The Solemnity of Corpus Christi brings us to the heart of who we are as Church. At the center of everything stands the Eucharist—not simply our activities, plans, or programs. These are important, but they are not the source. What truly sustains a parish is not its schedule of planned initiatives, but its altar—where Christ gathers, nourishes, and sends His people.

It is around the Eucharist that the Church is gathered and renewed. Here, we are reminded that we do not build the Church by our own strength; we receive it as a gift, shaped by the presence of Christ who gives Himself entirely—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As the Church teaches, “the Eucharist is the source and summit (fons et culmen) of the Christian life” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10).

In the words of St. John Paul II, “The Eucharist builds the Church and the Church makes the Eucharist.” At the altar, the community is not only nourished—it is formed. We receive the Body of Christ to become the Body of Christ. The Eucharist is not merely something we attend; it is the mystery that gives the Church her identity.

This reality shapes the life of the parish. It gathers those who were scattered. It turns strangers into brothers and sisters. It teaches us how to belong, how to follow, and how to serve. The Eucharist we celebrate is far more than a liturgical action—it is the place where Christ gathers us, transforms us, and forms us into one Body.

The final words of the Mass, “Go in peace,” come from the ancient Latin phrase Ite, missa est. Ite means “Go,” and missa est is traditionally understood as “she is sent,” referring to the Church. In simpler terms, it expresses that the whole community is being sent. That’s why the word missa gives us both the name “Mass” and the word “mission.” The liturgy doesn’t end at the dismissal—it continues in our daily lives. We are sent as one Body in Christ to carry what we have received into the world.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, let us take to heart what we truly are: not separate individuals, but members of one Body—gathered, held together, and sent in communion. The Eucharist we receive is not a private grace—it is a call to walk together, trusting the One who leads us along the path we share. In a divided world, the Church is called to be different: not perfect, but united. Let us allow the Body of Christ we receive to shape the Body of Christ we are becoming.

Fr. Fabio de Souza