MASS TIMESCategory Archives: Blog
St. Robert’s Blog
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
I have been asked by a few in the parish if we might provide opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration. The Eucharistic Chapel located behind the choir area in our church is an ideal setting. Of course I am very happy to promote the prayer life of our parish community in any way that I can. Here are a few thoughts.
– The primary purpose of Eucharist is to be received at Mass. The Lord has given us this bread and wine, his Body and Blood to nourish us on our pilgrim journey of life.
– Eucharist was first reserved after Mass so that it could be taken to the sick who could not come to Church. This practice continues today. Many of our parishioners bring the Eucharist from Mass to their loved ones. Others visit nursing homes or the homebound. Eucharist is carried is a small container called a pyx (pronounced picks, the plural is pyxes).
– In the 12th century, people began to pray before the Eucharist, This came about in particular as a response to those who claimed that the Eucharist was not truly the Body of Christ.
– The Eucharist is reserved in the Tabernacle. A Tabernacle must be secured to the ground and locked. Our Tabernacle is in the Eucharistic Chapel. A candle is always lit nearby to indicate the presence of the Blessed Sacrament inside the Tabernacle.
– Our Church has the unique feature of the Eucharistic chapel being open at all times. Even when the rest of the church and parish facility is locked, people can enter the Eucharistic Chapel at all hours to pray in the presence of the Eucharist.
– Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is a more particular way of praying before the Eucharist. The host is removed from the Tabernacle and placed in a “Monstrance.” The Monstrance is a vessel that shows the Eucharist (demonstrate).
– Perpetual Adoration means that the Eucharist is continually displayed in a Monstrance. Some monasteries, convents or chapels have perpetual adoration.
– The Church does have guidelines for adoration. Since Eucharistic adoration is meant to nourish the faith, it is important to have some of the faithful (at least two) present at all time and never to have the Eucharist exposed with no one present. This means that to begin the practice we do need some coordination.
We will begin simply. It was suggested to me that the month of All Souls would be a good time to start.
The Eucharist will be exposed in the Eucharistic Chapel on Fridays November 7, 14, 21 from 9:30 a.m. (after morning Mass) until 2:00 p.m. A sign-up list can be found in the Eucharistic Chapel.
Fr. Len
Fiesta Night!
Thanks to all who attended this delicious authentic Mexican dinner – proceeds will benefit education at San Juan Diego Academy! We have a sister parish relationship with Holy Name of Jesus in Wyoming, MI. Their school is San Juan Diego Academy. View more photos HERE.
Cruise With Fr. Len
CRUISE AROUND THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA IN FEBRUARY OF 2016.
I have a history of serving on Holland America Cruises as a chaplain, offering Mass every day for passengers who wish to attend daily Mass – and on Sunday for all Catholics on board. I don’t cruise every year but have done some eight over the past twenty years. Most have been in the Caribbean. For my 25th ordination anniversary I did the Inside Passage in Alaska and had quite a large group join.
Info Link Flyer: (Father Len cruise )
My 40th anniversary is right around the corner (in 2016) and I was looking to do something unusual, interesting and exciting – a trip that would be on the Bucket List for travelers. The answer was a cruise around the tip of South America, from Buenos Aires, Argentina to (Valparaiso) Santiago, Chile. The cruise is two weeks long, beginning on February 21, 2016 (winter here, their summer there). Fr. Lou Anderson has chaplained this cruise and described it as breathtaking: Glacier Alley, fjords, and penguins. Buenos Aires and Valparaiso are described as two of the most beautiful cities in South America.
Many people appreciate group travel. I certainly enjoy a cruise more when I am sharing it with fellow travelers. In the past I have even provided the service of getting single travelers paired up.
I am using Dolphin Travel which has been a faithful advertiser on our annual Stewardship Directory. Information flyers (Father Len cruise) can be found on the bulletin board, web site, and Facebook page. Here is a special info link, too. Feel free to call or e-mail me if you want to talk more about it.
Fr. Len
lsudlik@strobertchurch.org 676-9111 ext. 122
Photo: Holland America Cruise Line (c)