Fostering eucharistic renewal

Author, theologian Dr. Timothy O’Malley discusses Becoming Eucharistic People

By Gabrielle Nolan

The Diocese of Knoxville has begun its efforts to support the National Eucharistic Revival, which formally launched on June 19 on the feast of Corpus Christi. Two years of diocesan and parish renewal will culminate with a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024.

The diocese is hosting local parish events such as retreats, eucharistic revivals, and presentations on the Eucharist.

Dr. Timothy O’Malley returned to his home diocese to discuss his latest book, Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life, at All Saints Church in Knoxville.

More than 120 adults attended the presentation inside the West Knoxville church, which took place on Jan. 28. The event was a response to the National Eucharistic Revival, a movement in the United States to restore understanding and devotion to the mystery that is the Eucharist. The revival is sup - ported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Dr. O’Malley is on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops execu - tive committee for the Eucharistic Revival.

“[The book] was written precisely to the ends of helping the Eucharistic Revival in the Church in the United States but doing so not just in such a way that tells people things about things, as I think a lot of people do,” Dr. O’Malley said.

“Part of the revival’s purpose it’s certainly sort of teaching more things about the Eucharist, right, but it’s a sort of renewal of the Church according to not merely bureaucracy or strategic planning but really the heart of our faith, which is the self-giving love of Christ, which is given in the sacrament of the Eucharist,” he said.

“And so it’s an invitation for parishes in particular to think about what it would mean to participate in the revival in a significant way, to become ever more what we receive in the Eucharist, the love of Christ poured out for