From The Bishop

Today's scholars are unable to identify with certainty the exact location of the town of Emmaus . There are various theories put forward but I wish to share the thoughts of Pope Benedict XVI on this matter.

“The locality of Emmaus has not been identified with certainty. There are various hypotheses, and this one is not without an evocativeness of its own, for it allows us to think that Emmaus actually represents everyplace: the road that leads there is the road every Christian, every person, takes. The risen Jesus makes Himself our travelling companion as we go on our way.� ( The Joy of Knowing Christ: Meditations on the Gospels )

With this interpretation it is easy to see that the gospel account of the road to Emmaus applies to life in general. We can all find ourselves on the road of life experiencing times of disillusionment, of disappointment and even hopelessness. It is precisely at these times that we need to encounter the risen Lord in his word and in the breaking of the bread so that our hearts will burn within us.

In the early Church one of the terms used for the celebration of the Eucharist was “the breaking of the bread�. As Roman Catholics we are very fortunate that we have been given the gift of the Holy Eucharist. Every time we celebrate Mass we relive the Emmaus account. We hear God's word as it is broken open to us and we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life who heals us and restores our hope. We leave the celebration renewed, and like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we proclaim the Good News to others.

As part of that proclamation of the Good News I encourage you to invite those that you find on the road of life to the Bread of Life. What I mean is that we know many people who could be at the Sunday Eucharist but choose not to be present. Let us offer a simple invitation to join us so that they too can hear God's words of hope in the sacred scriptures and receive His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, the bread of life.

We then profess what we believe, that the Eucharist is the greatest remedy to the sadness, disillusionment, and disappointment that we experience on the road of life.

On May 1, 2011, Pope John Paul II was beatified at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome . This holy and venerable man was able to touch the minds and hearts of so many by his powerful preaching, his insightful teaching and his wonderful example of servant leadership.

I wish to conclude with a quote from Pope John Paul II as we ponder the significance of the Emmaus text. “The risen Jesus accompanies us on our way and enables us to recognize him as the disciples of Emmaus did in the breaking of the bread. May he find us watchful, ready to recognize his face and to run to our brothers and sisters with the Good News…we have seen the Lord.� ( Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte )

Bishop Bergie's motto
Mane Nobiscum Domine â€" Stay With Us Lord
is taken from the Emmaus story. (Luke 24:13-35)