5 minute read
Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist
By Bob Sandford
Today’s headlines lead with disease, disaster and violence, but Jesus ever desires to heal, renew and unify the Church and the world. The National Eucharistic Revival launched June 19 invites all to come to him in the Eucharist. Below are vignettes of Eucharistic devotion as lived out in local parishes to inspire all of us.
A way into the fire of Jesus’ love
Fresh Fire at St. Thomas More is a prayer experience that invites people to encounter Jesus in adoration with praise and worship music, speakers giving personal witness and intercessional prayer teams. Jesus’ Eucharistic presence is at the center, with a structure recognizable to our Protestant kin of drawing people into an encounter with Jesus. Some non-Catholics have experienced Jesus in new and more powerful ways by opening themselves to his Eucharistic presence.
Dana Epperly, parish Evangelization & Discipleship Coordinator, recounted her inspiration for bringing Fresh Fire to the parish.
“Ten years ago, I was in adoration,” she said, “The Lord showed me a burning bush that never consumed Jesus on the altar … It was hot in the church and I saw so many people sitting against the brick outside shivering in the extreme cold … I said, ‘Lord, why would all these people sit outside?’ He said, ‘They don’t know my love and the presence of my heart in the Eucharist … They don’t know how to get to the fire of my love.’”
Encountering the Source and Summit
Father Alex Kreidler, pastor of St. Gabriel’s, promotes adoration because it prepares our hearts for the Eucharist. All we do and aspire to be as Christians “comes first from Jesus in the Eucharist and leads right back to Him,” he said.
Soon after Father Kreidler became pastor, he asked for adoration volunteers. In less than a year, the parish has 24-hour adoration once a week Tuesday through Wednesday morning, timed so schoolchildren can be present for closing Benediction. Father Kreidler is also working to re-establish an adoration chapel that could be available 24-7.
Marilyn Rowland commits to adoration hours each week at St. Gabriel’s. Adoration offers her an opportunity to lift others up in prayer. In adoration, she feels “as if I have one foot in heaven and one foot on the earth. The peace and love of His presence comes over me in such a profound way that I find myself completely at rest in His presence.”
Renewed for mission
Four years ago, Father Joshua Barlett arrived at St. Rose of Lima, his first assignment as a pastor. With responsibilities spread across three counties at the parish, a mission and a Newman Center, time in adoration helps him refocus and renew his trust in the Lord.
“It has to start with loving the Lord and that starts in the chapel,” said Barlett. “If I spend that hour getting things done instead, I can never get things done. If I spend it in the chapel, it is as if God multiplies time. I can always get moredone after adoration.”
With Bishop Johnston’s approval, Father Barlett converted a rectory bedroom into an adoration chapel and shares his prayer experience in his homilies. He also weaves adoration opportunities into the parish schedule and this year held their first Eucharistic procession.
At the Northwest Missouri State University Newman Center, he sees the clearest example of adoration fueling zeal.
“We have 24-hour adoration Monday through Thursday, and those students are on fire. They come in not sure about their faith and get rooted in adoration and community life and they are going out evangelizing. Last year, we brought three into the Church, and we have more coming.”
Youth connected in the Body of Christ
Father Emmanuel Lopez knew many youth “who wanted to adore Jesus in the Eucharist through music, meditation on the word of God and silence.” Four years ago, he formed a team of youth and adults, now known as Adoradores KC, who organize Nights of Adoration at parishes in Kansas City.
Firstly, the team prays for those who will attend and commits to inviting people to attend. They divide the work into sub-teams and structure the evening around a central topic and the four pillars of Adoration, Contrition, Petition and Thanksgiving.
The team will tell you the work is worth the fruits. Evenings draw youth from around the diocese, bringing a measure of unity by “gathering them as one family to be restored in Christ.”
Father Lopez sees youth following the example of youth “committed to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” He has witnessed “healing among youth who felt alone, unheard and hopeless.” Attendance has grown at Adoration, Bible studies and Easter youth celebrations, and individuals and entire families are“surrendering to Jesus and making weekly Holy Hours so that they may persevere in faith.”
