By Elena Macias
The church is dim with the main lights shut off and the altar is illuminated by the glow of candles. Although there are parishioners sitting in the pews, there is a silence enveloping the church with only the water flowing in the baptismal font to be heard.
Despite the silence and idleness, there is something profound occurring - parishioners are bearing witness and adoring the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Catholics in the Diocese had the opportunity in November and December to spend uninterrupted Perpetual Adoration at five parishes within the High Desert and West End Vicariates as part of the Vicariate-level campaign, “In His Divine Presence – 40 Hours of Perpetual Adoration.”
“Thank you for sharing in the celebration of the Eucharistic Revival in our U.S. Church,” Bishop Alberto Rojas said in a message inviting local Catholics to participate in the campaign. “It has truly been a time to come together and rediscover our shared love and commitment to the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Among the many blessings of this Revival has been the resurgence of the practice of Adoration in our Diocese.”
The High Desert Vicariate offered 40-hour Perpetual Adoration at Christ the Good Shepherd in Adelanto Nov. 28-29 and again at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Victorville Dec. 14-15.
In November the West End Vicariate also offered 40-hour Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Rancho Cucamonga Nov. 3-5 and again at Sacred Heart in Rancho Cucamonga Nov. 16-18. In December, the Vicariate offered 40-hour Perpetual Adoration at San Secondo D’Asti Dec. 7-9.
Maria Mata, parishioner of Sacred Heart in Rancho Cucamonga, seized her opportunity to attend the 40-hour Perpetual Adoration that was offered from Nov. 16-18.
“I found out about the 40-hour adoration during Sunday Mass in the announcements,” Mata said. “As soon as I heard that, I said, ‘oh, that’s great!’ I think that this is an excellent idea because it gives me time during working hours as well as time within my busy schedule to set aside time to come because I love being in front of Jesus.”
Mata attends the weekly Holy Hour offered at the parish on Thursdays at 6:30 pm but is unable to bring her children with her because she works at night.
“I especially love this (40-hour campaign) because I can dedicate a full hour and also bring my children with me,” Mata said. “I’m so excited to bring my two daughters because I believe this is very important for them to start knowing how to pray and even if it’s just for half an hour that I can be here with my daughters, this means a lot to me.”
In this second year of the Eucharistic Revival, Bishop Rojas invites everyone to participate in the “40 Hours of Perpetual Adoration” campaign, in which anyone can find time in their busy schedules to spend time with the Lord.
Bishop Rojas encourages each Vicariate to offer a time of 40 consecutive hours of Adoration in at least one parish every month. If you participate in the campaign by attending a 40-hour Adoration in your Vicariate and/or visit parishes in other Vicariates in our diocese, you can keep track of the parishes you visit in a Passport Book. These simple booklets, available at all churches that host a time of Perpetual Adoration, allow you to write the date and parish where you attended Adoration and place a sticker in the designated spot.
“At the conclusion of the Perpetual Adoration campaign, we will have an opportunity to come together in celebration and gratitude for the blessing of this time and renew our commitment to make Adoration an ongoing part of our faith life,” Bishop Rojas said in his message. “I continue to hold you in prayer, and I ask you to pray for me as we celebrate the gift of one another in the Eucharist.”
The next 40-hour Perpetual Adoration in the West End Vicariate will take place at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Ontario from Jan. 25 beginning at 7 pm and concluding on Jan. 27 at 4 pm. The following month, Our Lady of Lourdes in Montclair will offer Perpetual Adoration from Feb. 1 beginning at 7 am and ending on Feb. 2 at 6:30 pm.
Elena Macias is the Managing Editor of the Inland Catholic BYTE.