SSS Grapevine
An Internal Publication of the Province of Saint Ann (USA)
March 13, 2026 - 7
“What is a Parish Mission?” “What do you do when you are away at these retreats?” These are but a few of the questions I receive when I accept parish missions or retreats twice a year for the Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing (CEE). The CEE still receives some requests for parish retreats each year. Mona Grigsby-Suarez, our director, and I can provide some retreats, as you read in the last Grapevine #6 of 2026.
This Lent, Saint Patrick Church, Casper, Wyoming, requested that this author lead a parish mission retreat on the Eucharist and hold a catechetical day on the Mass and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament to share with the parish community, especially those who are becoming Catholic at this Easter Vigil. The retreat begins with the weekend Masses, and the theme selected from our CEE toolbox is “Living a Eucharistic Life”. I also selected a song for the parish to use each day during the parish mission.
For this one, we chose “This is a Day of New Beginnings”, with the powerful poem text by Brian Wren, set to music by Lori True.
This past weekend, we heard the gospel of the “Woman at the Well”. What a wonderful way to begin a retreat or parish mission, for with the unnamed woman, we can see ourselves very well, having a great theological question-and-answer session with Christ. We, too, have our own moments in faith where we question and deepen our faith with Christ, encouraging us on toward evangelizing. I asked participants, “What are you leaving in your jar, behind at the well?”
For those who are unable to drive at night, I offer talks after the morning Mass, where I preach the homily of the day, and we continue the extension of the Mass with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. On the first day, I introduced the “4-ends of the Sacrifice of the Mass”, or the 4 praying styles of Eymard, to the parish.
They love learning this methodology – A-R-T-E: Adveniat Regnum Tuum Eucharisticum – May Thy Eucharistic Kingdom Come! They easily remember the anagram as I focus on the praying with the Blessed Sacrament through their “adoration”, “reparation–for forgiveness”, “thanksgiving”, and “entreaty” or petition.
The funny punch line: A-R-T-E also stands for “always ready to eat”! or pray and live the Eucharist in our lives. I also offered, after a Mass, a time of questions and answers, a “stump the priest” opportunity to learn about the Mass or other Catholic topics.
On the second day of the retreat, I focused and prayed with the stations of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, as contained in a bilingual novena booklet. This parish only worships in English, so we followed this script and the “eight moments”, or phrases that were important in Eymard’s life. While we focus on his life, we also focus on our contemporary issues in the praying of the novena in the setting of exposition.
The eight stations are:
- The “gift of self”.
- Called to be a priest.
- Tomorrow will be too late.
- Called to found an Order dedicated to the Eucharist.
- First Communion in Paris – with the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament.
- Priests for others – Saint John Vianney and Eymard.
- Apostle of the Eucharist – with Saint Pope John XXIII’s proclamation.
- May Thy Eucharistic Kingdom Come – focusing on the heavenly banquet and the Eucharistic saints with Eymard bring us to heaven.
[Contact the CEE or Emmanuel Media offices (440) 442-6311 for copies of this novena for your worship of the Eucharist or personal prayer. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
The last day of the retreat in Casper focused on the Eucharist as a healing sacrament, with an opportunity to celebrate the anointing of the sick during Mass, following the homily. I give some options for parishes to choose from, such as this, and this parish wanted to have this experience. The pastor, Father Cliff Jacobson, and his parochial vicar, Father Denis D’Souza (on loan from India), assisted me in the anointing of 200 participants. It was also a joy for the special appearance of their parish middle school and high school youth group.
Each day, I also offer spiritual direction and confession, and 25 people took advantage of them. During the homily, I sing a song that helps us focus on the day's theme and invites the congregation to come forward and leave their intention at the altar, with Christ exposed in the monstrance. Furthermore, when free, I work on parish, provincial, and other writing projects, where I feel I, too, am on retreat in the extra quiet. Especially in the setting of the Lamarie mountain range to the south, my daily walk, with 35 mph winds, felt like the Holy Spirit was truly guiding this time of reflection so that all may grow in their “living a Eucharistic life”.
Father John Thomas Lane, sss
Provincial Superior
