November 29, 2021

Father Frank Furman focuses on Eucharist at Theology on Tap

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – Father Frank Furman, parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield, led the discussion at the latest edition of Theology on Tap at the Thomas J. Sullivan Banquet Hall at Nathan Bill’s Restaurant in Springfield, Sunday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m.

Theology on Tap is one of the many activities offered by the Diocese of Springfield’s Office of Young Adult Ministry. In a casual setting, people were able to share their faith over a beer and ask Father Furman questions, particularly about the Eucharist, which was the focus of his talk.

“Of the Catholics that are in the pews, only 30 percent believe that the Eucharist is truly Jesus,. That’s incredibly low,” said Father Furman, referring to a 2019 Pew Research Survey.

The Springfield Diocese’s Year of the Eucharist, which runs from Nov. 21, 2021-Oct. 9, 2022, will refocus the faithful on the central teaching that the Eucharist is truly Christ’s body and blood.

“In the Year of the Eucharist we want to reignite the faith,” said Father Furman, who is on the Year of the Eucharist committee. “The Eucharist is Jesus; it’s God, right? So, it’s the source and summit of all the graces that God gives us. It’s the source and summit of everything in our life.”

Father Furman also encouraged a greater reverence for the Eucharist with the crowd gathered. He noted that genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament isn’t just going through the motions, but means Catholics are in the presence of Jesus, the King of Kings.

“What are these gestures? They remind us that we are in some place different,” he said.

The Young and Catholic Springfield Chapter, a grassroots initiative to build young adult ministry in the Diocese of Springfield, organized the event.

“It’s just an opportunity for Catholics from all over the area and all ages to get together to share a good time together and learn the faith,” said Alex Coverdill, chair of Young and Catholic, Springfield.

“What I really love is we’re getting all generations, really being able to share the beauty of the faith and still have a good time together and it’s really inspiring to see that happening,” Coverdill said.

Three other Theology on Tap events have been held, in Springfield and Franklin County.

“It’s something that builds community,” said Maureen Sullivan, Young and Catholic Franklin County board member. Sullivan belongs to Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield.

“It’s something that I enjoy coming to, seeing young Catholics living their faith, and what a better way to do it, in somewhere that’s very worldly and relatable. It’s kind of like meeting people where they’re at.”

For more information about upcoming young adult ministry events, visit http://diospringfield.org/Ministries/office-of-young-adult-ministry/.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS.