Being Eucharist for Others

 
Clergy from many parts of Ireland gather. “One of the best priest meetings I’ve been at in a long time” is how one participant put it commenting on a meeting of clergy in the Focolare Centre, Prosperous on Friday 20th February last. Of the almost 50 who attended, most were from varied parts of Ireland. They were also joined by several priests from Scotland and England.

Priestsmeeting3The meeting began with a song called Servants for Love that has almost become the anthem for the priests’ movement of the Focolare. The key input in the morning was given by one of the focolarine, Sofia Noguera, and her presentation struck a deep chord in everyone present. Through her own personal experience and her delivery of the theme on the Eucharist, she reminded those present that without mutual love it’s not possible to receive Its fruits. We have to be Eucharist for others.

In the afternoon, David Hickey – who is one of the two people responsible for the Focolare in Ireland – spoke about the Assembly of delegates of the Movement last September that takes place every 6 years. During the Assembly – composed of members of the Catholic Church, Reformation Churches, people of other Faiths and those of other convictions – David spoke about the impact this year’s theme, the Eucharist, had on the delegates of so varied a background. For instance, the Buddhist representative commented: ‘I make myself nothing in front of others, and in this way I can live the Eucharist as a part of our spirituality‘.

priestsmeeting-6There was a wonderful response by both the bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy and retired Church of Ireland bishop of Limerick, Trevor Williams, that was both fascinating and inspiring. Among other things, Bishop Trevor also remarked that at Bishop Brendan’s episcopal ordination, he was invited with Bishop Brendan’s predecessor, to hand him the crozier. He said is was on the happiest moments in his ecumenical engagement with other churches.

Departing at the end of the meeting someone made the comment: ‘We must give space to others, to be eucharist for the other, as Jesus did on the cross and as he does in the Eucharist, being nothing for us.’ Many people, especially those who were there for the first time, spoke about the day being quite different to what they had expected. They received a fresh and deeper appreciation of the Eucharist, about being Eucharist for others.