which is coordinating this Revival, has asked that every parish/mission participate in this kickoff by having a Eucharistic Procession on the Feast of the Body of Christ. In our Maronite Church, this feast is celebrated this year on Thursday, June 16. Bishop Gregory is strongly encouraging each parish/mission to join in these efforts by having a Eucharistic Procession either before or after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Thursday evening, June 16, or on Sunday June 19.

During these two years, you are being asked to gear several Sunday homilies toward the true meaning of the Eucharist, and to share with the faithful the many writings of the early Church Fathers on this matter. Also, in a special way during these two years, continue to make exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament available to the faithful at least once per month.

Should you like more information on this Revival or would like more resources, please contact me, as I am the liaison of our Eparchy to this committee.

I will conclude this letter with an excerpt of one of Saint Ephrem's Homilies which may be of some assistance to you (Lamy, Vol 1, pp. 399-566: Sermones in hebdomadam sanctam, diem resurrectionis et dominicam novam):

Our Lord Jesus took in his hands what in the beginning was only bread; and he blessed it and signed it, and made it holy in the name ofthe Father and in the name ofthe Spirit... He called the bread his living Body... He gave them (his disciples) the bread which his right hand had made holy: " ... Do not now regard as bread that which I have given you; but take, eat this bread, and do not scatter the crumbs; for what I have called my Body, that it is indeed. One particle from its crumbs is able to sanctify thousands and thousands, and is sufficient to afford life to those who eat of it.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas, JCD
Vicar General