July 28, 2024
Dear Parish Family:
In October 1979, Pope (now Saint) John Paul II made a papal pilgrimage to the U.S.A. It included stops in the North and Midwest. My family was blessed with “silver tickets” for the Philly Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Being 11 years old at the time, I just remember the excitement, the huge crowds, and knowing that Mass was happening outdoors, but not being able to see anything (I’m not sure there were jumbotrons back then.) Yet that experience had an impact on me.
In September 1987, John Paul II made his second papal visit to America. The stops were in the South, Southwest, and West. In 1987, EWTN (Mother Angelica’s Catholic TV Station) was up and running and covered the papal visit around the clock. My family watched it on TV and it was still very impactful. While watching the Papal Mass in Los Angeles, I clearly heard God’s call to the priesthood. It was strong and palpable.
Since then, I have been blessed to participate in several Papal Masses in the US and overseas and participated in well over 100 Catholic conferences, gatherings, and congresses. While they were all good and grace bearing, their impact didn’t match what I felt in 1987 … until the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis last week.
There were incredible speakers, amazing music, and inspiring liturgies. Swelling to 60,000 people, everywhere you looked, everywhere you went, everywhere you were, you were surrounded by your Catholic brothers and sisters. These huge crowds were a little overwhelming, but more importantly, they overwhelmed my heart. We were from different places, at different spots on the journey, with different backgrounds and experiences. We are all there together because we wanted to be strengthened in our love and understanding of the Eucharist: Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, truly, really, permanently, and substantially present with us. There was not merely a feeling of unity, but a palpable sense of oneness and communion. That is exactly what the Eucharist does. It unites us to Jesus and unites us with each other. Certainly at this huge national gathering, but every day in our parish.
A friend asked me to sum up my experience with three words. That’s really impossible, but if I were to try they would be at this moment: Hope, Renewed, Grateful. I will share more in the weeks ahead.
Grace and peace!
Father Neil Sullivan
Pastor
P.S. Even amidst the sea of people I was able to spot and connect with many, many people that I know. Including pilgrims from our parish: Sister Donna Marie, Vanessa Valovage, and the Vivek family!