Jesus’s Enduring Presence Among Us 
May 2023
The Eucharistic Life of the Parish
By Dr. Karen Shadle

We have nearly completed the first year of the Eucharistic Revival, a three-year initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that is happening in Catholic churches all around the nation. According to the USCCB’s plan, the first year, which is drawing to a close, focused on diocesan-level initiatives around the Eucharist. The second year, which will begin on the feast of Corpus Christi – June, 11, 2023 – and conclude next summer, centers on the Eucharistic life of the parish. A National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July of 2024 kicks off the final year, which is about national and missionary efforts.

Whenever I am asked to speak or write about the Eucharistic Revival, I am quick to remind everyone that, despite what I just outlined, this is not a three-year project. This is a permanent refocusing of our efforts as a Church so that everything we do is centered on the Eucharist. The Church exists so that people can encounter Jesus, and we must always strive for that end, for as many people as possible, now and forever. These encounters must be meaningful, gripping, and beautiful. They can never be trite, banal, uninteresting. This takes sustained attention from all of us.

In my most recent column in The Record, I discussed the etymological meaning of the word “revival” - bringing back to life something which is dead or dying. Part of the work of the revival is to identify what is dead so that it can be effectively revived. We have clearly witnessed over a generation or two a loss of Eucharistic culture, that is, of Catholic culture, which has had devastating impact. Some of that impact is measurable – declining attendance at Mass and participation in the sacraments of the Church, and failure to understand or assent to core doctrines of our faith. Other effects are less measurable – homes, schools, and churches without much Catholic “personality,” watered-down traditions, and a general Catholic self-esteem problem.

In the Eucharistic Revival effort, there is good news. We are...Read More
Why Do Catholics Do That?
On the May 2023 episode of the What's New in ArchLou podcast, Father Jeff Shooner, pastor of St. Boniface and St. Patrick Parishes and Vicar for Clergy, joins host Dr. Brian Reynolds, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, to discuss “Why Do Catholics Do That?”
New episodes of What's New in ArchLou will be available on the first Tuesday of each month in both video and audio only here.
Synod on Synodality Update:
Journeying Together into the Third Phase
By Richard "Tink" Guthrie

The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021, is comprised of three distinct stages – the diocesan, continental, and universal phases. Each sequential stage in this three-year Synod is designed to inform the work of the next.

Locally, the Synod began in early 2022 with six months of grassroots listening to the faithful through 120 in-person gatherings, plus online feedback. In June 2022, the Archdiocese of Louisville published our final synthesis report, Journeying Together, reflecting the experiences, joys, and concerns shared by nearly 2,400 people in our Archdiocese who answered the Holy Father’s invitation to share their personal stories of the Church. If you have not yet read the Journeying Together synthesis, I encourage you to do so and witness the transparency with which this synodal approach brought forth our Church’s blessings and its shortcomings in the hope of fostering future growth together.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) received these diocesan stage synthesis reports from across the country and summarized them into a comprehensive U.S. National Synthesis for submission to the Holy See in Rome. Thus concluded the first synodal phase, the diocesan stage, in late summer 2022.
 
In the second phase of the Synod, the continental stage, the Holy See reviewed national syntheses from around the world and produced a Working Document of global feedback from synodal listening. The Working Document reflected experiences of Church by people from diverse geographies, cultures, languages, socioeconomics, and political realities. Even with these diverse realities, the recurring hopes and concerns they expressed for the Catholic Church were remarkably similar to the stories shared locally in central Kentucky.

Earlier this year, in North America, more than 1,000 diocesan delegates, including 146 bishops, from the United States and Canada participated in virtual assemblies to discuss the content of the Working Document. Delegates consistently...Read More
Archbishop's Tweets
Follow @ArchbishopFabre on Twitter for more of his tweets.

May 5
@ArchbishopFabre:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). We are called to follow Jesus and, through him, to be united with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Upcoming Events
5/18/23 Noon

6/11/23 5:30 p.m.

6/12/23 1:00 p.m.
(See link for cost/registration)
Resources & Recommendations
This month, we're highlighting some helpful and timely resources for Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. We encourage you to check out the resources below.

Archbishop Shelton Fabre’s Daily Twitter
Archbishop Shelton is tweeting a daily reflection. Follow him at @ArchbishopFabre.

Archdiocese of Louisville Corpus Christi Procession
All are invited to join Archbishop Fabre for the Archdiocesan Corpus Christi Procession on Sunday, June 11, 2023, following the 5:30 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption (433 S. Fifth St.). The procession will form outside the Cathedral after Mass at approximately 6:45 p.m. Participants will walk from the Cathedral to the Belvedere (about ½ mile), stopping at each cross street for prayer and singing, followed by a time of prayer and adoration at the Riverfront Plaza at the Belvedere at 7:15 p.m. Those processing will return to the Cathedral at approximately 8:15 p.m. for Benediction with the Archbishop, followed by an ice cream reception. Participants may come for all or any part of this celebration and parishes, schools, or Catholic organization may carry a banner in the procession. For this event, the Archdiocese extends a special invitation to first communicants and their families. First communicants are welcome to wear first communion attire. 

Employment Opportunities in the Archdiocese of Louisville
Parishes, schools, and archdiocesan agencies are all hiring. For more information, go here.

Mother’s Day and Infertility
Is Mother’s Day a particularly painful day for you? Catholic Charities of Louisville and the Office of Family and Life Ministries collaborate to provide a confidential support group for those struggling with infertility. Please email Deacon Stephen Bowling, Director of the Office of Family and Life Ministries for information at sbowling@archlou.org.

Faith Formation Opportunities
Interested in learning more about your Catholic faith? Please see the Office of Faith Formation’s summer offerings here.

Catholic Enrichment Center Anniversary Celebration
Located at 3146 West Broadway in Louisville, the Catholic Enrichment Center (CEC) of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Multicultural Ministry will celebrate its 23rd anniversary on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from noon to 7 p.m., with a formal presentation including community and Church dignitaries starting at 6 p.m. A variety of programs and activities will take place during the day that celebrate the CEC’s integral role in the community and the Archdiocese for more than two decades. The Catholic Enrichment Center is an extension of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Multicultural Ministry (OMM) and was established to provide holistic cultural enrichment, formation, and academic development for the community. The CEC is a community gathering place where people of all ages, races, and faiths can find the answers to many of their questions about enhancing their lives from a holistic perspective. For further details on the event, please call 502-776-0262.

Catholic Charities of Louisville Needs Help for Refugees
After a decrease in new arrivals for the last few years, refugee resettlement in Louisville is picking up at a rapid pace. Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Office resettles refugees whom the agency will welcome with a safe, comfortable apartment stocked with the furniture and household items they need to make a new home, and this office needs your help with donations.

Items needed include:

  • Dining / Kitchen Tables
  • End Tables
  • Couches (no sectionals or sleep sofas)
  • Adult Bikes
  • Housing Units (For more information, contact housing@archlou.org)

Catholic Charities will come to your home to pick up these items. The timing is dependent upon the truck’s availability. Or you can drop-off items at the 2220 W. Market Street location. Volunteers will be available to help you unload your items. Drop-offs are by appointment only. To schedule a drop off or pick up, call 502-636-9263.

You also may host a drive in your parish or neighborhood. For more information about and guidelines about collection drives, contact Peyton Rhea, prhea@archlou.org.

Please note that Catholic Charities is not accepting donations of clothing. Go here for an accepted list of donations.
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