Friday, February 7, 2014

Adoration, Confessions, Benediction and Mass; it's a start

For almost three years now I have tried to peak interest in my home parish to attend First Friday Benediction.  When I arrived at Most Holy Trinity Parish 1st Friday included a brief period of Adoration after Mass, maybe 3 hours.  Sometime during the lunch hour, the Blessed Sacrament was simply reposed.  As the new member of the clergy to arrive on the scene I immediately told my pastor that we need all day Adoration and an evening Benediction.  He replied, it's yours!


I was glad to work with those parishioners who craved longer 1st Friday Adoration and a proper Benediction.  When we had our very first Benediction in February 2011, I was pleased that 20 or so parishioners remained.  At times it grew to 25 or 30 but after a year and a half or so, the numbers of folks in the pews was closer to 15-20.  All day Adoration still drew great devotion all day long; just getting them to stay or come back or drop in after work seemed so very difficult.









But finally, we were blessed to have a Priest who resides nearby, a local LC Priest, who said he would love to offer confessions and a Mass, post Benediction, devoted to the Sacred Heart, every 1st Friday.  Tonight was our first voyage.  Attendance multiplied dramatically.  Last month we had 15 worshippers at Benediction, tonight almost 90.  Now the Eucharist exposed on the altar in the beautiful monstrance should be enough to get the faithful to Church.  The addition of confession, and the Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart made tonight exceptional.  I am so happy to have witnessed the turnout.  And quite a few were Catholics from neighboring parishes as word is spreading that Most Holy Trinity Parish is the only Catholic Church in the larger community with an evening Benediction and Mass.  I believe even more faithful will be drawn to this devotion in the months to come.


I was happy to offer Benediction while Fr. Dardis remained in the confessional then to assist him at Mass.  He is gifted young Priest devoted to the Eucharist, Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart.  Tonight, sensing a hunger for reconciliation, Fr. announced he would stay and here any additional confessions after Mass.  It was a gesture greatly appreciated.


So I arrived home tonight much later than ever but feeling very hopeful and thankful that maybe here in February 2014, we have turned an important corner in giving worthy worship to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to His Sacred Heart!



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