What the Eucharist means to our seminarians

The Eucharist for me is a constant reminder of God’s intimacy with us. It’s a reminder of how God truly became man and created the sacrament for us to always receive Him in this intimate way. Through the Eucharist, we can truly receive God’s body, blood, soul and divinity that is just impossible through any other means.
Matteo Arcara, Discipleship Stage (College I), Saint Mark Seminary, Erie

What the Eucharist means for me is it’s the actual body of Jesus, the one who died for us to save us from our sins. It’s really special to have Him during Eucharistic adoration and during the Mass, where we can receive Him.
Eli Halutick, Propaedeutic Stage, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Gwynedd Valley

The Eucharist for me is the source and summit of my spiritual life. Without the Eucharist my prayer life wouldn’t be anything. It was during adoration actually at a Quo Vadis Days retreat that I made my final decision that I would enter the seminary, that I would take that step and give my life over to God and see where He takes me in my discernment process. Having that experience in front of the Eucharist, receiving Christ present every day, someone who is so great — and it’s just incomprehensible how great He is, how mighty He is. Also, the infinite love and mercy that He pours out upon us and that relationship that He desires for us has really drawn me close into the Eucharist. That is really the center point of everything I do spiritually.
Thomas Oldenburg, Discipleship Stage (College I), Saint Mark Seminary, Erie

In the Eucharist I see Jesus, who is alive and shares His heart with me, inviting me to grow into a relationship, and calming my fears so that I may love Him and serve Him.
Ryan Scavnicky, Discipleship Stage (College III), Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Gwynedd Valley

The Eucharist to me is really everything. I’m a convert to Catholicism, and I converted for the Eucharist. To receive Jesus more fully and to be able to do that every day is life-giving.
Tyler Randolph, Configuration Stage I, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Gwynedd Valley

The Eucharist means everything to me. It’s at the center of everything we do. It is Jesus Himself. It’s our Lord and savior. And as someone studying for the priesthood, and God willing, a future priest, it’s for what I’m giving my life. When I lay on that marble at the cathedral in the future, God willing, it’s for the Eucharist, it’s for Jesus Himself. It’s the way we encounter Him in our world today. It’s what He left us of Himself for us to know Him, to love Him, to have an intimate union and relationship with Him. The Eucharist is my life. The Eucharist is something I willingly give my life to and for, and it’s quite frankly, love. 
Mario Porreca, Configuration Stage II, Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe

The Eucharist to me is an example of humility. Just as our Lord and God is present in the bread and wine that become His body and blood, given to the world, so I am called to give myself, God willing — to live that life of humility that Jesus exemplified. That I must decrease and allow Him to increase in my life and in the lives of others.
Dale Hyland, Discipleship Stage (College IV), Saint Mark Seminary, Erie

The Eucharist means to me: a friendship with Jesus and an encounter with Him in a personal relationship when I receive Him in the sacrament.
Kevin Richardson, Configuration Stage II, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Gwynedd Valley

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