The United State Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called for a Eucharistic Revival, a three-year “grassroots revival of devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.” Particularly right now, the bishops feel the Church in the United States needs (1) healing, (2) unity, (3) formation, and (4) sending. The mission of the revival is to renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Locally, we will prepare for the Eucharistic Revival with a Forty Hours Devotion, beginning June 17. The devotion will culminate with a Eucharistic procession through the streets of downtown Birmingham on June 19, the Feast of Corpus Christi, at 7 p.m.

Bishop Raica extended an invitation to the faithful of the diocese in a April 5 letter. “It is with great anticipation and hope that I share plans for the kick-off of our diocesan phase of the USCCB three-year initiative, “Eucharistic Revival: My Flesh for the Life of the World,” the bishop wrote.

The plans for the weekend begin with a 6 p.m. Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist on June 17 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, which will begin the Forty Hours Devotion. He expressed hope that all priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful would be able to participate, especially in the Eucharistic Procession, June 19. Bishop Raica asked parishes and apostolates to create a banner to be used in procession. He also invited “all altar servers, those who have made their first communion this year, members of various cultural apostolates, as well as any other creative group” to be part of the procession. In conclusion, he wrote, “I pray that many fruits will be born as we begin to enact these efforts and that we draw closer to Christ in the Eucharist throughout these next years. Please let us all offer our prayers for Eucharistic revival across our nation and for what I am confident will be a great time of grace for our own Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.”