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The National Eucharistic Congress has concluded. Now what? · Beyond The Beacon

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Beyond the Beacon with Bishop Kevin Sweeney, a podcast of the Diocese of Patterson in the great state of New Jersey.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: Join us for weekly conversations about our Catholic faith, and together let's strive to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Cecile Pagliarulo.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_01: With me is Bishop Kevin Sweeney.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: A bit of a hiatus.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, a little break, right.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_03: But it's good to be back.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_03: A lot has happened uh since we were last here together.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_03: Uh but um but as we'll hear today, we had the great experience of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis uh from uh July 16th to 21st, and a great blessing uh for I think all who attended and hopefully for the church throughout the country.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: I think our guests too today, today's show is actually about the National Eucharistic Congress.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: Right, right.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_03: Looking back and looking forward, maybe.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_03: Uh other than that, anything you would like to discuss before we uh Well I think I have to um this past um Sunday, the second reading, um uh St.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_03: Paul talked about humility and uh at one minute I mentioned uh Yankee fans have learned a little humility.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_03: Uh fortunately they've started winning again, but to the Met fans out there, uh I gotta offer congratulations um for um this shouldn't have it happened that early anyway.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_03: Congratulations and uh we'll see how the rest of the season goes, you know.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_03: So but um but um but the Yankees are winning again, so that's a good thing.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay, okay.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: Now would you uh start off with a prayer?
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_03: We'll place ourselves in God's presence in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_03: Amen.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_03: We recorded today on the feast of Saint Alphonsus Ligori, founder of the Redemptorists, and we celebrated yesterday, July 31st, the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_03: Giving thanks to God for the gift of our faith and the gift of the church and those who inspire us to live the faith.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_03: Giving thanks to God for the blessings of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, and asking the Lord to continue to bless and inspire us.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_03: We pray, we join all our prayers together as one as we pray, as Jesus has taught us.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_03: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_03: Give us this day our daily bread.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_03: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_03: Amen.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_03: We pray may the heart of Jesus in the most blessed sacrament be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection at every moment in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_03: Amen.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_03: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for you, pray for us, all holy men and women, pray.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_03: Pray for us in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_03: Amen.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_03: Amen.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: So today we have uh two couples that will that attended a national congress, and with us is Anne and Toby Palito, who have been parishioners of Holy Family Parish in Florence Park for 23 years.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: They are parents to three children, Toby, Michael, and Jessica.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: And the couple will celebrate 29 years of marriage on August 13th.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: Toby is an internal medicine physician and has been a teacher by profession and is a proud stay-at-home mom for the past 26 years.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: They are both Eucharistic ministers, and Toby is a lector as well.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_01: And also runs the Rosary Society at her parish.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_01: Toby is a diaconate candidate, uh, very recent, right?
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_06: Three years.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: And Anne is in the process of getting her master's in theology from Seaton Hall.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_01: So this is a little fun fact about the couple.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: They have been taking classes together at Seaton Hall.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_03: It's been wonderful.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and I was a guest at uh the home of Toby and Anne three years ago.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, yes.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_03: Where it was, I think, at St.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_03: Paul's side of the walls at the time.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_03: It was the Bishop, the bonfire, and bourbon.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah, you go.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_03: And uh you could bid uh have the bishop over at your house for dinner.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_03: So I enjoyed it very much meeting your family, and I've gotten to know your son Michael a little bit.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_03: Uh who's at Zeke was a Catholic University.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_06: He was a Catholic University.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_06: He's uh gonna be starting Albany Law School in uh two weeks.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_06: Oh, fantastic.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_03: That's great.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um so uh with Toby and Ann and then Deacon Eric and Debbie, we will be talking about our experience of the National Eucharistic Congress.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_03: And we were gonna think about maybe having the whole group 60 on the on the podcast, but it'll be a little tougher to kind of angles.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_03: And we may have a couple of others along the way.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_03: But um, maybe that's a well maybe um uh to start, Toby and Ann, just to when did you first hear about the Eucharistic Congress?
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_03: When did you think, oh, maybe that's something we should do, and then um maybe describe your experience meeting some in the group.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_03: We had a couple we had a couple of meetings before.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_03: Father Alex Nevin was um organizing.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so maybe a little bit about what led to you getting there, and then um maybe what it was like.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_03: Was it what you were expecting?
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_03: Was it uh and you can choose who who goes first.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, I think I heard about the Congress at a presentation at our parish, and when we found out it was going to be in mid-July and Indianapolis, we were kind of like, hmm, that's a little bit of a hard time.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, Indianapolis in July.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_03: But look at how the Lord uh provides, right?
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, so our initial reaction was no, this isn't for us.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_02: But then I think as we're going through this diaconal program and we're trying to get closer to the Lord, and we just see the real need to uh proclaim the Eucharist and to draw others to it, we said, why are we doing this?
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_02: If we're do if we're gonna do this, we have to be as equipped as as we can.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_02: So we said, let's go.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_02: And and we're so happy with that we decided to do it.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_02: It was just uh just filled with such joy and peace and a whole new appreciation for the Eucharist.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_02: So we feel very blessed to have been there.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_06: That's good.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_06: No, uh absolutely, and we also thought that this would be a great opportunity because a year ago uh we had we were blessed to uh go on a pilgrimage to uh to Rome, which was a uh uh a pilgrimage led by the lay center in Rome in conjunction with the seminary, uh and uh the it was uh uh walking in the footsteps of Saint Paul, and it was about evangelization and catechesis, which centered around the Eucharist, Ephesians 4 12, uh building up the body of Christ.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_06: So we thought that was a great foundation for for now say, well, this it would be a good segue to to to the Eucharistic Congress.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_03: And uh you got to meet some other people from around the diocese, right?
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_03: Uh being part of the group of the diet group.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_06: Yeah, yeah, it was wonderful.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_06: It was wonderful.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_06: And the diocese did a phenomenal job.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_06: Yes.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_06: With registration, I mean we heard horror stories about people waiting online for hours.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_03: Uh we it was it was seamless and these days you go when you have a flight, I think uh you expect the worst, and then when it's on time and and uh and no problems, it's just such a a blessing, and I think that was the case for our group.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Father Michael Schwark actually started the lead the the preparation efforts, then he was named an administrator in St.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_03: Luke's in um in Long Valley, and then Father Alex Nevitt uh really uh took up the baton and and and provided great leadership, right?
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_03: For the did a phenomenal job, absolutely.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_03: Yep.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_03: Um Cecilia.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_01: So uh did you have a favorite part of the Congress?
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_01: Was it mass?
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: Was it the procession?
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_06: Um confession was was was amazing for me.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_06: They had me confess the confessions were were set up in a large room and uh and uh it was uh it was it was n thousands of people and it was seamless.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_06: But it was truly I've been to confession many times.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_06: Were the religious sisters that were welcoming people and pointing them to the other.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_02: Oh they were like the air traffic controllers, like their green batons, and and and I we just thought it was so amazing.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_02: It was a huge conference room, but it was you know respectfully uh spaced.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_02: And all I could think of, I just said, Oh, I hope all the angels and saints and the good Lord is just filled with happiness to see this mass release of sin and and just say that people don't go to confession anymore, they should have been confused.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, yes, yeah.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_06: It was it was truly amazing.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_06: It was the first time ever that I truly felt the presence of Jesus Christ in that pre in my confessor.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_06: It I walked away from there to completely, completely changed, and that was the first time I ever experienced that.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_06: It was it was beautiful.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_03: One of the things that struck me was um that uh and uh bishop um cousins, who uh led the efforts uh along with uh so many other bishops and and and uh he had a team, uh they they just did the organization of the whole event.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and I wonder, maybe I'm not sure how they came up with um, you know, starting on basically Wednesday afternoon, um, and then three full days, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then the closing mass on Sunday.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_03: You know, that um it could have been just show up on Friday and finish on Sunday, uh, but uh that it was longer, I think, um, allowed people to the time to kind of enter into the whole experience of of being there together as the church from all throughout the country and uh kind of walking through those days together.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and and I think that might could be part of the reason why maybe for some the experience of confession, like you said, Toby, or or some of the time in adoration um was even more powerful because it wasn't just you know one, two, three.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_03: Um it was uh an extended time.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_03: And um again that they kept the 50 plus thousand people um, you know, uh with a full day and and the the breakout sessions and um and then coming together in the stadium at night, uh it just uh really, really amazing.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it became apparent that you just couldn't do everything that you wanted to.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_02: And we, you know, initially went to all our sessions, but then we were like, no, we need to get to confession.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_02: And and so we made the time, and from that point on, that kind of really changed the whole dynamic of the of the experience.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_02: And adoration, your experience and adoration.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_02: And then right after we both went to confession, and my confession was was very powerful as well.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_02: It was beautiful.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_02: I I just felt so at peace.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_02: And so we went immediately to adoration at St.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_02: John's um after our confession.
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_02: And it was beautiful, and after I finished praying, I looked up and there was Mother Olga coming towards me, and and her eyes were just filled with joy, and she was crying, and I started crying, and I got the best hug and kiss from her and the blessing, and I just felt like that's love.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_02: I know, I know.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and it was just I just felt the presence of Christ.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_02: I really did.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_02: It was just amazing.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_03: When uh I was sending some uh pictures and comments to Cecile so she could post on our social media, uh, I think it was Mother Olga, where I I said, uh boy, I hope at some point these talks are gonna be available, but they're they were immediately available.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_03: I mean it's incredible.
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so people who are listening and watching, if you haven't had the chance, uh Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, uh, for me she was one of the the real highlights, the talk that she gave.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_03: And if you can watch it on YouTube, not only listen to it because um just the the pre-born child uh the the um the the child that was um uh um what's the word for when you're born before with 22 weeks, premature child, uh her the child have the hand on the pics and um and this the the four stories of um Mighty Quinn uh and then the the uh premature child and then the two men and women who were um struggling with uh well one with addiction and one with cancer.
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_03: Um and you know, to think that Mother she grew up someplace in Iraq and and wasn't even Catholic at first, and um in the midst of war and burying people at 11 and 12 and all the trauma that she went through, she hears a call to religious life, founds a religious community, uh, and then is doing what she does.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_03: Uh it said to me, I mean, that only happens in the church.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, uh and um so we encourage people and we'll ask uh uh Deacon Eric and Debbie as well to share.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_03: Um uh any other speakers that stood out for you?
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_06: Well, the uh I thought Jonathan Rooney did a phenomenal job when he uh he went into car the character of of Jesus and read from uh the Gospel of St.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_06: John.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_06: It was a it was amazing.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_03: Um and I tried to say last Sunday, I hope many preachers did.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_03: Um this is once every three years when we're reading the Gospel of Mark, which is the shortest um of the four Gospels, five weeks in the summer, we read from John, the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, the bread of life discourse.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_03: Um and so last Sunday, this Sunday and three more, we're gonna be reading that beautiful really catechesis that Jesus gives on his body is true food and his blood is true drink, and um starting with the uh multiplication of lobes we heard last Sunday, but to hear Jonathan Roomy read that whole sixth chapter, uh so uh again that's available online.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_03: We encourage people to uh yes, Jonathan, yeah uh and and any other speaker that's I was really um inspired by Father Spitzer's talk.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_02: It was at one of our breakout sessions, and he talked about the real presence of the Eucharist.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_02: And for me, I'm a little bit more technical.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_02: So he talked about the present passive uh participle tense that's used during the Eucharist.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_02: Uh this is my body, which is being given and which is being poured out.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: And then that really clicked because I thought it was really interesting because he talked about the time collapse that during the institution of the Eucharist it was projecting to the future moment of Calvary.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_02: But this is the moment that we relive each time we participate.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_02: And then when just hearing that, it just kind of really clicked for me.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_02: And I found it very powerful.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_03: Father Mike Schmidt's one of my favorites, and I thought he did such a great job, and um him talking about um the point of the Mass is not uh even the the real presence, the real presence is but the that Jesus is accomplishing our salvation, you know, right there in offering his body and blood on on the cross.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_03: And he pointed to the moment where the elevation, right after the elevation and uh at the end of the Eucharistic prayer, through him with him and in him, um the that the those words that the priest praise in the glory of God the Father with the Holy Spirit, that that's you know the glorification that uh the salvation that is taking place through through the gift of the Eucharist.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_02: Um and knowing that, uh why did you would we not want to receive the Eucharist every single day?
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_04: That's right, that's right.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and and absol absolutely, and just doing the adoration for me was very powerful.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_02: It's keep I I'm yearning for more, and I had the opportunity to go to Adoration since we've been back, and it felt like a completely different experience for me.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: I I guess me who didn't go, I felt a sense of hope for our church, just watching all the images and and thank you all for bringing sending us videos.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_01: So ha has this renewed your hope in the church, especially in the United States?
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_06: Oh, absolutely.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_06: Um one of the most amazing things was during the procession, the uh the number of uh of uh holy people there, and no the num and the number of seminarians.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_06: And you know, we constantly and we pray for vocations and we pray for young men to receive the call of the Holy Spirit, but to see the number of seminarians there uh that are you know going to become priests and because without the priests we don't we don't get the Eucharist, but just to see them there you receiving the call, God's call and and listening to it was was was refreshing.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_06: So you know we're still we're still pretty strong, we still have the numbers.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_06: We're we're we're we're we're gonna continue to move on.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_03: And it was good that we were able to have some of our own seminarians in our group and give them a chance to meet some of the people and yes.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_02: It was it was nice to see our spiritual warriors in person.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and the presence of religious sisters, right?
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, it's amazing.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the numbers are.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_03: Right, right, right, right.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and and um I wanted to uh mention again, uh Ann, you mentioned it, but uh the um St.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_03: John the Evangelist Church, where there was I think perpetual adoration going on.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so across the street from the convention center, and it was uh women religious that were um uh organizing that um and hosting uh the pilgrims that wanted to go for adoration at any time of the day, and and how the church was seemed to be filled at all days, all hours of the day.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes, yeah, it was wonderful.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_03: And uh as Cecile mentioned, the sense of hope um that um to uh you know you you knew that the uh these processions were going on for two months from north, south, east, and west.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_03: But to begin um by having those perpetual pilgrims literally coming from north, southeast and west with their icon of Elizabeth Ann Seton, uh uh uh Juniper O Sera, um uh Juan Diego and the Blessed Mother.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_03: And uh I I certainly had that sense of this was the church coming from all corners of the country um to to come together um for these days of prayer.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_03: Uh I I I mentioned that it it there was a sense I've had of this maybe was what it was like right after Pentecost when uh when the church was growing and the apostles were preaching and they were um they came together for the um the breaking of the bread, uh the the teaching of the apostles and and and prayer together.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so uh yeah, it was a great, great um testament, I think, of uh reasons to be hopeful for the church here in the country.
• 18:08
  unknown: Yeah.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I guess what are your next steps after experience in this life-changing moment?
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_06: Oh, just to yeah, as Ann said, try spending more time in the adoration because it it does feel different now.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_06: Um and uh and and and bringing that, you know, to bringing that uh that that that that catechesis that uh Christ is truly present, uh body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist and and and getting that message out to to to everyone, to all Catholics.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, you just have to bring that authentic authentic love to others.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_02: Um actually I had an interesting experience um when we were online to uh see the relics of yes, when you brought up the they had the remnant of uh m Elizabeth Ann Seaton and the Blessed Mother.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_02: So it it took two hours to get to see the relics, and along the way we made friends with some people.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_02: And uh it was two women, and I thought they were both Catholic because she was telling about her pilgrimage to the Holy Land and so forth.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_02: But as we drew closer to the relics, something came up about Mary, and she said, Oh no, we don't worship her.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_02: You worship her.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_02: And so her sister and I, we started giving our defense of the blessed mother, and then we started talking about confession, and she said, Oh no, I don't have to, I just pray to God and everything's good.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_02: And so we went into our defense of that.
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_02: So I just said, Okay, you know, she's not a believer, that's okay.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_02: When I went to touch the relic of the blessed Carlos Okudas with my I had many multiple rosary beads, right after I touched them, she said, All right, you convinced me.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_02: And she her sister was she was like, This was just this was a conversion.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_02: This was a conversion.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_02: And she said, Could I have one of your rosary beads?
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_02: And I said, Sure.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_02: And I said, Which one do you want?
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_02: And she goes, You pick for me.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_02: So I gave her my rosary beads from the um shrine of Mary.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_02: I said, You need Mary.
• 20:56
  SPEAKER_02: Turn to turn to our blessed mother.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_02: And she went around and then she started touching all the relics.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_02: We gave her a prayer card on how to pray the rosary.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_02: So I hope that that made an impact for her.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_03: Absolutely, that's great.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_03: That's great.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, you never know when what grace can do, and uh and and uh you know, a pilgrimage uh, and it certainly was, and pilgrimages can take different forms, but uh um it's not only you know at the event, but it's kind of on the road, on the journey, right?
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_03: And literally as a lot of things.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_03: And as people walk through the convention center and online and uh the the meeting new people and and how God's grace can work, right?
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh when especially the environment is conducive to it, and it certainly was over those days, right?
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_02: So so that that inspired me, and I hope to continue to have that confidence to bring that joy of our faith to others and just simple interactions.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_03: Right, right, right, right.
• 21:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um well thank you, Toby, and thank you, Andrew.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you, Bishop.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_03: And uh we'll look forward to seeing, I think, fruits of the Eucharistic Congress uh throughout the country, but especially here in our diocese and in our parishes.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_03: So keep up the good work.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_03: Tell uh Father Tom and Father Charlie and Father Fred uh and Bishop Cervately, right?
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_03: Right, right.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Holy Family and Floral Park, right?
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you, Bishop.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_03: Florum Park, yes, yes, yes.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks, Toby.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_03: God bless you.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_03: Come for dinner any time.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_03: We appreciate it.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_03: I'll be there.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks, thanks so much.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_01: And we are back with our next guests.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_01: Deacon Eric and Debbie Kispert have been parishioners at Notre Dame of Mont Carmel in Cedar Knowles for 15 years.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_01: They have two grown sons, a daughter in law.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_01: And their first grandchild on the way.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: Congratulations.
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_01: They have owned a counseling center in their hometown of Denver for nearly 25 years.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_01: Deacon Eric is a maritable.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_03: You're good, you're good.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: Marital therapist, and Debbie is a dietitian.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: They were instrumental in expanding the marriage ministry at Notre Dame and have been on numerous mission trips to Guatemala.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_01: Deacon Eric was ordained in 2023, and they are they have provided retreats in areas of marriage, evangelization, and recovery.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_01: They also have the shared blessing of baptizing many new bundles of joy into the faith.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_01: In addition, Deacon Eric enjoys preaching, supporting the men's ministry and the marriage ministry.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_01: Debbie is active in Notre Dame's new vocations ministry and supports the women's ministry and the marriage ministry.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_01: And during her husband's formation, Debbie also received her next calling.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_01: She is currently a student at Holy Apostles College and Seminary and is pursuing a Master of Arts and Pastoral Counseling.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_01: So welcome to both of you.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_05: It's great to be here.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for being here.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_03: So um uh we might get a chance to talk a little bit, Notre Dame Mount Carmel.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_03: I know there's uh some transition going on as you're welcoming a new pastor and um Father Patty O'Donovan who did so much for so many years uh is now retired, and Father Alex uh who uh uh did so much as we know for the Congress is is moving on.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_03: But uh um obviously you've you've been involved in the parish and ministry um in so many ways.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_03: Um but maybe we'll start where we started with Toby Nan.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_03: Just to maybe recall uh when you first heard about the Eucharistic Congress, uh what the maybe discernment of decision making was like in terms of uh making that commitment to to be part of it, to go as as pilgrims, and um uh what you were expecting, um what maybe surprised you, and uh and maybe a little bit about um being part of the the Daasin group.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_03: Do you want to?
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_00: So um I had heard about it pretty much from the get-go and I guess everybody in Notre Dame heard about it from Father Alex.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and and I had actually heard about it a little bit before.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um I happen to be somebody that's on Facebook and Instagram, and I follow, you know, a variety of different things that are going on within the church, and um even within you know my college um experience.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_00: In Cromwell, Connecticut, Holy Apostles as well.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_00: It is, yeah.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_00: And so that sparked my interest because I'm a convert to the faith, and so I keep growing in my faith.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_00: So my interest in a lot of different things is not from the Cradle Catholic perspective, it is now you know coming into the faith.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I have a hunger and a yearning for different things that is again continuing to grow my journey as as a you know as a more matured uh you know spiritual.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_03: When did you come into the church?
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um back in 2012, I believe it was.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, my kids went through RCIA with me, so that was a great blessing.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_00: And Eric felt he was, I believe, coming coming back to his his faith.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_00: Coming home.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_00: Coming home.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_00: He can tell you a little bit more about that for himself.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: But um so we we went to that initial meeting at our parish, and there was um a lot of energy going on with that, and um we wound up actually being the only two, uh, as well as Father Alex, it wound up, you know, uh making the full commitment and you know, proceeding through.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_00: And it was a great blessing to meet other people from the diocese, some of whom we knew and some of people that we didn't, and it was great to get to know them to the extent that we could, because that was a big group, even though we had our insular group, right?
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_00: It was a little overwhelming to say, how can we actually kind of connect, you know, and we did our best job to you know be connected at some point during the day, which was which was great.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_03: And what were you expecting as you went and what maybe were some surprises or I don't know that I had any major expectations.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um I knew that it was gonna be big, could be a little overwhelming.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um that it was right.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_00: It was really but I don't think I don't think of it now in retrospect as a bad way of being overwhelming.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_00: I just think that, you know, having the desire to go, God was in the driver's seat.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_00: I just let him lead me through that whole experience.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_03: And and the spirit, I think, amongst people, I I think it was less overwhelming because everyone was, you know, there didn't see nobody was complaining about being aligned or, you know, uh people didn't seem to be getting upset or impatient.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_03: Um there just seemed to be this nice sense of meeting one another and kind of being the church and being together.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_03: Uh uh I I found that um uh a real blessing.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, uh it wasn't just some event, a Super Bowl or something like that.
• 27:33
  SPEAKER_03: There was a very different, and I I don't know if I said it with the other couple, but uh, one of the things that struck me um to see how many families, uh young parents there with four, five, six children, ten I don't know how they got navigated or maneuvered or you know, got enough to eat, or um uh uh got through it, but again, they seem to be um just um real in good spirits, and I guess uh God bless those parents that wanted their children to have um an experience of the church in in such a powerful way.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_05: I had been to a similar event uh back in the 90s with an old group called Promise Keepers uh Christian Men's Organization.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_05: And I was at one of your former employers, the old Chase Stadium.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_05: Is that right?
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_05: Oh yes.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_05: Back in the day you spent a couple years ago.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_03: I might have served you a hot dog.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_03: I was there some Promise Keepers events.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_05: Well, this was September of 96, and a similar experience with great music, great witness, great speakers.
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_05: Um the Holy Spirit was palpable then.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_05: The difference about our uh the difference uh between Promise Keepers in 1996 and the uh Eucharistic Revival is that regrettably our uh Protestant brothers and sisters they don't have the same appreciation uh of the real presence of Jesus Christ.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_05: And what I never imagined uh that we would experience was being in a room of 50 plus thousand, and when the real presence of Jesus Christ entered in, that you can hear a pin drop.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_05: Everyone fell to their knees simultaneously and adored our friend Jesus, and it was remarkable.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_05: And it didn't just happen once, it didn't just happen the second night or the third night, it just happened every night, and then certainly uh the crescendo at the procession uh up at the memorial when we elevated literally elevated two or two two or three stories in the uh it seemed like more like four stories, you know, Bishop, but to elevate our king so that not only the city but the entire country could worship and adore him.
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_05: It was um if I could have scripted my best idea of what it would have been like, I never could have scripted it to have been so amazing as it was.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, it really was um um uh a a blessing.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_03: And to think that um, you know, for different reasons, uh the last National Eucharistic Congress was in 1941.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_03: There was the International Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia in 1976, but um that we hadn't done it in so long, uh and through the whole process of the Eucharistic revival, uh this decision was made.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_03: And having been at some of the USCCB meetings where it was kind of debated or discussed, and uh the then the final approval was given, and then again Bishop Cousins and those organizing and running with running with it, and um as you said, um i it uh it couldn't have been I don't know how it could have been better.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_03: It was just really, really wonderful.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_01: So uh so was there a speaker that you found inspirational.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_05: There were uh there were there were two, you know, the first night in the big stadium, there were three MCs who led uh who had dual out, right.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_05: And they were there every night.
• 31:02
  SPEAKER_05: Um and it's impressive to be able to manage a group of 50,000 for three hours.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_05: Uh and after the first night, there was one MC in particular, um Sister Miriam.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_05: There was just something about her her energy, her words, her authenticity that really moved me.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_05: Uh and then when I came back the second night, uh I was moved even more deeply.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_05: And so I I typically don't do this, but it was 11, 11:15, we're back at the hotel room at the second night, uh, Dad's getting ready for bed, and I'm laying in bed googling Sister Miriam.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_05: I was stalking her at right and what I came to find out and appreciate was uh I think what led to her authenticity was uh her her journey, her journey in life, a journey of brokenness, a bro a journey of abandonment, a journey of trauma.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_05: And uh, you know, she had her own bottom, which she wrote of so beautifully in her book, um, Loved as I Am, which uh the next day I asked my wife to order, and it was sitting on my doorstep when I got home from the conference.
• 32:14
  SPEAKER_05: And uh so she was uh incredibly powerful uh and resonated very deeply with me, in part because of my own journey and similarities that uh that she and I have had.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_05: The other uh Father uh Father Boniface Hicks, oh yeah, um, when he led the adoration on the third evening, and the meditation that he gave was so incredibly healing uh for so many.
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_05: And some of the dialogue, some of the conversations we had afterwards uh with folks um that we just met, uh Deacon Jim Keating, uh, whom I ran into uh in the uh in the hallway one day.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_05: We were just reflecting on how powerful that was, not only for he and I, but for so many of the 50,000 that were gathered there.
• 33:03
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so they there were two that really we were blessed to have Father Boniface Hicks um lead our um uh uh priest convocation uh uh um the fall of 23 um uh and um or twenty two excuse me.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_03: Um every three years we go we have a way convo convocation for priests, and uh Father Boniface was the the speaker and he he did a wonderful job over again three days um um uh again leading us to even as priests and and bishop, you know, we need to constantly be renewed in the spiritual life um and in our um appreciation of the real presence of the of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of the Mass, the Eucharist.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_03: So um he did a great job and and the uh Sacrament of Reconciliation as well.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_03: And uh uh yeah, that was a beautiful um the themes each night were were were very helpful as well.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um Debbie, any speech?
• 33:53
  SPEAKER_00: I would concur with regards to that.
• 33:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um just that was a different experience in adoration and how he led us through that that those litanies of prayers of healing.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um the other speaker that was really um impressive to me was uh also on the first evening was um Sister Bethany Madonna.
• 34:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um her message of um I'm not sure if I'll remember to say her quote correctly, but basically it was that we're all loved and that remembering that, and I think a lot of times we're in in our brokenness, we forget that God is there to love us no matter what.
• 34:28
  SPEAKER_00: And especially when we think of it from a perspective of what Jesus promised us.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_00: So when we come to adoration and we see the real presence, you know, the Great Commission, he's there and they'll go out.
• 34:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh her joy was just infectious.
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, she made us laugh.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_00: So she really, you know, brought it down a couple of pegs to make it realistic.
• 34:50
  SPEAKER_00: And that was just so impressive to me.
• 34:53
  SPEAKER_03: The um the story of the Sisters of Life in the church, only only 30 years, they were founded, um uh Mother Agnes Donovan and uh Cardinal O'Connor, the Archbishop of New York at the time, was very instrumental in founding the Sisters of Life.
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, and to hear her tell the story of um in a very difficult moment for her uh early on in her discernment and formation before making final vows and um really struggling and going to the tomb of Cardinal O'Connor in St.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_03: Patrick's Cathedral, and out of nowhere, as she said she couldn't do the Irish brogue, but a priest from Ireland uh saying to her, Oh, is Jesus asleep in your boat?
• 35:40
  SPEAKER_03: Uh I thought I hadn't heard it put that way before.
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_03: Give him a pillow.
• 35:45
  SPEAKER_03: Right, yes, yes.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, right, and then she curled herself up under his shoulder.
• 35:49
  SPEAKER_03: Right, right, yeah.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_00: She pictured herself being curled under his shoulder.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_00: That's right.
• 35:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that imagery was very powerful as well.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_00: I think we can all think of that in our times of distress.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_00: We have to remember that his arms are are always wrapping them around us.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
• 36:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 36:04
  SPEAKER_03: Uh and it might seem like he's asleep, and uh, but even when he's asleep, he's he's there with us.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_01: Now, I understand that they're planning to do this again sooner than whatever the Well they announced the 2033 for the Would you go again?
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_05: Absolutely.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, without a doubt.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_05: And the only thing is uh knowing now what we do, uh we would be a bit more um uh uh a bit more emphatic with our own uh recruiting for the Lord from the parish and the diocese.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_05: Um you know, I think wherever the venue, um, it won't be a venue of 50,000.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_05: Right.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_05: It it can't be.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_05: Right.
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_05: Um there were so many hearts moved at such a deep rich level that coming back and planting those 50,000 seeds throughout the country, uh it absolutely will give rise to uh more fruit uh without a dough.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_03: Uh so you've both been very active um in in the parish and in ministry and in uh um is it when you uh well Eric, you baptized baptized, and it sounds like Debbie there uh part of that uh welcoming that the church offers.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_03: Um and uh um uh uh walking with married couples and um certainly in our current culture and society the support that married couples need is is so important and the challenges that that they face.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_03: And um how long have you been in counseling, Deacon Eric?
• 37:42
  SPEAKER_03: Uh 29 years.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_03: Well, yeah um and um walking the journey with those um uh um dealing with um uh the substance abuse and and uh and recovery.
• 37:55
  SPEAKER_03: Um how do you see um and and Debbie as you're uh gonna be doing uh more ministry as you're preparing, right, for to be involved in in pastoral counseling?
• 38:06
  SPEAKER_03: Um how do you see some of what you've experienced um kind of bearing fruit um in what you're already doing and in in your ministry and in the parish in in Notre Dame Mount Carmel?
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_05: You know, I've always integrated spirituality and where appropriate Jesus Christ into my work with my clients, both inside my office and certainly in all my relationships beyond.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_05: Um you know, when we came back, we immediately, as we do, started to think about how how is this going to impact our parish, our diocese.
• 38:40
  SPEAKER_05: Um so Christina Fallon, whom you know, we've we've had evenings of praise and worship, uh, but we want to she and I had a long conversation about uh uh an evening of praise and worship in the fall, modeled in a way after uh the revival.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_05: Right, right.
• 38:56
  SPEAKER_05: Right, so having uh tremendous, uh tremendous energy with with music, uh uh uh bringing in uh a powerful witness, and then going into uh adoration, but perhaps an adoration more akin to what uh Father Boniface uh did for us.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_05: And creating an evening not only for the parish, but beyond the walls of the parish uh also.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_05: And knowing that uh Father Boniface uh responded to your call uh in the bishop or in the I'm sorry, in the uh in the diocese, uh one of the first things I did when I came back uh was send him an email uh to talk about bringing him out to the parish.
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_05: Oh, great.
• 39:36
  SPEAKER_05: Uh we also have an email in to Sister Miriam uh to see what her availability is going into the next year.
• 39:42
  SPEAKER_03: Father Boniface is not far away in um in Pittsburgh, right?
• 39:45
  SPEAKER_03: Uh the the um this uh the um oh the name is just escaping me the uh there's a seminary and a Benedictine Abbey um uh Latrobe, I think.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_03: He's out in La Trobe, right, right, right.
• 39:56
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, so we've already begun to set the stage uh to bring some of what's out there back to the diocese to plant the seeds and continue the Eucharistic revival, right?
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_03: Because that's very much a part of that uh closing mass on Sunday.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_03: And uh we haven't mentioned Cardinal Togley.
• 40:13
  SPEAKER_03: Uh the the the closing mass, uh the homily of the closing mass on on Sunday was so beautiful, but then at the end of the mess, uh the commissioning, right?
• 40:20
  SPEAKER_03: Sending us out as as as Eucharistic missionaries.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_03: Uh Debbie, in your own um ministry and act activity in in the parish, uh how do you see uh this making the experience of the Congress making an impact?
• 40:31
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I think it's reminding people that we keep having to come back and have our cup refilled.
• 40:35
  SPEAKER_00: That's I think number one.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_00: This is not a once and done thing.
• 40:38
  SPEAKER_00: This is something that we keep having to to do in our life's journey.
• 40:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um and also now being part of this new initiative related to the vocations ministry.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_00: Right, right, right.
• 40:50
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think it's really an important element.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, young kids and families can be nurtured.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_00: And it I always find it very interesting when the kids are the ones that want to come to church, and maybe the parents the men's amenza, right?
• 41:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think we have a big job to do to continue to impress upon them.
• 41:09
  SPEAKER_00: And I think by, you know, maybe revamping an adoration night that might be more appealing and guide them through that, because a lot of people say, Why should I go to adoration?
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's boring.
• 41:19
  SPEAKER_00: What do I do while I'm there?
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, you know, you might be able to to sustain that for a period of time.
• 41:25
  SPEAKER_00: But I think if we're doing some other things that get people excited about the faith, we have a lot that we can offer and and bring people back or or expand upon what they already have.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_05: Right.
• 41:38
  SPEAKER_05: And Bishop, uh as you said so beautifully in the last segment, uh the timing couldn't have been better.
• 41:44
  SPEAKER_05: Uh we came back to five weeks of the Bread of Life Discourse.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_05: And I have the privilege to preach on the weekend of the 17th and 18th at four of the masses.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_05: Uh so Lord knows the excitement and the energy of the Congress.
• 42:00
  SPEAKER_03: Let's just say a little bit.
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_05: Let's just say a little bit, Bishop.
• 42:03
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_01: Good.
• 42:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh one thing I must say with Notre Dame, they were very helpful with content for definitely check it out.
• 42:10
  SPEAKER_01: And and you feel I felt like I was there because the parish was sending so much content, and then you as well sending me so much content, and it really connected us back at home in the Diocese of Patterson to you all at the Congress.
• 42:23
  SPEAKER_03: So when we talk about revival, um, and I think we kind of referenced it maybe um also renewal, um uh as as Cecile's mentioning, um, the ministry um uh at at Notre Dame, Mount Carmel, um, Father Patty O'Donovan um over these uh last number of years uh um uh talking about renewal, um, what has that been like uh for the parish um uh in in terms of maybe that that emphasis um that Father Patty has on evangelization and lay leadership and working as teams and um what is what has that been like as as as members of of Notre Dame?
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_00: So um another parishioner and I, uh Dan Baylog, so shout out Dan.
• 43:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um he and I developed uh a workshop last spring and fall while we were invited to come to another parish to um to present it.
• 43:17
  SPEAKER_00: It was a half-day workshop on um being everyday apostles and um you know what that message means.
• 43:24
  SPEAKER_00: And it re just was scratching the surface of what our responsibility absolutely is.
• 43:29
  SPEAKER_00: So now coming back from the Congress, it has really fired me up to say, okay, what are our next steps?
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_00: The good news is that Dan has been elected to our pastoral counselor and he's kind of heading up the piece on evangelization.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I know there's going to be much more to come.
• 43:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that in our lay leadership, we can really expand upon what Father Patty already set the stage and what we have to do.
• 43:54
  SPEAKER_00: With the help of Father Alex, too, right?
• 43:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's right, and what we still need to do.
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_00: There's some of the things that we've got to do.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_03: Now, Father Vidal, as we say, uh as the scripture says, where's um where some have planted, others reap the harvest, right?
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_03: And so I think Father Vidal has uh a well uh uh maintained uh um uh garden in the faith right there, um where the the seed is seeds have been planted and uh and are bearing fruit, right?
• 44:17
  SPEAKER_05: Well for the last nine years, uh under the the guidance of Father Patty, while he was there, he brought in uh divine renovation and really uh you know, really promoted uh the the truth that we're all missionary disciples and that our goal is not merely to come to the table to be fed, but it's to go out and, in my words, the other 167 hours during the week and to to feed and to plant the seeds outside the walls of the parish.
• 44:49
  SPEAKER_05: Uh Father Patty did an excellent job at uh not only building lay leadership, uh, but empowering lay leadership in a very um respectful uh laissez-faire kind of way, and I say that in a very complimentary way.
• 45:07
  SPEAKER_05: Debbie and I were the co-chairs of the, you know, a pretty uh pretty broad and deep marriage ministry for five years while Father Patty was there, and I often tell folks both within the parish and outside uh, you know, there was nothing that we wanted to do that Father Patty ever said no to.
• 45:26
  SPEAKER_05: Now, whether that was because my wife had really good ideas or Father Patty entrusted the lady the leadership, and I would say a combination of both, but primarily, you know, Father Patty really empowered us uh to to go out and to be those missionary disciples uh and to build a kingdom.
• 45:43
  SPEAKER_05: So um we're we're indebted for his leadership.
• 45:47
  SPEAKER_05: And uh, you know, because we have such a deep bench, uh there's a lot that we can do as uh as a parish uh as we move forward, certainly under the guidance of uh Father Vidal.
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_03: Well, uh thank you very much.
• 46:00
  SPEAKER_03: Uh I think uh as we said with Toby and Ann that um uh I think this hopefully gives people a sense of uh what we were blessed to experience, but that it's not just for us, we want to share it with others, and uh and we look forward to seeing the fruits of the Eucharistic Congress uh throughout the country, but especially here in our diocese and our parishes.
• 46:20
  SPEAKER_03: So thank you very much for sharing your experience and uh we look forward to seeing those fruits continue to be produced.
• 46:27
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you for having us.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for being here.
• 46:29
  SPEAKER_01: Anything else, on your eyes?
• 46:31
  SPEAKER_03: Uh uh enjoy the summer while you have it, right?
• 46:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh my favorite months of the year are July and August, and so um uh it's a great time of year, I think, and uh um we need some time to all up to rest and and recharge the batteries um and uh while we still may be working and have things to do, um, but um hopefully uh a little bit of a slower pace.
• 46:53
  SPEAKER_03: So um, but um glad to be back, uh Cecile.
• 46:56
  SPEAKER_03: We look forward.
• 46:57
  SPEAKER_03: Jay is behind the cameras there, and uh uh so we'll be back uh God willing next week and and and continue uh with sharing the good news that's happening throughout our our wonderful diocese of Patterson.
• 47:08
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 47:09
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 47:10
  SPEAKER_03: And sorry, uh prayer for uh uh sister, uh Salesian sister, who's gonna make her uh final profession on this coming Monday.
• 47:17
  SPEAKER_03: So I'll be happy to be going to the um uh uh Mary Helper Christians in North Heldon for to for that mass on Monday.
• 47:25
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_01: Well, that's it.
• 47:28
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for joining us.
• 47:30
  SPEAKER_01: Please subscribe, comment, and leave a positive rating.
• 47:33
  SPEAKER_01: Get to know us better by following Beyond the Beacon on Facebook or Instagram.
• 47:37
  SPEAKER_01: Email questions and podcast topic ideals to beyond at pattersondyssees.org.
• 47:43
  SPEAKER_01: Discover our other podcasts, Coffee with Cupbeat and the Paul Street Journal.
• 47:48
  SPEAKER_01: God bless us.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks everybody.
• 47:50
  SPEAKER_03: God bless you.