If we are people of the Eucharist, Catholics must be willing and open to change, seek out those in need, be people of faith, and promoters of peace.

These were some of the challenges put to Catholic faithful by Charismatic community leader Mary Baptiste, as she preached the sermon at last Sunday's Marian Devotions at the Laventille Shrine.

Baptiste, one of the three founders of San Fernando 's Zion Community, preached on the power of the Eucharist and the challenges of being a “Eucharistic community” or people.

Throughout her sermon, she backed up her points with quotations from encyclicals of the late Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and from the writings of the saints.

To ripples of quiet laughter, she said if Jesus were to talk like a “Trini”, he would tell us, “If you don't have me in you, yuh dead, dead, dead.”

She said that today we were discovering that many things we thought we could depend on were no longer reliable. But we could always depend upon the Eucharist, she said.

After sharing the story of the journey her brother took in returning to the Church, Baptiste told the gathering that if they knew anyone who was still looking or searching, “bring that person to the Eucharist. Its power to save is permanent, and has no limits”.

She said, “it is not enough” to just attend Mass but we must also open our hearts and minds during the celebration. “Give it (hearts and minds) to Him as he gives himself to you in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life and living.” Baptiste said one challenge faced by a Eucharistic people was to change.

Archbishop Gilbert talks to Mary Baptiste while the children of La Romaine RC look on.

“A Eucharistic people must be on the move. We are called to do new things. The way we ran Church 25, 40 years ago, we cannot do it that way today. We cannot be static.” A Eucharistic people must be a community of faith, even in the midst of negative talk, she continued.

“We must walk through the land with confidence,” Baptiste added, calling forth the Holy Spirit, since “the power of the spirit is the power of hope. A Eucharistic people must carry the gospel to people in need of it”.

She said as a Eucharistic community, Catholics must be concerned about the needs of the poor and of the parishes in the archdiocese. A Eucharistic people must promote peace and dialogue. “Our voice - and voices - must be heard in the family, on the job, promoting things of the spirit and God.”

After relating another personal experience, she called on all people of the Eucharist to also develop a level of “sensitivity and humility” towards others. We have to start inside our homes and within our own communities, Baptiste said.

Archbishop Edward Gilbert and Bishop John Mendes presided over last Sunday's devotions, while Moruga parish priest Fr David Khan was the celebrant of the Mass before the devotions, which were led by students and teachers of La Romaine RC School.

Devotions will next be held on Sunday, July 10, and will be led by Sacred Heart Boys' RC School.