Julianne Stanz speaks to parish leadership during the Diocese of Owensboro’s Eucharistic Revival Gathering: Year of Mission on Dec. 3, 2024 at the Owensboro Convention Center. Stanz is an internationally known speaker and retreat leader, director of outreach for discipleship and evangelization for Loyola Press, and a consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. RILEY GREIF | WKC

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Approximately 231 pastoral leaders came together on a cold December day for the Diocese of Owensboro’s Eucharistic Revival Gathering: Year of Mission on Dec. 3, 2024 at the Owensboro Convention Center.

Continuing the tradition begun in 2017, the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship helped coordinate the annual gathering, which was open to pastors, associate pastors, parish staff and volunteers, and others involved in ministry across the diocese.

About 51 of the diocese’s 78 parishes were represented, and staff from several Catholic schools and Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center also attended.

Stanz, who spoke at the diocese’s inaugural parish leadership evangelization event in 2017, is today the director of outreach for discipleship and evangelization for Loyola Press, and a consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This past summer, she served as one of the Impact Session speakers at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

“The teachings of the faith we share should go on for generations,” said Stanz during the Dec. 3 event, which included prayer, small group sharing, lunch, and the official announcement of the Diocese of Owensboro’s plans for the Jubilee, or Holy Year, of Hope.

“How to be missionaries of hope as we approach the jubilee year,” was the theme of Stanz’s presentation as she emphasized the importance of having a strong interior prayer life as an evangelizer.

Two parish leaders pray together during the Diocese of Owensboro’s Eucharistic Revival Gathering: Year of Mission on Dec. 3, 2024 at the Owensboro Convention Center. RILEY GREIF | WKC

“Prayer doesn’t change the world; it changes us,” she said. Stanz introduced the participants to a short prayer she composed at a time in her life when she was having a difficult struggle: “Jesus, I can’t, but you can; show me the way.”

“There’s no magic bullet for missionary discipleship,” said Stanz, but added that “we have everything we need to unleash the Gospel to this generation,” in other words, the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life.

Emily Gipson, the director of catechetical formation at St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Whitesville, attended with her parish and said she was glad to hear Stanz speak about “renewal and revival in each of our own hearts before trying to renew the hearts of others.”

“I have been encouraged to seek healing, revival, and renewal for the leaders of our parish and become healed people who heal one another, as well as to foster opportunities for both our leaders and all parishioners to have profound encounters with the Holy Eucharist,” said Gipson.

Another parish leader who enjoyed the day of “learning, reflecting, and praying as a diocese” was Ranni Dillard, the coordinator of social action at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson.

She was moved by Stanz’s story of a newborn baby whose cries were calmed by the sound of her father’s voice, and said she was reminded to “listen for my Father’s voice and act accordingly” in her ministry of social justice.

“(Stanz’s) presentation and discussion questions were insightful and inspiring,” said Dillard. “Reflection prompts forced me to open my heart and gave me a glimpse into the hearts of my co-workers as we shared.”

Bishop William F. Medley addresses participants of during the Diocese of Owensboro’s Eucharistic Revival Gathering: Year of Mission on Dec. 3, 2024 at the Owensboro Convention Center. RILEY GREIF | WKC

Originally printed in the January 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.