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A Letter to the Planners The letter below was sent to those in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia most closely concerned with planning the September 18th closing ceremony of the Year of the Eucharist. Thoughts on 9/18/05: Closing Event of the Year of
the Eucharist A first Communion celebration. The Lord of heaven and earth is placed in the hands and lips of an innocent child. Tears of unspeakable joy in family and friends. Barbara and Scott Fina, parents of five-month-old boys, Sean, Luke and Matthew, praying at St. Malachy’s: “Lord, help us get through this week.” A priest brings the Blessed Sacrament to a cancer patient: “My Body given for you. My Blood shed for you.” New strength, hope, peace and courage. A drop of the precious blood placed on the lips of a Terri Schiavo, a friend for one’s dying. All will be well in the end. A few personal vignettes here—but each of us has our own memories of our encountering the Lord in the Eucharist. But how best to celebrate the profound mystery of the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the mystery of Christ’s presence in His people? Present plans for the September 18th closing event of the Year of the Eucharist call for Eucharistic celebrations in all the parishes that weekend, and then an in-gathering to Logan Circle on the Parkway of the Eucharistic people from the parishes for a Holy Hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance. My hope is that the “Prayer of the Parkway” will become a celebration of praise and witness and prayer for peace in ourselves, our communities, our world. The celebration would become Christ’s “Presence on the Parkway” not in the monstrance, but in the people. Let there be music and lots of singing. Hymns like “Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord,” “Let There Be Peace and Let It Begin with Me,” and “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace” come to mind. A short homily, prayer and witness for peace by the very presence of a Eucharistic people. What a way to close this Year of the Eucharist! And as an added bonus, invite other Christians who also believe in the Lord’’s Supper. Frank McGinty The letter bore the signatures of twenty members of the Catholic Peace Fellowship. |