As a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church I have often participated and even presided at Eucharistic Benediction. I personally begin attending 1st Friday Adoration and Benediction at St. Jane's in Abita Springs as a parishioner. I fell in love with the devotion and even wondered how I had missed this throughout my Catholic existence.
Once ordained, I began rotating responsibility of offering Benediction with a brother Deacon at St. Jane's while our Pastor heard confessions right up to the time of Benediction. It's a powerful experience to hold that monstrance and be the instrument that assists as the people are blessed with the real presence of Jesus Christ.
When transferred to Most Holy Trinity they were actually having 1st Friday Adoration but no formal Benediction. They soon changed that and for almost a year or more, I had sole responsibility for Benediction. Over time, other Deacons assisted and we even added a 1st Friday Mass.
Now that I have returned to St. Jane I realized that even our mission church, St. Michael, now offered Adoration and Benediction. Previously, when I was assigned here, that was not the case as St. Michael's had no tabernacle. The previous Pastor changed that and Deacon Don begin offering this devotion. All of this began when I was at Most Holy Trinity.
Last night, for the first time ever, I presided at Benediction at St. Michael's with the help of Deacon Don. It was beautiful and intimate. St. Michael's is a small mission church in the community of Bush. It counts about 100 parishioners, all part of St. Jane's. It sits on a rural highway surrounded by beautiful grounds and pine trees. Last night about 15 faithful parishioners attended Benediction. We prayed the Litany of the Sacred Heart then proceeded to Benediction.
So my first time ever at St. Michael's is in the books for Benediction. A very unexpected pleasure of my return to St. Jane's has been my ability to help Deacon Don with the ministry responsibilities at St. Michael's!!!
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