Father Joshua Carlos recently shared his thoughts about the National Eucharistic Revival, the National Eucharistic Conference in July in Indianapolis, and on the Eucharist itself. 
“There were a lot of people who turned out for it; there was a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “My hope is that the enthusiasm continues. One of the things that’s important, I feel that it’s not something that is just going to be for three years. I think it’s got to be something that is a part of the life of the Church. 
“I applaud it. I’m grateful that they did that. But my hope is that they’re able to knock into our hearts and minds the need to continue to do things of this sort. … Eucharistic processions, emphasis on Adoration; Mass – and then actually living the Eucharistic life. 
“Because you know it’s one thing to take the Blessed Sacrament to the streets, and to go to Adoration, and sing and yell for an hour. But it’s another thing to live it. Because if not, you’re not a witness to it. And if you’re not a witness to it, how is anyone else going to come to believe in the Breaking of the Bread? How is anybody going to believe that this really is Jesus? “Sometimes we treat it as if it’s just another sacred object of some kind, but we forget that it’s Christ Himself. And so if we’re not expressing that, not just publicly in the Mass, we’re not going to bear witness to that reality to the world – that we really believe that Jesus is present, and that Jesus is the Son of God, and is not just a symbol. 
“So I think it’s super important that what happens in Adoration, what happens at Mass, what happens in procession, transforms us. We have to be open to that transformation, so that we can become more like Christ, and witness to Him to the whole world.  

“It’s not going to be sufficient just to go to Mass, to go to Adoration, to do a Eucharistic procession. We have to understand, we have to come to a deeper relationship with him, and we have to bear witness to Him. And that’s a challenge, because we’re fallen human beings!
“We’re fallen human beings. He (Jesus) is veiled. And we lack faith. So what do we need to do? We need to do like the Apostles – ask the Lord to increase our faith, so that we can see. And not with the eyes we have, but with the eyes of our heart. 
“As clergy, we can do a lot to foster that. But in the end, it’s a choice. And everybody has to make that choice – to decide whether they’re going to receive Him, and truly receive Him. Be open to Him. 
“We’re fathers. That’s what we are. And good parents, they’ll tell you that – you can’t force your kids! They’re not going to listen to you! You just plant the seed. The Lord is the one who causes the growth. “The Eucharist is central – for me, as a priest. But I think essential for the life of the Church, for the priesthood, is the Eucharist. … All of us have our different talents. Some people are very good with music, and some priests are very good with homilies, some priests are great walkers – we have so many different talents. That’s just a reflection of all the people of God. We all have our talents; we all have our capabilities. But we’re one body in Christ. And the Eucharist is the Body of Christ. And so that must be the center …”