We are called to be Eucharistic missionaries!
Monday, June 16, 2025
*Dolores Hanley McDiarmid
For the past three years, Catholics across the United States have been participating in an exciting and historic event in our Church, the National Eucharistic Revival. Various events have provided opportunities for Catholics to deepen their love for Jesus and develop a personal relationship with the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
As the official Revival period comes to close, all of us have been invited to participate in another unique and historic event called the "Walk with One" journey. The Holy Spirit is calling us to share the Good News with those who do not know Jesus and do not attend church. Yes, we are being called to evangelize!
In the Gospel of Mark, we read that we are to love God and one another by making disciples. It is time for us to be sent out into the world as Eucharistic missionaries and tell our stories of how Jesus has shown His love for us in our lives.
In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, No. 120, Pope Francis told us: “anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.” In our case, there is minimal training, and it is designed to be completed weekly in small groups or individually.
Our journey involves a simple four-stage process that focuses on a “heart-to-heart” approach to helping someone take a step closer to Jesus.
Step One: Spend time in prayer, in adoration or by the Blessed Sacrament, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you to the person he wants you to accompany.
Step Two: Ask God to open the door for you to have a conversation with this person and pray for any struggles or obstacles that may prevent the person from drawing closer to Jesus and exploring the Catholic faith more deeply.
Step Three: Practice the art of empathetic listening. Do not judge. Listen to your friend’s joys and struggles in life, as well as in their faith or lack of faith. More than one conversation may be needed to begin talking about their relationship with God.
Step Four: Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance on when to invite the person to Mass. If the person needs healing, you can invite him or her to take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation. If the person turns you down and shows no interest in attending Mass or confession or becoming closer to Jesus, keep that person in your prayers. Then, pray to be led to your next person.
As we go out into the world to evangelize, we must be sustained by the daily or weekly reception of the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. Each person’s “Walk with One” journey, guided by the Holy Spirit, is expected to be unique. There is no one formula for this experience and journey.
Interested in becoming a Eucharistic missionary?
- Here is the link to the main page: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one
- Here is the link to the resources: https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one-parish-kit
- And the past ‘Walk With One’ webinars can be found in this video library: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgDeuVYSmzeRg9gRoCmdJeeiKWOEtWcnq
St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of missionaries, pray for us!
Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!
