‘Theology of the Eucharist’ a welcomed formation opportunity

“Are we really thinking of what the Eucharist is when we receive it?”

The question was posed Jan. 4 by Father Glenn Comandini, diocesan coordinator of Ongoing Faith Formation, during the first of his twelve sessions on “The Theology of the Eucharist,” the foundation of Roman Catholic faith.

Some 40 attendees filled the conference room in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway, for the return of the broader on-going faith formation program which was interrupted by the Covid epidemic.

Many of the participants were previous registrants who were very pleased to be back in attendance. “I asked the bishop to bring it back,” said former attendee Patricia Murphy from the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Metuchen, recalling how much she enjoyed the previous session on the Beatitudes.

“I even rearranged my doctors’ appointments to be here,” added former participant Stephen Dudeck, displaying a true appreciation for the program.

Father Comandini spoke of his love for teaching, having done so at numerous Catholic universities in the New York metropolitan area. After working on other assignments, including a stint of six years as managing editor of The Catholic Spirit, he was happy to return to his “first love.”

Reflecting on the program, and Father Comandini’s series, in particular, Jennifer Ruggiero, diocesan Secretary, Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life, said, “Father Glenn is a gifted teacher and the adult enrichment courses that he is offering provide wonderful opportunities for older adults to learn about the many aspects of their Catholic faith. The classes not only provide spiritual enrichment and faith formation, they also help participants to deepen their faith life.”

Father Comandini’s affection for instruction was evident throughout the sessions. With a style one attendee accurately described as “welcoming,” Father Comandini complemented it with his biblical scholarship across the first two sessions, beginning with Old Testament texts from the time of Moses, who created the original first covenant with the Jewish community through a sacrificial meal offered to God.

He continued with the prophets, the practice of sacrifice, and the new Covenant of Jesus, culminating in the Eucharist, instituted at the Last Supper, followed by Jesus’ passion and death.

“The Last Supper is the fulfillment of the messianic sacrificial feast, an important fact,” stressed Father Comandini., noting for participants that it was at the Last Supper that Jesus institutionalized the Eucharist – it became a formal part of early Church worship, replacing the ancient sacrificial meal – with his instruction, “Do this in remembrance of me” which is the basis of the Church’s dogma of the Eucharist.

The sessions also underscored three important facts for Scripture study: Scripture cannot be separated from Church as Scripture developed out of the early Church, the Church did not develop out of Scripture; Scripture is revealed by God, containing truths which would otherwise remain unknown; the Holy Spirit oversaw their writing, a process called “inspiration,” by which God influenced the writers to include truths which God wanted known.

Dino Deborja, a parishioner of St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, and another former attendee, spoke highly of past sessions and their necessity at this point in time for the Church community, commenting, “As it says in Malachi, ‘My people are perishing from lack of teaching,’ and it is the application of the teaching that is important.”

Sessions continue Thursdays through March 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more information please email [email protected] or call 732-562-1543.