Last weekend’s celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi was truly a gift. As we processed with the Blessed Sacrament from St. Augustine Church to St. Monica’s Chapel, something profound was happening. To walk the streets with the Eucharist is to proclaim, quietly yet powerfully, that Jesus is truly present, that He desires to meet every person, and that His love reaches beyond the walls of our churches. Thank you to all who came, who prayed, who sang, who walked in reverence, and who offered their presence as witnesses. You were part of something deeply beautiful and important.

One of the key purposes of the procession was not only to honor Our Lord in the Eucharist, but also to highlight our parish’s ongoing efforts to transform St. Monica Chapel into a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. This is not a small project—it is a spiritual endeavor, rooted in the belief that time spent in the presence of Christ transforms not just individuals, but entire communities. Studies have shown that wherever there is Adoration, there is growth. Hearts are healed, vocations are born, and faith is deepened. If we make space for Him in silence, Jesus will do the rest. So our procession was a visible act of faith—an outward sign that proclaims: “Jesus is here, and we are making room for Him.”

After Benediction in the chapel, we gathered outside for a parish BBQ. The joy and warmth were unmistakable. Children played, parishioners from each of our churches mingled and laughed, and we shared a meal as one family in Christ. It reminded me that the joy of the Gospel is never meant to remain hidden in our hearts. It's meant to overflow into community. Our hospitality, our laughter, our friendship—these too are forms of witness. We are a Eucharistic people, which means we are a people of joy, of belonging, and of love. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus from all three councils and to the Adoration Chapel Committee for your outstanding planning and preparation. Thank you to every volunteer who brought food, helped clean up, and made the day such a success. It was a living image of the Body of Christ, active and united.

This celebration also gave us a chance to honor and thank Fr. Britto, who has served our parish with joy, humility, and devotion. His love for the Eucharist and his pastoral presence have been a blessing. While we will miss him as he moves on to new ministry in Rangeley, we send him with our prayers and deep gratitude. The fruits of his ministry here will remain. May God continue to bless him and those he will now serve.

Looking ahead, I also want to share an update on our weekday Mass schedule. Fr. Britto will be leaving on July 1st, and although we were expecting Fr. Antonidass to arrive the same day, his arrival has been delayed. This means that for about two weeks, our parish will have only two priests—Fr. Toniyo and myself—covering all daily Masses and funerals. We were already planning to revise the daily Mass schedule starting July 1st, but even with the new plan, Fr. Toniyo and I will have to give up part of our day off each week to make it work. We’re committed to serving the parish as best we can during this transition, and we’ll see how it unfolds. In the future, it may be necessary to cancel some daily Masses if no priest is available. I’m still awaiting further information from the diocese regarding weekend coverage and will keep you informed as things develop.

These changes are not easy, but last weekend showed us something important: while the priest’s role is essential, a parish is never built on the priest alone. What made the Eucharistic procession and the picnic so powerful was not simply that the priest carried the monstrance—it was that the whole community walked, prayed, worked, and celebrated together. Lay men and women, teens, families, Knights, committee members, and volunteers—all came together with a shared purpose and a shared joy. This is the Church. This is what it means to be the Body of Christ.

We are the Body of Christ. We each have a part to play. The Church flourishes not when we have all the clergy we might wish for, but when all the baptized step into their vocation to witness, serve, and pray. So thank you. Thank you for being the Church—not only when the priest is present, but in your homes, your neighborhoods, and in every act of faith and love. Christ is truly among us when we walk together in unity. May Jesus in the Eucharist continue to bless our parish, transform our hearts, and draw us ever closer to Himself.