The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

June 7, 2026

GOSPEL MEDITATION

When I was a young altar server, I once overheard two very different comments about the Eucharist. One person asked, “Is Father distributing the bread or the wine?” Later, another asked, “Can you go get Jesus from the tabernacle?” Same parish, same Mass, but two very different ways of speaking. I pondered: So, is it bread that we pretend is Jesus? Or is Jesus a tiny white thing in a box? I was utterly confused.

This Feast of Corpus Christi is an excellent time to think about how we should speak about the Eucharist. In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares: “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” (John 6:55) His words scandalized his listeners, who feared cannibalism, and even today puzzle many, who reduce them to metaphor. Both miss the truth.

The Church gives us better words that honor Jesus’ words in the Gospel. After the consecration, we do not call it “bread” or “wine.” Nor do we say, “a piece of Jesus” or even “Jesus.” We say: the Eucharist. We say: the Body and Blood of Christ. We say: the Real Presence. We say: the Most Blessed Sacrament. These words safeguard the astonishing reality that Christ himself is truly present, whole and entire, under the appearances of bread and wine.

If we speak well about the Eucharist, we will think more clearly and believe more deeply. And if we believe more deeply, we will adore more truly the One who gives himself to us — not bread, not wine, but Jesus Christ himself, whole and entire.
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

“The first feminists were pro-life. Elizabeth C. Stanton called abortion ‘evil’. Sarah F. Norton called abortion a ‘crime’. Susan B. Anthony called abortion ‘child murder’. Alice Paul called abortion the ‘ultimate exploitation of women’.”
- Lila Rose

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

This week, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Our readings focused on the gifts of the Word of God and the Eucharist. This feast has deep significance to those of us living the stewardship way of life.

Why? As stewards, we recognize that all that we are and all that we have been given are gifts from God. We are called to treasure these gifts and use them for God’s glory. Aside from life itself, the most precious gifts God has given us are His Word and His Body and Blood. The Solemnity and the readings this week invite us to a deeper gratitude and better stewardship of these two sublime gifts.

A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE

Jesus tells us in the gospel: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me!” The point is: God is in each one of us, in our relationships and in our homes. The vocation of the Christian family is to live the divine gift which is already in and around us.
- Bud Ozar

TO SCHEDULE A MASS INTENTION

Please contact the parish office. The suggested donation for a Mass intention is $10. We will Schedule on or as close as possible to the date(s) you request.

MASS INTENTIONS

If we are unable to offer a Mass Intention on a date you are hoping for, Father Bonaventure is available to celebrate Mass at the abbey in Latrobe. He would welcome any Mass intentions you would like to send him. At: Fr. Bonaventure OSB, St. Vincent Archabbey 300 Fraser Purchase Road Latrobe, PA 15650

ALTOONA CURVE BASEBALL

Tickets are available for the Curve vs. The Chesapeak Baysox game on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in section 108. Tickets are $7 for registered parishioners and $13 for non parishioners. Please stop by the church office on Thursday’s or Friday’s between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. if you would like to attend. We thank Dennis Greiner for making all of the arrangements

Prayer Requests

Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Joe DeGennaro Jr., Colette DiMemmo, Margaret Dodson, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Paul Dunmire, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Roberta Farabaugh, Herman Frederick, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Carol Keagy, Russell Keith, John Kleine, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, Beth Lloyd, Joan Maier, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Kevin O'Rourke, Lucille Parker, Sarah Rihnovich, Nancy Servello, Elizabeth Siglow, Laura Snyder, Bill stauffer, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Joan Weston, Renee Williams, Mikayla Yanchik, Pat Zeak.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church