35 years ago, the Diocese of Salt Lake City Celebrated a Year of Eucharistic Renewal with the Theme 'In Memory of Me'

Friday, Jun. 09, 2023

Michael Courtney 

Diocese of Salt Lake City Archivist

On June 19, 2022, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a three-year National Eucharistic Revival, with the mission of renewing and enkindling a living relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. The three-year revival is divided into three phases: the diocesan (2022-2023), the parish (2023-2024) and the national (2024-2025).  

As the diocesan phase ends locally with the rally at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy on Sunday, July 9, transiting into the parish phase, it is time to look back at another Eucharistic Revival held in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Thirty-five years ago, on Sunday, Nov. 6, 1988, the Diocese of Salt Lake City embarked on a yearlong Diocesan Year of Eucharist Renewal with the theme “In Memory of Me.” The Most Rev. William K. Weigand, seventh Bishop of Salt Lake City, appointed Father Anthony Schueller, S.S.S. as chairman of the Eucharistic Renewal Committee. The Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Renewal closed on June 17, 1990. 

Bishop Weigand did not randomly select 1988 as the Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Renewal; the year marked the 25th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s promulgation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy on December 4, 1963. This document set forth the reforms of the Mass. On the Constitution’s 25th anniversary, Bishop Weigand wanted the entire diocesan community to reflect on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and to act upon those reflections. 

At the conclusion of this deliberative process, Bishop Weigand reported on six accomplishments for the Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Renewal. The first was in the presbyterate. The 1989 and 1990 convocations highlighted the two roles of the priest during the Mass: Proclaimer of the Word and Presider at the Eucharistic Table.

 The second success was in religious education. The annual Adult Religious Education Congress was titled “The Eucharist: In Memory of Me.” The keynote speaker, Father C. Gerard Austin, O.P., reminded the Congress that in the ancient Church the whole community participated in the Mass, bringing the whole community’s joys and sorrows to the altar of the Lord. The Second Vatican Council brought this practice back to the Mass, so the whole community could bring its true self to the Lord.

 A third achievement was 45 articles covering the liturgical, historical, theological and pastoral aspects of the Eucharist, written by Father Charles Cummings, O.C.S.O., Bishop Weigand, Gregory Glenn, Msgr. M. Francis Mannion and Father Anthony Schueller, S.S.S. that were published in this newspaper. 

A fourth fruit was Bishop Weigand’s pastoral letter, “In Memory of the Lord: A Pastoral Letter on Eucharistic Worship.” In his pastoral letter, Bishop Weigand affirmed the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council, while, at the same time, acknowledged the problems brought by liturgical renewal; for example, Catholics not regularly attending Mass and the loss of reverence for the Eucharist. To remedy these issues in the local Church, Bishop Weigand made several suggestions: that Catholics bow before receiving communion and dress appropriately for Mass. 

The final two results were at the parish level. Catechists developed classes on the Eucharist and finally, parishes and missions held Eucharistic adoration and other events focused on the Eucharist. 

In his final article on the Diocesan Year of Eucharistic Revival, Bishop Weigand stated “to celebrate [the Eucharist] is a risky venture. It means that we ever more fully and totally surrender ourselves to the transforming love and presence of the risen Christ, that we freely choose to think and act and live as he alone would have us do.” 

This process – renewal – is ongoing and a constant in Church history. Thirty-five years ago, Bishop Weigand asked that Utah’s Catholic community reflect on the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council to the Eucharist. Today, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking Utah’s Catholic Church to again reflect on the Eucharist, joining the Church throughout the United States in the National Eucharistic Revival.