St. Patrick Parish to hold continuous adoration June 4-10
By Jim Pierson
COLORADO SPRINGS. St. Patrick Parish will continuously adore the Blessed Sacrament in Our Lady of Knock Chapel after the 11:30 a.m. Mass on June 4 through June 10 at 4 p.m. This extended period of adoration will be in honor of the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 11 and to highlight the start of the second year of our nation’s Eucharistic Revival — which will be focused on the parish level.
St. Patrick will also be hosting a display of Eucharistic Miracles June 5-9 (see information box at right).
The events are based on suggestions from the “Leaders Playbook” issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the Year of Parish Revival taking place from June 2023-July 2024.
For the past three years, St. Patrick parishioners have adored the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel from 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Six weeks ago, an appeal went out to parishioners at every weekend Mass for this period of continuous adoration, which is made of up 147 hours. The response was stirring, with regular adorers being joined by first-time adorers, homeschooling families, couples and many others.
As St. Teresa of Calcutta wrote: “Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with exposition needs a great push. People ask me: ‘What will convert America and save the world?’ My answer is prayer. What we need is for every parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in holy hours of prayer.”
That is exactly what the parishioners of St. Patrick aim to do.
As the COVID pandemic recedes, St. Patrick Parish has been developing an identity of holiness with the Holy Mass at the center of everything. Father Francisco Quezada, St. Patrick’s pastor, and our deacons have continually and faithfully emphasized the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the fruits of eucharistic adoration. Interest in eucharistic adoration has steadily grown over the years within the parish.
“Cor ad cor loquitur,” a Latin phrase meaning “Heart speaks to heart,” is inscribed on our altar in Our Lady of Knock Chapel. This simple, but elegant phrase, describes the need for a personal relationship between God and each one of us. Parishioners come to adoration and have a “heart to heart” with God.
A week after the conclusion of the period of continuous adoration, Father Quezada will present an adoration reflection for all parishioners — both current adorers and those considering adoration, on June 17.
Everyone is welcome to join in this week-long continuous adoration. We fervently pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and bless us, our parishes and our diocese. Our Lady of Knock, pray for us!
(Jim Pierson heads the adoration team at St. Patrick Parish.)