Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

July 23, 2024
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
This last week (July 16-21) a National “Catholic Fest” took place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was the National Eucharistic Congress, instituted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The great mystery of the Real Presence of Jesus given to His Church was celebrated by believing Catholics from all over the United States. 

It was a gathering of people who were joyful. There were the young and the old, families with small children, religious sisters and seminarians, priests and bishops, archbishops, and cardinals – some 55,000 people, all to stand with and for Jesus and His Church.

The first morning, I travelled through the Indiana Convention Center (ICC). It was crowded with wall-to-wall people, but as I made my way through the crowd, I noticed that everyone was happy. There was a feeling of kindness toward one another. Each section was marked with a number, and people were trying to decide where they were to go. 

I had the impression that this is the way heaven will be like. The crowd of humanity will be filled with a joyful spirit, people being kind to one another, and all there because of Jesus. At His invitation, they would be patiently awaiting directions to the section where they will celebrate life everlasting. 

The talks and breakout sessions were inspiring. The Masses pulled the crowd together with a reverential sense of receiving the Lord though the celebration of the Eucharist. In one sense, I wish that the entire Catholic population of the United States could have experienced this moment with us. But in a true sense, I know that the Lord unites all of us through His Real Presence. We are one through Him and His Church.

Bishops were asked to introduce the breakout sessions with a prayerful reflection. On Saturday, I was invited to address one of the groups that presented Newman Ministry. I wish to share my reflection with you: 

Let us pray: In St. John’s Gospel, Jesus declares that He is the food and drink of eternal salvation. “Unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood you shall not have life.” This teaching was hard for some of His followers to hear – His flesh and His blood to eat and drink? So, they walked away. Jesus turned to his disciples and asked, “Do you also want to leave?” It was Peter who answered the Lord: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Jesus instituted His Church and promised to remain with us always. In the priesthood, through the power of His Church and in the action of her priests, Jesus’ presence is given to us – His body and His blood as food for our journey through life. We are not alone; Jesus is for us, in us, and with us.

At this time in the history of the Church in the United States and the world, we must affirm what Peter responded to Our Lord – “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He so loved us that He gave us His life. Now our lives must be joined to Him in the Real Presence, and we must witness to that Christ, profess His presence, and proclaim Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

May the prayer taught to us by Our Lord to give us this day our daily bread, be the bread that fills not only our physical desires, but most importantly, fills our desire for eternal life.

Jesus, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. So together, we pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 
 
May His Real Presence direct us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

Sincerely,

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki

Archbishop of Milwaukee          

Note: This blog originally appeared as the July 23, 2024, "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.