Question of Faith
A weekly question of faith answered by Cleveland Catholics. Fr. Damian Ference, Vicar of Evangelization and Deacon Mike Hayes Director of Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Cleveland co-host with frequent guests from the Diocesan Office who join in the conversation.
Question of Faith
How do Christians of Different Denominations Work Better Together?
Ever wondered how Christians from different denominations can come together in unity? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Deacon Mike Hayes, Fr. Damian Ference, and Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin as we share our experiences from The Fest—a vibrant mix of Catholics and evangelicals celebrating together. Discover how Deacon Mike felt leading XLT for the first time, and hear about Dr. Megan's excitement over her book sales and the dynamic young adult gathering with the bishop. Plus, we take you through a journey of the Sacred Heart Chapel's history and the recent renovations of the new Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel, both on the Seminary grounds. We'll also illustrate the Fest's ecumenical spirit and its significance for fostering collaboration among diverse Christian communities and we tackle the balancing act between maintaining Catholic traditions and embracing interfaith inclusivity on college campuses.
Be inspired by Gloria Purvis's conversion story and how Catholic teachings impact non-Catholic students. We also reminisce about the National Eucharistic Congress, highlighting the joy of reconnection and community. For a lighter twist, get updates on Dr. Megan's softball team, the Westside Whitecaps, as they eye the playoffs. We delve into the spiritual nourishment provided by the Bread of Life Discourse and Elijah's story, in this week's Sunday readings, underscoring the Eucharist's profound meaning in our faith practices. With a blend of heartfelt stories, humor, and spirituality, this episode promises an insightful and enriching journey of faith and fellowship.
On today's Question of Faith. How do Christians of different denominations work better together? Hey everybody, this is Question of Faith. I am Deacon Mike . I'm the Young Adult Ministry Director here in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Fr. Damian Ference:And I'm Fr Damian Ference, the vicar for evangelization.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:And I'm Dr Megan Lowes- Bolin. Hey, hello.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Back again, welcome back.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Thank you, thank you.
Deacon Mike Hayes:We just we're all together at the fest this weekend. If you went to the fest, hope you had a good time.
Fr. Damian Ference:Yeah, the best weather we've had since pre-COVID and, I think, the biggest crowd since pre-COVID too.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, that's what they were saying. Yeah, it was kind of weird because, like I was there really early setting up and, like you know, through one or two o'clock I was looking around and it wasn't. You know, through 1 or 2 o'clock I was looking around and it wasn't really really crowded. But you know, the crowd builds as the day goes on, especially as some of the larger bands start to make their way through. And then when I came back from after leading the Exalt at 3 o'clock I could barely get to our tent.
Deacon Mike Hayes:I was like oh wait a minute, I've got to step over five people here. Let me get into the tent here.
Fr. Damian Ference:It was hot too, it was.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Oh man, it was hot, you're not kidding.
Fr. Damian Ference:But at least there's no rain.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, what about you, megan? Did you have a good time?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Oh yeah, it was great I mean great event, lots of people and, like you said, where did all these people come from.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, you sold a bunch of books at your tent. Huh, I did, I did.
Fr. Damian Ference:Did you have your own tent?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:I did,
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:oh
Fr. Damian Ference:good
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:for you, yeah, cool.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, we used to say, when you and I both know this, Father D a good day at like an event for book sales, like 10 books, maybe you know people just buying them off, the thing you know. And you were like up to 20 when.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:I got over there I was like, wow, that's a great day. Yeah, it was great, great Got to talk with a lot of folks and it was beautiful. Yeah, excellent.
Deacon Mike Hayes:A lot of fun.
Fr. Damian Ference:And you also had a young adult gathering with the bishop. Yeah, we did, so talk about that a little bit, which Dr.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Megan organized.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Yeah, so it was great. So a few volunteers had a team of triplets actually from St Christopher.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Deacon.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Mike's parish and they whipped up some pretty good mocktails.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, they were pretty good.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Yeah, pretty, pretty good, and so we had about probably 25, 30 young adults come, and so they came to adoration with Deacon Mike beforehand, and then we had a good number of people stay for mocktails with the bishop and it was a great time.
Fr. Damian Ference:Were you presiding at an exalt yeah 3 o'clock. How was that? Was that your first time doing?
Deacon Mike Hayes:that yeah.
Fr. Damian Ference:As a deacon.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yes, the first time doing, certainly at the Fest, and then I'd done Exalt before at a couple other locations, but not here. It was the first time working with Damascus
Fr. Damian Ference:. Okay, I didn't make sense of your text because you said that was great working with them, but I didn't understand. I didn't. I don't think you put it in the context of Holy Hour, so that makes sense, okay, yeah. Yeah, they're great, they're class act, as I said. Yeah.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, no, they were great. They were great and it was crowded Like that was the probably I think that's the most filled I've seen the chapel.
Fr. Damian Ference:Sacred Heart Chapel.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, and I came in and processed in and I turned around and I was like whoa, this place got filled
Fr. Damian Ference:For those of you who aren't aware, the Sacred Heart Chapel is on the grounds of the Center for Pastoral Leadership, which originally well way back when was a farm and then it was run by the Good Shepherd Sisters. It was a home for wayward girls. 1953, we started a high school seminary there that lasted until 1977. And the chapel where Deacon Mike was presiding is the old high school seminary chapel. It's currently the chapel for All Saints grade school and over the last few years, while our chapel at the seminary has been renovated, it's also served as the chapel for the seminary's diaconate program, la Ecclesial Ministry. But it's a nice little chapel and I love that the stained glass windows are from France and they're very blue and beautiful. But yeah, if you've never been there, it's great.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, a lot of fun. I had formation years spent there, so I prayed in that chapel for a long time throughout the formation here.
Fr. Damian Ference:And the bishop is dedicating the new chapel.
Fr. Damian Ference:I think next week. It's an invite-only event because it's a small chapel, but the Resurrection Chapel is now called Mary Mother of the Good Shepherd Chapel and there's a new altar, a new ambo, a new altar of repose imported from Italy, all new reredos made from wood from Ohio, dark stained, new paint. It's gonna be great. But the bishop has to lather the altar up with chrism oil to dedicate it, and so all the liturgy of the hours have been celebrated and there are no mass yet until the bishop consecrates the altar, which is pretty cool.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, we did evening prayer there. The night we found out where we were going to be assigned with Father Mamich, which was very nice.
Fr. Damian Ference:Nice yeah, nice yeah.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Cool, and so, you know, the Fest has been an event where it gathers a bunch of people who are, you know, catholic and non-Catholic. You know there's a lot of evangelical Christians in particular, I think, who will come to listen to all these bands. And so, you know, I'm the new interfaith ecumenical director here at the diocese, and so that's going to be my bag for a while. So I wanted to just say you know how have we worked with people who are not Catholic in our career over the many years that we've all been in ministry? What about you, father D? You want to start?
Fr. Damian Ference:Well, one of the things you just mentioned was music, and music has a great way of bringing Christians together of different denominations. So the Fest has been around for 24 years now, and I think the only main stage artist with a great following is probably Matt Marr, who's Catholic he is. The others are obviously they're friendly to Catholicism because they come out and play at the Fest. But you're right, most folks who are coming to see these bands, they may be Catholic, but many are just Christians who want to see these bands, and so I think part of Father Steck's vision was look, let's at least share what we share in common and celebrate the fact that we believe in one God, father, son and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, he's the one who offers us salvation. And then obviously there are other differences that we have, but if we could celebrate our belief in the mystery of the Holy Trinity and the incarnation, we're getting somewhere.
Fr. Damian Ference:That's really good, and I have found I actually wrote a piece on it once. Really good, and I have found I actually wrote a piece on it once and I gave a paper down at a conference at Walsh University and it was on Jackie Robinson what Jackie Robinson did for baseball can apply to what music can do for ecumenism. And I talked about even somebody like a Matt Maher who will take an ancient hymn and then, you know, put a new spin on it, where it still holds the tradition but then has access for people in 2024. And I think too, even doing praise and worship with other Christians is a nice way to celebrate our faith together in a way that brings unity and not division. So I would say music has been a very big part for me.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, that's great For me. I was going to say service has been one way. And then when I was at the State University of New York at Buffalo as the campus minister, we had a campus ministry association that was made up of all the denominations. The Campus Ministry Association was made up of all the denominations and when we would gather every month for our meeting, we would start meeting with prayer and they would say and now we'll pray together in a moment of silence. And this way we didn't get into any you know interfaith differences, with people
Fr. Damian Ference:Hail Mary,
Deacon Mike Hayes:exactly In the name of the Father. And you know we said and so somebody brought up hey, why do we do that? Why do we just pray with a moment of silence? So someone explained well, you know, so we don't get any differences and we don't offend somebody or whatever. And you know we're not just praying from our tradition, but together we're. You know, this is how we can do this.
Deacon Mike Hayes:And the guy who ran Hillel, which was the Jewish student association, said why wouldn't we just let someone pray in their own way? And we witnessed that. And he said because I'm interested in other people's prayers. And I was like that is right on the mark, like I would really be interested in doing that. And we did it for a little while. Some people didn't like it and some people loved it, right, you know it was sort of in the middle like it and some people loved it, right, you know it was sort of in the middle, but we were always able to get together around some kind of common service element, whether it was a hunger program or an event for children. We did a lot with human trafficking. It was really a lot of fun to be able to do that, to see that we have similar interests and that you know, together we want to care for people in the best way we can. Dr Megan, how about you?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:I would say community. So, like Father mentioned, the Fest is a wonderful example because you literally have thousands of people coming together to just worship our Lord, whether they are Catholic or Christian, which is beautiful. And of course, the Fest has grown quite a bit over the last 24 years, but even just with starting my being involved in ministry I mean the Fest was literally my first job out of college. I had the opportunity to intern, which was wonderful.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:And then I worked at St Ambrose with Father Bob, and one of the things he had me do was actually go to monthly meetings with other faith leaders in the city of Brunswick, and so it was a Brunswick ministerial association. So every month we would break bread together and you would have pastors and ministers just talking about their faith and just how their worship is different, but also the same. And to just throw in another quick example, I mean John Carroll University, where I work, we have a Catholic studies chair, we have a Jewish studies chair as well as an Islam studies chair, and it's so wonderful because over the last few years those three men have been coming together and just really fostering more conversations and more celebrating our similarities but also just acknowledging some of the differences in our faith but just really looking at it as a teaching moment.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, yeah, dr Zizzi, who does a lot of stuff with us. I believe he's the Muslim chair there correct, that's correct yes, we're getting ready to kind of do a little symposia. We usually do two of these a year where we talk about a question. So we're all talking about what question we'll explore this year as a faith community, and then we set up like an interfaith panel to talk on these things. So it'll be nice.
Fr. Damian Ference:I was part of an interfaith panel maybe 12 years ago it was after I came back from CUA and I was on with a rabbi and an imam and a priest. Sounds like a joke, but to your point, deacon Mike, making the distinctions and not only celebrating what we have in common but also pointing out what makes us different is a sign of respect to others. So, like with my Jewish rabbi friend and my imam friend, I said what we share in common is belief in one God. What makes us different is we believe in the Holy Trinity. So not only that God loves, but that God is love, a communion of persons, but that God is love, a communion of persons. And although this is blasphemous to my Jewish brothers and sisters and Muslim brothers and sisters, we believe that God took on flesh and that makes Christians unique.
Fr. Damian Ference:And they granted yeah, that's what you believe and we don't agree with. But to say that is helpful and I bring that up sometimes when I'm preaching what we have in common and then also what makes us different. And then people I never thought of that. Well, okay, these are really important things. So it's important, when you make distinctions, to say what we hold in common and then what makes us different? And then you can dive deeper into the topics. There Clarity is charity.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, I used to say all the time when I was at Canisius, which is a Catholic school, jesuit school in Buffalo. They would always say well, you know, we have to be ministers for all of our students, not just our Catholic students. And I would say, yes, that's true. I said, however, we're a Catholic school and so we can't dive too far on the other side. You know, we have to maintain our tradition here. We have to maintain the—we can't do everything interfaith. We have to do things that are distinctively Catholic. We have to do those all the time and we have to do them. Well, I said, and now we have to do this extra piece, which is an interfaith piece, to serve the needs of those who are not Catholic in some way and to show respect to them, and they should be doing the same for us. They should want us to do more Catholic things, more identifiable Catholic things.
Fr. Damian Ference:Sister Mary Jean, who is the parish life coordinator over at St Aloysius, hosts our Tolle Legge group for the last two weeks of June every year and she tells our young people that I think it's every student. I don't know if they have any Catholic students in the grade school, but all those students come to mass once a week and they also learn all the Catholic prayers and they're learning Catholic theology because we're a Catholic school and that's what we do. But we're also not proselytizing, we're evangelizing. But if you're coming to this school, you're going to learn our tradition and then over time some families do wind up joining. Yeah, you know so. Yeah, it's the both end.
Fr. Damian Ference:Once again, it's our recurring theme of this show.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, the National Eucharistic Congress. Gloria Purvis talked about growing up as a non-Catholic and going to a Catholic school and being inspired by the people who taught her and being inspired by the Eucharist. When she was there and she went home and told her mother, said I think I'm going to be Catholic. And she said you want to be Catholic? Okay, you're not going to eat meat on Friday and you're going to go to mass every Sunday. And she was like, yes, I am. And she said, okay, you go do that. And she goes and I've been doing it ever since.
Fr. Damian Ference:Yeah, that's great. That's great. It's great. We we should put her talk. I know we may have linked it before, but if you haven't seen it, it's pretty wonderful.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, that was my favorite talk of the whole conference.
Fr. Damian Ference:That's what you said. Yeah, I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. I think my favorite, looking back, might have been Sister Josephine's and that theme where she said what we often long for is the full taste of heaven. Well, we do long for it. And she said but the foretaste is what's promised in the Eucharist and when we do our reflection from the gospel. I'll riff back on that because it's important.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, that's great. Do you have a favorite moment of the fest this year?
Fr. Damian Ference:Well, I wasn't expecting you to ask me this question. I'd like to think more. So, no, I don't. I don't have a favorite moment, okay, but I guess if you're going to push me, I would say just seeing everybody. I get overwhelmed by those big crowds, especially with small talk, but I had a few good deep conversations with people I haven't seen in a while and that was nice.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, yeah, we were saying that last week with the NEC too. The big crowds sometimes are just not our jam right. We're becoming not conference people. I never was, that's why.
Fr. Damian Ference:I stood there and blew bubbles we were giving away.
Fr. Damian Ference:I just blew bubbles and I entered into ecstasy and contemplation, like what's that priest doing? Just let him go, dr.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Megan, what about you?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Oh, that's such a trick question. I mean the whole day is always beautiful. I mean just the people. I mean I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with people who came by my booth, but what I also loved just running into people that I have really encountered in various parts of my life, because I like to think that the fest is also Spot the Catholic Day, so I always get to see people that I worked with in ministry throughout the years as well as parishioners, and I saw quite a few people that I haven't seen probably in about five, six, seven years, and it was just really beautiful moments to share community with them.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Very nice, yeah, and I enjoyed one. The XLT that I presided. I really enjoyed and you know it was a really attentive and vibrant group that was in there and you know, like I said, damascus worship was spot on. They did a really nice job. And then I would say later on, as we prepared for Mass, it was kind of nice, just kind of hanging out with the other deacons and catching up with some folks. You know, Deacon. Will Yoho and I spent a couple minutes together talking about our experience at NEC with one another, and a couple of my classmates were there as well. So that was fun. And Deacon Mark Tomecko was the deacon of the word at the Mass.
Fr. Damian Ference:Your classmate and mine, Yep your and mine.
Deacon Mike Hayes:yes, and he's back at your old high school now.
Fr. Damian Ference:Well, he told me before Mass that we embarrassed him on the last show, so I'd like to do that again now. Sure I. We embarrassed him on the last show, so I'd like to do that again now Sure. I don't know how, but maybe just mentioning his name is enough. That's right. So if you're listening to this and you know Deacon Mark, then let him know that we spoke about him once again on the show and embarrass him.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Thank you, this is good, and so church search. I thought we would go to saint ambrose, so you know, actually that's a church I've never been to. I need to go.
Fr. Damian Ference:I need to go I have to go.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, I have not been there.
Fr. Damian Ference:The church that carlin built. So father carlin was that was his first assignment. He was my pastor at saint charles and during his time there father hilkert was the pastor and they built a new church. And Father Carlin then after that went to St Charles and has been there ever since he's been ordained since 1976, so for 49 years, 48 years, and he's never had more than two assignments. But recently Father Steck renovated or updated the parish and new sanctuary, new tile, it's quite beautiful and it's like a mega parish.
Fr. Damian Ference:There's so much going on there. I mean it makes one dizzy. And there are certain priests who could handle that makes one dizzy. And there are certain priests who could handle that, like Father Estock is at St Albert the Great, father Ryan Mann at Basel, father Stuck at Ambrose and there are certain pastors who just Father Carlin too, at St Charles. That stuff is not. I'm so grateful that different priests have different gifts and different deacons and different Everybody like let people do what they're great at. But yeah, when I look at that place and visit, I'm so grateful that different priests have different gifts and different deacons and different professors. Everybody like let people do what they're great at. But yeah, when I look at that place and visit. I'm like I'm overwhelmed.
Deacon Mike Hayes:There's so much going on all the time. My friend is a pastor in Toledo at a parish Corpus Christi and he said that there were things going on all the time. And I said Father Jim, do you know what's going on all the time? He goes no, not in a million years.
Fr. Damian Ference:I think Father Steck does, though. Yeah, oh, he literally does and he's involved in it.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Oh he is. It's incredible. I mean, I was just at the parish yesterday, so at the fest there was several Indian priests and sisters there and I had the opportunity to spend some time with them yesterday at St Ambrose, and I mean St Ambrose has 180 ministries plus going on. They have about 600 children in the school. They usually have about another 800 children in PSR. It's pretty incredible. Like you said, father, it's like a mega church, but definitely grounded in their faith, which is just so beautiful.
Fr. Damian Ference:Well, and the reason it works is because it's huge and there's a lot going on. But with all those ministries you can be part of a small group and feel connected. And that's the key with big parishes is you don't want to get lost in the ocean. You want to have a place where people know you and you know them. And that's hard to do, but Father Stuck does it well. He's a very gifted man.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:He is, and he's very good too, about just empowering people and recognizing what their gifts are and just empowering them to be leaders of those small communities, like you mentioned, Father. So, Deacon Mike, definitely need to go out to St Ambrose. It's a wonderful place.
Deacon Mike Hayes:I will make the trip when I am able. And speaking of small groups where people get to meet each other, we have a softball league and so it's time for this week's softball update. Okay, no games last week because of the fest. We've got some make-up games on the 9th at St John Bosco Field, that's Friday 6-15. The Strongsville Vikings will be taking on catching Flamingos. Strongsville struggling to get into the playoff hunt. They have to take on the defending champions catching Flamingos in order to have a possibility of even getting into the playoffs. The top seed Westside Whitecaps they are cruising right along. Only one loss this year so far and the Itay Mighty Doves hanging tough trying to get into the playoffs as well. There is a strong possibility at the end of this weekend that there could be several ties for those last couple of playoff spots. So keep your eyes on that Out.
Deacon Mike Hayes:On Sunday at St John Bosco Field we have a full slate of games. Catching Flamingos will take on the Parma Peacocks Parma holding on tight to try to get into that last playoff position. The Westside Whitecaps will take on Chosen Ones in a battle of the top two teams in the league. Young Vitus will take on Big League Chew. Big League Chew firmly in the playoff hunt, young Vitus struggling to stay above water. The Strongsville Vikings will take on the last place, grapes of Wrath. However, if Strongsville loses on Friday, they very well could finish last if Grapes of Wrath beats them on Sunday and the Blue Scapulars will play the final game definitely with playoff implications there against the Itay Mighty Doves. Hey, looking ahead to the playoffs on the 18th out at Meyer Park in Seven Hills, ohio, that's a different location than we've usually been at. Meyer Park will host our playoff games, where at 12.30, seed number three will take on seed number six, seed number four will take on seed number six, seed number four will take on seed number five and then we'll play. Seed number two will get a bye and then they'll play the winner of that 3-6 game. Seed number one will play the winner of the 4-5 game and, of course, the championship game at 6.30.
Deacon Mike Hayes:And hey, if you want to come out and watch that week, veranova Medical will be out there and they'll be having some free food for us. They'll have some hot dogs and chicken and all kinds of things on the grill for us, as well as some refreshing drinks as well. They had some cookies last year. We'll see if they bring those again this year as well. So thanks to Veranova for that. They'll be out there. Archangel Outfitters, who make our uniforms. They'll be out there selling some of their cool T-shirts, religious and otherwise. So come on out there and support our two sponsors. It'll be great to have them out there. And I'm Deacon Mike Hayes, and this is your Softball Update. All right, last week of the season, dr Megan's on a team. I am what team?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:I am the Whitecaps right.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yes, the Westside Whitecaps. I should know Westside Whitecaps, they're in first place.
Fr. Damian Ference:I was going to say you either win a lot of games or lose a lot of games, because I listen to the updates.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yes, so they're in first place for now. They have a make-up game on Friday to close out their regular season. Okay, We'll be playing our. As you heard in the update, we'll be playing our playoff game day out at Meyer Field in Seven Hills.
Fr. Damian Ference:Oh, oh, right behind Meyer Store. Yeah, I remember going there.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, because St John Bosco has their parish festival that last weekend, I see.
Fr. Damian Ference:We'll be back there for the All-Star game. God bless Father Byrne for letting that be the home. It's nice to have a Catholic parish that has a nice ball diamond. Let us play there.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, it's been so great this year, and Alan Hodge, who's the maintenance guy who helps us out there, has been so great this year. He's given us storage space and all kinds of things, so without him this couldn't happen. So thanks, that's great. All right readings for this week. I'm preaching this week actually at St Chris.
Fr. Damian Ference:Bread of.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Life Discourse. We're still rocking it. Yeah, exactly I like the first reading this week from Kings as well, where Elijah continues to be fed by the Lord, and I always think when I read that I say the Lord will always sustain us, the the Lord will always sustain us. The Lord will always sustain us in whatever ways that we need God to sustain us in our lives.
Fr. Damian Ference:I was thinking about one of the last lines in the gospel, about whoever eats this bread will live forever, and how that desire to live forever and for things to last forever is written in our hearts and it shows up in secular music all the time, like hold on to the night, hold on to the memory, richard Marx, all Night Long. Like Buck Cherry's written a song like that, never Ending, or Eternal Flame. Like is this burning an eternal flame? The Bengals, yeah. So so many songs are about this desire for a love that endures and lasts forever, which is a desire for God. And Jesus is God and he gives us that in the Eucharist.
Fr. Damian Ference:Again, to quote Sister Josephine, not the full taste on this side of the veil, but a foretaste. So I was texting with a friend about this over the weekend. Quote, sister Josephine, not the full taste on this side of the veil, but a foretaste. So I was texting with a friend about this over the weekend. I think there's always on this side of the veil in our human experience, just a tinge of sadness in our hearts, even if we're like experiencing great joy, because our hearts will not be fully satisfied until we meet God face to face. So there will be foretastes of it for sure. But I think just that tinge of sadness is part of the consequence of the fall and part of the lived experience, and accepting that is all right.
Deacon Mike Hayes:I think it's sort of the already but not yet.
Fr. Damian Ference:Yeah, yeah.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Good yeah, Dr Megan. Anything stand out to you in the readings?
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Yeah, in the gospel I am the bread of life. And so I mean you know, I know you both just came back from the Eucharistic Congress and sadly I wasn't able to make it this year but just a beautiful reminder that the Eucharist is what breathes us life. And I mean I know as a church we're really trying to work hard to help people, just really help them just better understand but also embrace that the Eucharist is truly the body of Christ. And so I think, just in our ministries and just as well as we go out and evangelize, it's just how do we help people recognize that the Eucharist indeed is life? And so that, of course, is just really trying to find creative ways to help them just to encounter that as well, encounter Jesus, and also just recognize that the Eucharist does give us life. It's not just something, a physical motion that we do every Sunday, but rather it's so much deeper and enter into that with more reverence and prayer.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Yeah, yeah, as I said our exalt, do we believe or have we had an encounter? You know, if we just believe, it doesn't mean we had an encounter, but if we have an encounter then that helps us believe. Yeah, that's perfect, right. So we hope that you've had an encounter with us here this week.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:Oh, yes, thanks for having me again.
Deacon Mike Hayes:And we'll be back again next week and our softball team Megan will be in the playoffs by that time.
Dr. Megan Lowes-Bolin:I'm sure we'll still be in first place.
Deacon Mike Hayes:Maybe. Yeah, we'll see what happens.
Fr. Damian Ference:I think we will Do all the teams make the playoffs, or just the top six or something.
Deacon Mike Hayes:The top six, yes and yeah. So playoffs coming up and we'll be back again next week here on Question of Fame. Outro Music.
