In a moving Holy Thursday mass held last night at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, the congregation was called to rediscover the inseparable bond between the Eucharist and the Priesthood- two sacraments woven together by the threads of love and humble service.
Reflecting on the profound mysteries of the Last Supper, the main celebrant, Father John Auram CP in his homily, emphasized that to follow Christ is to live a life “bound by the stol and the towel.”
Drawing inspiration from the late Bishop Tonino Bello, who dictated a powerful pastoral letter from his deathbed in 1993, the homily introduced the central imagery of the Stol (stole) and the Towel. These two items symbolize the dual nature of the Christian calling:
The Stol (Stole): Represents the dignity of the priest and his union with Christ in the Eucharist. It is the symbol of holiness and the authority to convey God’s forgiveness and salvation.
The Towel: Represents the duty of the priest and his union with humanity. It symbolizes the ministry of service, modelled by Jesus when he knelt to wash the feet of his disciples.
Fr. John Auram stated that there is no priesthood without the Eucharist, and there is no Eucharist without the priesthood.
However, both become deficient without love, and love itself is incomplete without the “towel of service.”
The homily reminded the faithful that on this night, Jesus transformed the ancient Jewish Passover into the New Testament Passover.
He replaced the roasted paschal lamb with his own Body and Blood, offered under the appearances of bread and wine. This was not merely a ritual change, but a “gesture of love bound in service.”
By instituting the Eucharist, Jesus provided spiritual food and drink for the journey, inviting his followers to imitate his self-giving model.
We realize this sacrifice today by offering our own talents, time, and blessings in a spirit of sharing with others.
In addition, a highlight of the reflection was the story of Bishop Fulton Sheen, who was famously inspired not by a Pope or a fellow prelate, but by the courage of an eleven-year-old girl in communist China.
In the late 1940s, after soldiers desecrated a church and scattered thirty-two consecrated hosts on the floor, this young girl returned secretly every night for thirty-two nights.
Each night, she spent an hour in prayer before consuming a single host with her tongue.
On the final night, she was discovered and martyred by a soldier’s rifle.
This child’s devotion moved Bishop Sheen to promise an hour of daily prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for the rest of his life, noting that “the power of the priesthood comes from the Eucharist.”
Moreover, the parishioners of St. Joseph’s were challenged to become “Christ-bearers” and “Christ-conveyors.”
The command to “wash each other’s feet” is an invitation to be kind, caring, and understanding- offering humble service for the good of humanity both within and beyond the church walls.
“Tonight, our Lord Jesus Christ showed us that he loved us so much.”
“Let us allow Jesus to open our hearts so that we can welcome him warmly, as we journey with him tonight, tomorrow, and then celebrate with him on his Resurrection Day.”
