“Making us one body, one spirit in Christ”

BY EMILY SALAZAR

Hundreds of Catholics from all over South Texas gathered at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on June 8th to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with prayers and a procession throughout the streets of downtown Corpus Christi. Here’s what some participants shared about what the Eucharist means to them.

“Eucharist was when Jesus broke the bread that was His body to be given for the life of human beings. Christ in the Eucharist continues to work with the ministers to reach out to the suffering members of his body. So, as a chaplain, it means going out and being Christ for others in pain.”

Johnson Oodo, chaplain at Christus Spohn Hospital

“The Eucharist to me is the presence of Jesus, His ability to be able to heal us, our ability to be able to come into communion with Him. Of course, this occurs during mass, but also in adoration, or just being in His presence, walking with Him in the streets.”

Liana Badillo, Young Catholic Adults, Corpus Christi

“It’s the center of my prayer life, the reason why I became a priest, and I see the Eucharist as having a super important function of making us one body, one spirit in Christ. Without Jesus and the Eucharist, that unity that Jesus prayed for at the end of his life would not have been possible. In that sense, I see the Eucharist not only as something between Jesus and me but something between Jesus and us.”

Rev. Darryl D’Souza, Pastor at Holy Family Parish

“I am a novice in religious life, so I haven’t made my vows yet – I am preparing to become a bride of Christ and to make my vows to Him. And when I receive the Eucharist, I feel myself growing closer and closer to Him, and that union I am striving for is coming to its fullness. So, for me, it’s a relationship with my future spouse.”

Sister Christine, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity

“I tend to sometimes think of God as a very intense God, and when I see him in the Eucharist, He’s so gentle, and it’s so beautiful how He is so intimate with us. So, when I think of the Eucharist, I think of a very intimate relationship with God.”

Meagan Gilbert, Parishioner of St. John the Baptist Parish

“The Eucharist means an embodiment of unity between people within our own religion. It allows us to express motivation and drive connection with one another.”

Elizabeth Hodge, Parishioner of Corpus Christi Cathedral

“It’s a mystery. I mean, it’s fuel for the soul, fuel for our whole life. It’s a sacrament, so it’s a way God reaches out to us. It’s a sign to experience God in a new way and to become God, to live in the reality that is God and to let Him become you and you become Him.”

Tom McGlynn, Executive Director of Fazenda da Esperança

“The Eucharist is everything. Nothing can compare to the Eucharist.”

Deacon Pedro Salas, spiritual director of the Galveston and Houston members of the National Nocturnal Adoration Society