CATHOLICS from the breezy Sandgate Brighton community take the Greek translation of the word “eucharist” quite literally every year.
“Eucharist”, which derives from the Greek word “eucharistia”, means “thanksgiving”, and once a year, Catholics from Sandgate Brighton Catholic parish make a point of thanking God for their blessings at the end of each liturgical year.
To close out 2019, the parish gathered at Sacred Heart Church, Sandgate, for the Feast of Christ the King to thank the growing number of volunteers in its midst.
Parish priest Fr Joseph Kanatt said giving thanks to God was the essence of the Mass.
“They are having thanksgiving for all the volunteers and the ministers, and the community and the school come together to thank God for the gifts and blessings they have received during this year,” Fr Kanatt said.
“I think it’s a great idea to do this once in a year, because Eucharist means thanksgiving.”
Fr Kanatt also has personal gratitude for the volunteers and staff at the parish, having been transferred from Beenleigh to the Sandgate Brighton parish in August.
“Personally I’m also grateful for this parish because the people are getting me involved in many ways,” he said.
“They are supporting the liturgy and the parish council and also doing everything here in the church.”
A member of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Fr Kanatt was almost destined to lead the Sandgate Brighton community.
Brighton’s church is named after the Real Presence, a term to describe the doctrine that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, and the community runs Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday from midday to midnight at Sacred Heart Church.
“I’m very happy here,” Fr Kanatt said.
