BY GRETCHEN KEISER

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--The stark image of a cross with the Eucharist at the center served as a dramatic backdrop for Mass and a healing service June 1 celebrating a year of Eucharistic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

The black and white centerpiece at the Atlanta Civic Center was offset by spiritual warmth as 4,000 people joined in the celebration and prayed for Jesus to touch the lives of those present and those not present, but remembered in prayer.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue was joined by about 40 priests of the archdiocese and many deacons as he celebrated Mass for the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ at 2 p.m.

Afterward, Irish-born Sister Briege McKenna, OSC, led a healing service focused on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist while Father Kevin Scallon carried the monstrance throughout the hall in blessing and worship.

Although the main level of the large concert hall was filled to capacity with people and many more sat in the balcony, the three and a half hour event was quietly reverent and prayerful, with only an occasional baby's cry.

Eight singers, accompanied by pianist Ed Bolduc, trumpeters, guitarists and percussionists, provided music throughout the liturgy, healing service and Benediction, a thread of notes that sustained the atmosphere of joyful reverence.

Encouraged by Sister McKenna to see Jesus in the Eucharist with eyes of faith, many people wept as the monstrance was brought nearest to their seats. Father Scallon, accompanied by two altar servers with candles, frequently stopped, allowing the hands of a a particular person to rest on the base of the monstrance for a moment of prayer.

One was Elizabeth Ryan from Good Shepherd Church in Cumming. Her face was radiant, but tears flowed as Father Scallon stopped in front of her silently for a few moments. She put her hands on the monstrance base reverently.

Her 13 years of illness with multiple sclerosis have brought her to several healing services with the help of friends, but she "felt closer to Jesus here at the Eucharistic one...than I have before. I always feel His presence, but this time it was much stronger."

Afterward she said the experience gave her the confidence "to know that God is here with me, that He is actually here...I know that He loves me. I don't feel worthy, but I know He loves me."

The prayer for healing brings her strength for her daily life and heals her attitude regarding the illness she bears. "The strength I get is being able to accept it and deal with my physical limitations."

John Leddy, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church, Toccoa, said that in his lifetime as a Catholic, "I was never, never so enthused and impressed" as he was by the June 1 celebration.

"I've gone to Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, to midnight Mass. Of all the functions I've been to, none made the impression on me that this did. I couldn't think of anything better."

During the Mass and healing service, Leddy and his wife, Carolyn, felt as if the time raced by. "I think the highlight was when Sister (Briege) came out and said, 'There are no stars here. There's only one star--Jesus.'" Since June 1, Leddy said he thinks of the experience frequently during the day and when he prays the rosary at night "I get that vision of the Holy Eucharist" in the monstrance on the altar.

"The archdiocese really, really did a good job," Leddy said, expressing the hope that the Mass might become an annual event.

Corpus Christi parishioner John O'Kane said that the entire year of refocusing on the doctrine of the Eucharist has had a great impact on him personally and, from his observation, has had a significant impact on his Stone Mountain parish.

O'Kane was one of the parishioners helping to promote perpetual adoration which began in 1997 at Corpus Christi. He is enriched by spending one hour a week in front of the Blessed Sacrament himself, he said. Through that commitment, he has an hour of silence with Jesus each week "in a very difficult, very busy world."

Archbishop Donoghue called for the Eucharistic Renewal beginning on the feast of Corpus Christi in 1996 because of his personal conviction, and supporting opinion polls, showing that many Catholics do not know or do not understand church teaching that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

The June 1 celebration marked the first anniversary of a renewal that the archbishop hopes will continue beyond 1997.

"We have spent a year drawing nearer to our Lord and drawing Him nearer to us," the archbishop said in his homily, adding "Let us make this holy year the first stone in the church of the future."

While the first 12 months have focused on prayer, study of the teaching on the Eucharist and more opportunities for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Donoghue said he hopes there will also be a revival of "charitable works" by the church that show an outpouring of the love of God into the community.

He also expressed his hope that today's children will carry into the future the love of Jesus Christ "that was the hallmark of their parents."

One was Elizabeth Ryan from Good Shepherd Church in Cumming. Her face was radiant, but tears flowed as Father Scallon stopped in front of her silently for a few moments. She put her hands on the monstrance base reverently.

Her 13 years of illness with multiple sclerosis have brought her to several healing services with the help of friends, but she "felt closer to Jesus here at the Eucharistic one...than I have before. I always feel His presence, but this time it was much stronger."

Afterward she said the experience gave her the confidence "to know that God is here with me, that He is actually here...I know that He loves me. I don't feel worthy, but I know He loves me."

The prayer for healing brings her strength for her daily life and heals her attitude regarding the illness she bears. "The strength I get is being able to accept it and deal with my physical limitations."

John Leddy, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church, Toccoa, said that in his lifetime as a Catholic, "I was never, never so enthused and impressed" as he was by the June 1 celebration.

"I've gone to Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, to midnight Mass. Of all the functions I've been to, none made the impression on me that this did. I couldn't think of anything better."

During the Mass and healing service, Leddy and his wife, Carolyn, felt as if the time raced by. "I think the highlight was when Sister (Briege) came out and said, 'There are no stars here. There's only one star--Jesus.'" Since June 1, Leddy said he thinks of the experience frequently during the day and when he prays the rosary at night "I get that vision of the Holy Eucharist" in the monstrance on the altar.

"The archdiocese really, really did a good job," Leddy said, expressing the hope that the Mass might become an annual event.

Corpus Christi parishioner John O'Kane said that the entire year of refocusing on the doctrine of the Eucharist has had a great impact on him personally and, from his observation, has had a significant impact on his Stone Mountain parish.

O'Kane was one of the parishioners helping to promote perpetual adoration which began in 1997 at Corpus Christi. He is enriched by spending one hour a week in front of the Blessed Sacrament himself, he said. Through that commitment, he has an hour of silence with Jesus each week "in a very difficult, very busy world."

Archbishop Donoghue called for the Eucharistic Renewal beginning on the feast of Corpus Christi in 1996 because of his personal conviction, and supporting opinion polls, showing that many Catholics do not know or do not understand church teaching that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

The June 1 celebration marked the first anniversary of a renewal that the archbishop hopes will continue beyond 1997.

"We have spent a year drawing nearer to our Lord and drawing Him nearer to us," the archbishop said in his homily, adding "Let us make this holy year the first stone in the church of the future."

While the first 12 months have focused on prayer, study of the teaching on the Eucharist and more opportunities for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Archbishop Donoghue said he hopes there will also be a revival of "charitable works" by the church that show an outpouring of the love of God into the community.

Asking what it means to worship "in spirit and in truth," Archbishop Donoghue responded that it means not only to pray, but to "open our hearts and let flow out around us that wonderful love" God has so generously revealed in Jesus.

He also expressed his hope that as a result of what they are taught by example, today's children will carry into the future the love of Jesus Christ "that was the hallmark of their parents."

Following Communion, the archbishop expressed his gratitude to the members of the archdiocesan committee for the Eucharistic Renewal and its chair, Keri Allen of the Cathedral of Christ the King. "Keri has been the spark who has worked untiringly to coordinate these efforts," he said.

In an interview following the anniversary celebration, Keri Allen said that over 100 volunteers worked on the event, including ushers, greeters, musicians and eucharistic ministers. Throughout the year, she said, "People have pulled together, wanting to work on this--for one reason--their love for the Lord and for the Eucharist."