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WITNESSEucharistic-related testimonies from parishioners across our diocese
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In His PresenceA POEM BY a frequent adorer and parishioner of St. Mary in Brenham
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I step inside and kneel—
The Monstrance before me,
The outside world behind—
And gradually my Fortress builds around me.
Brick by brick, stone by stone, it rises,
As deceptions, hardships, regrets, and worry
All begin to lose their power.
An hour passes, and I find that now
The walls are solid and high.
My focus and my center are Christ,
Who governs everything that passes on this earth.
Distractions and fears bounce off like so many arrows.
The second hour, and now
There are turrets at the corners.
My strength and my security are Christ,
Who pours out every rich treasure on those who seek Him.
He speaks peace to my heart, and at His word,
I’m no longer afraid of anything outside the walls.
The bells ring—three hours, and all the grace in them,
And now I find that
all that matters
Is safely sheltered within His Presence
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Cedarbrake Retreat Attendee
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Dear Brian and Cedarbrake Staff,
Thank you so much for your dedication to Cedarbrake and all the people you serve. As a mom with special needs children, I do not get the opportunity to pray as much as I would like to. My time here allows me to spend time with Jesus and really focus on him and the amazing gifts he has given me. Our special needs children are truly a gift and a miracle each and every day. My son is ten years old and loves to go to Mass to see the "Miracle" of the bread changing to Jesus. My boys (both special needs children) get so excited when they see the priest bless the bread and whisper, "It's coming!" When the bells ring they let out this amazed sigh and when the priest lifts Jesus they whisper, "That's HIM!!" and a just blown away with excitement. Each and every time I am humbled. I am reminded that we should be amazed and be like children when we are in the presence of Jesus. May we always feel their awe and wonder at the most Holy Eucharist!
Thank you, again!
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Susie and Michael WayHOLY CROSS PARISH, AUSTIN
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Our granddaughter, who is now 21, was once with Children's Liturgy of the Word when she was 3 years old. The gospel story told that day was of Jesus teaching people they must eat his body. The children's leader asked what they thought Jesus meant. The room was silent until our 3 year old pointed toward the church altar area, saying, "It's the Jesus Bread in there!"
Out of delight, that leader relayed the story to our daughter as soon as the children returned to church. We had never heard the words "Jesus Bread" before or since that time, but "from the mouth of babes," what amazing, beautifully simple words to use for the Eucharistic Bread for children!
Today, we respond even more completely, "Amen" as we receive the "Body of Christ," the Word made flesh, dwelling in and among all.
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Oscar RodriguezSt. William Parish, Round Rock
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I came to the church from a place of need and stayed from a place of gratitude. My name is Oscar Rodriguez and I received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist this past Easter Vigil and in my opinion, the best decision I’ve ever made.
I’m the oldest of three and for some reason unbeknownst to me, I was the only one that had not been baptized. I thought it never bothered me, but maybe it did. After many years of “fun” and being focused on pleasure and material things, I felt an emptiness that I had never felt before. I wasn’t sure how to fill the void. I started showing signs of depression, I didn’t want to get out of bed, I felt anxiety to the point of paralysis, and I wasn’t sure from what, but I wanted to run. To make matters worse my sister started struggling with mental health issues to the point where she had to be hospitalized. It felt like rock bottom. I wanted to move away and start over, literally. My mom encouraged us to go to church one morning and the church she chose was Saint William. I loved the message and the Mass. The next week she asked us to do the same and I agreed. I felt renewed again. I’m a creature of habit and I started thinking, “If I can dedicate an hour per day to work out, I can certainly dedicate over an hour on Sunday to worship the Lord in community and learn from scripture.” Ever since, I’ve continued going and my curiosity about how I could get baptized started to grow. The potential to wipe away all my sins was very appealing to me, so I signed up for RCIA. What I started to realize is that the more I attended and got involved, the better I felt. That’s when it turned from necessity to gratitude.
I’ll never forget looking up at Father Francisco as I was baptized. The joy and cleansing that I felt in that moment is indescribable. When I got confirmed and the oil was placed on my forehead was when I felt “this is really happening.” I did it! I am changed. I am a child of God! Through my journey, the Holy Spirit has touched me in numerous ways. The calling to always do the right thing. The feeling of responsibility to make it to church, pay attention and contribute to the church financially has been undeniable. I continue to ask for protection from evil, and strength to continue my pursuit of excellence. I know the Holy Spirit is helping guide my journey.
Being able to receive the blood and body of Christ every week since my baptism has been an absolute blessing. I didn’t really understand what receiving the blood and body of Christ meant at first, but now I do. I feel like not only is it the ultimate privilege, but now I crave it each week for strength, fortitude and guidance. I feel like it’s almost our opportunity to replenish and grow stronger in faith because of the sacrifice our Lord made for us. For that I am eternally grateful.
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John WheelerST. William Parish, Round rock
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These days, it is apparent that the world seems obsessed with the pursuit of the Self – and the definition, expression, and over-indulgence thereof. I myself have also wasted much of my adult life consumed by selfish endeavors, and can personally attest to the futility of a self-centered philosophy of living. As G. K. Chesterton quipped, believing too much in one’s self is “one of the commonest signs of a rotter!”
Only by the grace of God, and by His rod and His staff have I been brought back into His fold, and to His true purpose for Mankind: namely that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Putting God at the center of our lives is the true path to fulfillment – not of our own individual desires, but of His perfect will, which is far greater in purpose.
The primary way that I personally share in God’s kingdom and express His will is by following his commandments and participating in the holy sacraments. By experiencing and partaking in these sacraments, I not only demonstrate my devotion to His will and enter directly into His presence, but also open the door to better receive the graces which He wishes to bestow upon all who love Him.
This is especially true of the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our faith and hope in God’s redemptive sacrifice and merciful atonement for our sins. By partaking of his body, blood, soul and divinity in the Mass, I not only follow His instruction to “do this in memory of me”, but directly share in His passion and redeeming sacrifice. Having participated in the Sacred Eucharist, I can truly understand the words of the apostle Paul who said “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”.
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Grace DennySt. Mary's Catholic Center, College Station
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I knew little about the Catholic faith and I was worried it might not be a good fit for me. The more I learned about the Church's history, its teachings, and its traditions, I found myself feeling more curious. The next step was RCIA, which was intense and challenging at times, but also incredibly rewarding. I met many kind and generous people, and I learned a great deal about myself and my relationship with God.
A pivotal moment in my faith journey was when I had a dream with St. Matthew and St. Mary Magdalene. I spoke to them about the roadblocks I experienced with the Catholic faith. St. Matthew told me I needed to read my Bible and go to Matthew 6:9. He told me if I started there, everything would be answered in time. When I woke up, I read the scripture and cried. The Lord wanted me to learn and understand the faith, but not to forget that I needed to have a prayerful relationship with Him as well.
Finally, on Easter Vigil, I was initiated into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. It was a truly profound experience, and I felt overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. I am grateful for the Lord and the blessings he has bestowed upon me. I am excited to continue to grow in my faith and share it with others!
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