St Edward's Catholic Church: Forty Hours 2009

This has been creeping up on me in the last week or so. The poster has been ready for a week or so, and I think I now have the programme finalised. If you are within reach, please drop in! Looking back through my files (electronic, of course), I see that this is now the sixth consecutive year that I have organised this event in my parish. The themes for each of the three days are based on the writings of St Paul on the Eucharist.

Thursday 7th May 2009
“We, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” [1 Corinthians 10:17]

8.00 pm Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist, followed by Adoration

10.00 pm Mothers Prayers, followed at 10.30 pm by Night Prayer

Adoration continues through the night.

Friday 8th May 2009
“This is my body that is for you .. This cup is the new covenant in my blood” [1 Cor.:11:24, 25]

Adoration all day

8.30 am Morning Prayer

6.30 pm - 7.00 pm Adoration for Children and Families (led by the Community of St John)

7.30 pm Mass: Votive Mass of the Precious Blood, followed by Holy Hour (ending at 9 pm)

Adoration continues until 10 pm

Saturday 9th May 2009
“As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes” [1 Cor.:11:26]

Adoration from 6 am

9 am Votive Mass of Our Lady of the Cenacle (followed by Morning Prayer)

11-12 noon Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

12.00 noon Regina Caeli and Rosary Hour

3 - 4 pm Prayer for the intentions of donors and those who have helped in any way with the days of adoration

4.30 - 5 pm Closing Adoration - Evening Prayer I of Sunday

An experience of Eucharistic Adoration with children

I have spent this weekend at Maryvale Institute, being busy at a residential weekend for the current cohort of trainee RE teachers. During the weekend, I had a conversation with a priest who described his experience of including a time of Eucharistic Adoration in the programme of preparation as children received Holy Communion for the first time. The first reactions of other adults involved with the programme was a bit skeptical, with an expectation that the children would just fidget etc.

Father worked with the children in the school (I assume this refers to the parish primary school) before the service, deciding what they would sing and preparing prayers that they could bring up and lay on the altar. On the day, lots of candles were set out, so there must have been quite a visual impact. (Making an effort with candles and flowers communicates a message - this is something we think is important - and it points us towards the focus, Jesus present as the Eucharist.) All the parents were invited as were the catechists. For Benediction, Father invited the children to the front to kneel along the altar rails, to join their hands and bow their heads. I think the service lasted about 30 minutes.

From Father's account, I think all the children involved and all the parents came, with just one exception.

The children appear to have taken to it completely. Their stillness, silence and reverence were quite the opposite of what had been people's initial expectations. This was probably in no part due to the careful preparation by Father. The reaction of the catechists and parents was enthusiastic - that they must do more of this in next year's programme. When Father gave the children the opportunity for the Sacrament of Penance at the end of the time of Adoration, almost all the children stayed to receive the Sacrament. And Father was able to notice the greater reverence of the children when they next came to Mass.

Now, come on, you know it makes sense. Try it in your parish ...