Lauren Solidum’s Eucharistic Witness
I am grateful to my fellow adorers who have been brave and vulnerable in their witnesses allowing others to see the light of Christ through the Eucharist!
The word Eucharist immediately creates a resounding sense of peace in my heart. The first vocation that God has entrusted to me is as wife and mother. And, as many of you know, a very close second vocation is to humbly serve as the Executive Director (ED) of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. The two are often hard to separate. In only my second year, as a first-time ED, the pandemic hit. Saying the past year has been tough is an understatement. Balancing ever-changing health and safety protocols while watching the needs of our poor and vulnerable skyrocket, has tested my faith and our little family beyond measure. Ascension is such a safe place for our family. When the doors of the church closed initially, I was devastated. Our most sacred place was gone and the physical and spiritual nourishment of the Eucharist was taken all while the increasing noise of the world remained. I was angry. I was empty. As I floundered about for the next several weeks trying to make sense of what God was asking of me, the longing to physically consume the Eucharist grew. I ached for this connection to our God. I needed it if I was going to have the strength to join my husband in leading our family and those serving at Catholic Charities during this challenging time.
It was in these moments of stress and despair that I grew in my spiritual connection to the Eucharist through prayer and increased time in the sacrament of Adoration. Depth and gratitude are the words that continue to resurface as I sit in the silence of the Lord. I will no longer take for granted the blessing that it is to physically consume the Eucharist. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God for His patience and grace as I initially stomped my feet and threw up my hands at the disruption of my own personal routine, before choosing to run towards Him to learn more about this incredible gift, its deep meaning and importance. These leaps of faith always challenge us but never leave us disappointed.