Celebrating the Mass at St. John Neumann Parish

Sunday is the Lord's Day, the day we gather as the Church to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and our new life. The principal way we celebrate this mystery of Christ's death and resurrection is through the Eucharist. See below for the listing of times for our regular celebration of the Eucharist at St. John Neumann Parish:

Sunday Mass Schedule:

Saturday Vigil:      -  4:30pm Mass (at Nativity Church) 
Sunday Mass:      -  8:00am Mass (at Holy Name Church) 
                             - 9:30am Mass (at Nativity Church)
                             - 1:00pm Mass (Spanish) (Nativity Church)           

Weekday Mass Schedule:

Holy Days of Obligation:

A Brief Theology of the Eucharist 

The Eucharist, as taught by the bishops and pope at the Second Vatican Council, is the "source and summit" of the Christian life. Indeed, as disciples, we are fed at the Lord's table with his very Body and Blood, present in the Eucharistic bread and wine. Given strength from the Eucharist, we go out into the world, as members of the Body of Christ, in order to be nourishment and blessing for others. Each Sunday, we gather again in order to be fed and nourished to serve our sisters and brothers. Our hope is that at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, we will all share together in the heavenly banquet at "the Supper of the Lamb of God" (Revelation 16:9).

As Catholics, we believe many things about the Eucharist:

The Eucharist is our participation in the Paschal Mystery, that is, it is the sacrament of the mission, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All that Jesus stood for, all that he taught, and the way he lived his life is present in the Eucharist: On the night before he was betrayed and crucified, Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. However, this meal took on a new significance when Jesus lifted the bread and the cup of wine, proclaiming them to be his Body and his Blood. Every time we celebrate Eucharist, we remember Jesus' saving death and resurrection. We eat and drink our salvation, won for us in the Paschal Mystery.  

The Eucharist is also the eternal sacrifice that Jesus offers to God the Father on behalf of all humanity. Jesus died once and for all. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus has saved humanity from sin, death, and isolation from God. The celebration of the Eucharist makes present, here and now, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. We eat the flesh and drink the blood of the One who suffered for us.

The Eucharist is forgiveness and the new covenant with humanity. Throughout time and history, God entered into various covenants with humankind. With the ancient Hebrews, God established several covenants. Perhaps most significant was the Passover covenant: the Lord God freed the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. In turn, they would commit to following the Law of God and remembering annually this covenant through a sacred Passover meal. Jesus, as a faithful Jew, used the setting of the Passover to establish the Eucharist, the new and eternal covenant with humanity for the forgiveness of sins.

The Eucharist is our communion with the Triune God. As we conclude each Eucharistic Prayer at the Mass, the priest chants the Doxology. It is through Jesus Christ, with him, and in him, united in the Holy Spirit, that all our praise, worship, and adoration is directed to God the Father. The Eucharist is the work of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By our participation in the Mass, we enter into the divine reality of our God: Selfless Love. Unity. Holiness.

The Eucharist also strengthens our bond of communion with the Church. When we say "Amen" to the Body and Blood of Christ, we are also saying "Amen" to all the members of the mystical Body of Christ - the Church. We acknowledge that the gift of salvation, made present in the Eucharist, includes our relationship with each other and our membership in the whole Body of Christ. At every Eucharist, we remember all the faithful "scattered throughout the world," as well as our pope and bishops, the saints, and all those who have died and now rest in the peace of Christ. Eucharist is our bond of unity.

There is great depth to explore with the sacrament of the Eucharist. The best way to begin to understand all these meanings is to participate! Come to Mass every Sunday. Hear the Sacred Scriptures. Receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Become what you receive!