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[Father Skloo - zah - check]
THE EYES OF ALL LOOK TO YOU
During this Cycle B of the liturgical year, we usually read from the Gospel of Mark for our Sunday Gospel. But, beginning today, we take a break from Mark's Gospel, and for the next several Sundays, will read from the Gospel of John. The sixth chapter of John's Gospel is known as the "Bread of Life" discourse. In it, St. John expounds on the mystery of the gift of Jesus' Body and Blood, what it is and what it means for us.
This weekend, we welcome Fr. Peter Laird to St. John's. Fr. Laird is the vice-rector and director of seminarians at the St. Paul Seminary. We are privileged to have Fr. Laird with us today to preach at all our Masses on Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist.
St. John's has had Perpetual Adoration now for approximately five years, since the building of the parish pastoral center. The chapel is named "The Cenacle" after the Upper Room where Christ ate the Last Supper with His disciples. After the Ascension of Our Lord, the apostles, along with Our Lady and other disciples, returned to that room and "with one accord, devoted themselves to prayer." (Acts 1:14) As disciples of the Lord, we seek to continue to devote ourselves to prayer, in the presence of Our Lord who is present in the Eucharist.
Perpetual adoration chapels have multiplied immensely in the last 25 years. It was in 1981 that Pope John Paul II started Eucharistic Adoration in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and expressed his hope that adoration chapels would open in parishes around the world.
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We have witnessed
the flourishing of chapels here in our own archdiocese, with thirty (30!) chapels now in
operation. The benefit of perpetual adoration to the
Church, a parish, families, and individuals is beyond measuring.
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Those who participate in adoration testify to an increase in faith; stronger family life; miracles of healing; more faithful vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and marriage; and most importantly, a greater love for God and neighbor. When we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, wonderful things happen.
In today's responsorial psalm, we pray, "The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season."
That is what happens when we take time out of our busy schedules to come to the Lord in adoration. Our eyes look upon Him with hope, and He feeds us with the graces that we need for whatever is going on in our life. We also are drawn to pray for those in our family, our parish, our Church, and our world who are in need.
If you are not already a regular adorer, why not take this opportunity to begin? Or, if you cannot commit to a regular hour each week, stop in anytime, day or night, to pray. You can stay for as long or short a time as you like.
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"The Eucharist is the heart of the Church. Where Eucharistic life flourishes, there the life of the Church will blossom."
Pope John Paul II
Guest Speaker & Sign-Up Weekend! Father Peter Laird, Vice-Rector and Director of Seminarians at the St. Paul Seminary & School of Divinity, will speak at all Masses this weekend about Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and the blessings and benefits that adoration brings to the parish and to you on a personal level. You will have the opportunity to sign-up for a quiet, peace-filled hour each week with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, or to be a substitute adorer. Thank you.
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VOLUNTEER HELP WANTED: If you are a plumber and/or an electrician, and would be willing to donate some of your time to a school project or two, please call the School Office at (651) 633-1522, ext. 1118.
UNIFORM SALE: Donald's Uniform Sale is Thursday, August 3, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the school gym. The used uniform sale will be in the school cafeteria.
NEW PARENT MEETING is Thursday, August 24, in Room 210, 6:30 p.m., on the 2nd floor of the Parish Center.
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