“There is nothing so great as the Eucharist.  If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.” – St. John Vianney

True, St. John Vianney’s feast day isn’t until tomorrow, but I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to quote him.  He is, after all, the patron saint of parish priests.  He’s also incredibly quotable.  I spent more time than I should trying to find the “perfect” quote.  In the end, I went with this, because it’s a nice primer for this Sunday’s Gospel…and also because it’s true.

There is nothing so great as the Eucharist.  It is the source and summit of our lives.  It invigorates, sustains, revives, refreshes, and renews us.  In short, it defines who we are as Catholics.  We should never take it for granted, and we should always seek to receive it as often – and as worthily – as we can.

Above all else, we need to trust in the One who gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.  These are, undoubtedly, trying times in the life of the Church; and all the changes soon coming to the parish and the diocese at large will, for a time, make it even more complicated.  But the Eucharist will never change.  It will continue to be for us what it has always been for us, and it will get us through.

Saint John Vianney and Saint Richard, pray for us!

Some news and notes:

PRAYERS:  Please keep in your prayers Isla Mae Skrbin, Nicholas Brian Tavelli, Grady William Davidson, and Isaac Edmund Yeh, all of whom will be baptized this weekend.

TRAFFIC:  A friendly reminder that Meridian Road will be closed tomorrow morning, so if you’re planning on coming to Benediction or morning Mass, you may need to seek an alternate route.  Also, the project at the intersection of Routes 8 & 910 will be going on for some time, so be sure to leave yourself additional time in coming to Mass.

PIG ROAST:  The annual pig roast to support our Guatemala Mission Group is this Sunday from 4-7 PM in the social hall.  All are welcome!

CATECHISTS:  We are still in great need of catechists for the coming year.  Please contact the faith formation office if you are interested.

RENEW THE I DO:  Our 3rd Forever “I Do” Monthly Date Night will be Saturday, August 11th. We are having a “Drive-In” Movie Date Night @ 7:30pm featuring the movie Marriage Retreat. If it rains, we will meet in the Social Hall.  See the bulletin for more details.

And so concludes my last Conway Communiqué.  It’s been a wild, interesting, fun, and far too short ride.  Let us keep each other in prayer.  Have a great weekend, and know that you are loved!  See you at Mass!

Peace,

Fr. Mike