|
Prayer for vocations
Monstrance blessed by JPII visits area churches
Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published January 20, 2006
Dearborn – For Noreen Popiel, making a trip to visit a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II had special meaning on several levels.
She had been in Rome for Easter the year before Pope John Paul died, and she wanted to see the monstrance because of its connection with him. "He just has a special place in my heart," she said.
Also, Popiel was there to pray for vocations, as all people visiting the monstrance were asked to do. "I think it's very important that we pray very hard for vocations," she said. "The shortage of priests is very desperate."
|
Cardinal Adam Maida prays before the monstrance during Holy Hour at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament last weekend. | Popiel, who lives with her husband, Nick, just outside of Dearborn Heights, were able to visit the monstrance at their home church, Divine Child in Dearborn, where their family also attends. In all, the monstrance was displayed at 12 locations across the Archdiocese of Detroit for adoration, Masses and holy hours last week.
The monstrance, one of six blessed by the late pope to encourage prayers for vocations, has been traveling across the continent since the pope blessed it in November 2004. Although the visits were supposed to be during the Year of the Eucharist, Detroit got into the schedule during the archdiocese's also-appropriate Year of Vocations.
The idea is that the power of many people praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament will allow God's grace to work through the prayers.
The monstrance was set up on the altar of Divine Child last Thursday, Jan. 12. Inside the church, a few dozen people at any given time sat in silent adoration. The visitors were a mix of ages, and most stayed for 20 minutes to a half hour.
|
Two of several dozen people pray before the monstrance at Divine Child Church in Dearborn Jan. 12. | Susan Tomlanovich, of Port Huron but formerly of Divine Child, brought 7-year-old daughter Anna and 4-year-old daughter Thomia to see the monstrance last Thursday. Although she said her daughters might not remember it, she still wanted them there.
"I want my children to experience this," she said.
The fact that the monstrance had been blessed by Pope John Paul was also a draw for her, as well as the "blessed feeling" she said came with the adoration.
Jim and Mary Murphy, who live in Westland and attend St. Raphael Parish in Garden City, also made the trip to Divine Child to pray before the monstrance. Because the late pope had blessed it, Mary Murphy said the trip was "like a pilgrimage."
She said the adoration allows people to focus on the monstrance and focus in on the Lord. "That's what it's all about," she said.
|
Two of several dozen people pray before the monstrance at Divine Child Church Jan. 12. | "We would starve to death in what we do without being replenished by the Eucharist," Jim Murphy said. "We need guidance and strength."
Mary Murphy said in today's crazy world, viewing the monstrance provided a kind of peaceful sanctuary for her. Her husband agreed: "It's important for people of today to be connected with the sacred," he said. "This is helpful."
They had spent some time praying for all vocations, including religious life. "This is really a gift to us," Mary Murphy said.
Fr. Robert Spezia, faculty member at Sacred Heart Major Seminary who is in charge of liturgies, said the holy hour at the seminary was great and that about 150 people came for the all-night adoration. "It was a beautiful time," he said.
Having the monstrance at the seminary allowed easy accessibility for those studying for the priesthood to view the monstrance.
"I think they counted themselves blessed to have the monstrance there," Fr. Spezia said. "It gave them a material link to someone who is so dear to them, but they always know that the real gift is the creator of the world, who's held by that monstrance."
Each of the six monstrances was sent to a different continent to be used for prayer for ordained ministry and consecrated life. The monstrance in Detroit has been making its way across the United States and Canada and was to be delivered to the Archdiocese of Seattle after the last Detroit adoration.
The monstrance was be attended to by the USA Council of Serra International, a Catholic organization of lay men and women dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The Knights of Columbus also assisted with transporting and guarding the monstrance.
For more information about vocations, call the vocations office at (313) 237-5875 or visit www.vocationsdetroit.org.
Pope John Paul II's Prayer For Vocations
From "Pastores Dabo Vobis" ("I Will Give You Shepherds")
O Mary, Mother of Jesus Christand Mother of priests, accept this title which we bestow on you to celebrate your motherhood and to contemplate with you the Priesthood of your Son and of your sons, O Holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ, to the Messiah-Priest you gave a body of flesh through the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart; guard priests in your heartand in the Church, O Mother of the Saviour.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man, the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers; give to the Father for his glory the priests of your Son, O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church, in the midst of the disciples in the Upper Room you prayed to the Spirit for the new People and their Shepherds; obtain for the Order of Presbyters a full measure of gifts, O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ, you were with Him at the beginning of his life and mission, you sought the Master among the crowd, you stood beside him when he was lifted up from the earth consumed as the one eternal sacrifice and you had John, your son, near at hand; accept from the beginning those who have been called, protect their growth, in their life ministry accompany your sons, O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
|
