St Francis of Assisi Parish issued the following announcement on Sept. 6.

Why do you go to Mass?

Why do I go to Mass? Body and blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. I can't live spiritually without it. I know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I need to stay connected to God. I need the Eucharist to spiritually nourish me for the journey here on earth. I need the Word of God to instruct me on how to live God's way here on earth, to be on the journey towards the heavenly kingdom. I know where I want to spend eternity, in heaven, that the food I need for the journey here on earth is the Eucharist, and the road map is the Word of God. Church is where the Word and the Eucharist come together, along with a community of believers on the same journey. Together, with Jesus as our guide, we go from here to eternity. The following of what the Catholic catechism says, and God calling me to follow Him, are also a part of my need for weekly/daily Mass.

Why go to Mass? 

According to the Catholic Catechism - "The Eucharist is" the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch. The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through Him to the Father in the Holy Spirit. Finally, by the Eucharistic celebration we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all. In brief, the Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith: "Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking."140 (CC1324-1327)

Where can I find further information on why go to Mass? The bible, today, I suggest John chapter 6, the “Break of Life Discourse." There are two video options you might find inspiring, google them: "Motivation to Go to Catholic Mass" - Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension Presents) "Don't Feel like Going to Mass?" - Bobby and Jackie Angel (Ascension Presents) 

So why do you go to church? 

I encourage you this week to spend some prayerful time reflecting on why you go  to Mass and to open your heart in prayer to realize in a deeper and wider way God's call to you to receive him in the Eucharist and the Word. I encourage you this week, to share that answer with someone, via personal visit, on the phone, or electronically.

In these difficult COVID-19 days/weeks/months, I think it is important to reaffirm our faith and do what we safely can to practice our faith. Certainly, if you are at high health risk, and need to avoid large gatherings, I encourage you to consider coming to daily Mass or, if need be, to prayerfully participate in Mass by electronic means (TV or computer). If we are out and about in many other opportunities, restaurants, parties, sports, and not participating weekly in Mass, I invite you to review your spiritual life and commit again today to practicing the Catholic faith by coming to Mass.

Fr. Doug

P.S. This past week was Fr. Foley's birthday!

I am grateful to God that Fr. Foley is healthy,

willing, and able to continue in ministry at

the Felician Village. If you would like to

send him a card or note, his address is:

1700 S. 18th Street , Apt. 214, Manitowoc, WI, 54220

Original source can be found here.