Café Catholica 2022: Real Presence

Scripture: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way?” -Luke 24:32

This year’s theme for Café Catholica is Real Presence. Our Scripture passage is from the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus from the Gospel of Luke. That story points to two moments of Real Presence. First, Jesus was present to the two disciples as they walked on the road. He listened to their concerns and then he shared truth with them in an encounter of presence. Second, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples in the breaking of the bread, pointing to his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

As young adults, we also need this Real Presence in two ways, like the story from Emmaus. First, we need to experience Real Presence within community and in our relationships with others. Instead of only relating to people through social media, we want to recommit to a Real Presence with our friends, our families, and our communities. It also means finding friends and community who can support us in our walk of faith.

Second, we need to experience Real Presence in the Eucharist. A recent national poll revealed that a large percentage of Catholics do not believe (or understand) the Real Presence of the Eucharist. As young adults, we want to devote ourselves to Christ through prayer and devotion to the Eucharist. We know that Christ is truly present there and desires to be in relationship with each of us.  This second part of the theme is focused on encouraging young adults to be people of prayer who are connected to Christ in and through the Eucharist.

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