Pastors appreciate gifts from Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Intermountain Catholic

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The Cathedral of the Madeleine offers Vespers and Benediction each Sunday at 5 p.m.; and nocturnal adoration the Thursday before the first Friday of the month, 8 to 9 p.m.  IC file photo

SALT LAKE CITY — The saints have long recognized the blessings brought by contemplating the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. 

"Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us," wrote Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists.

Three centuries later, Blessed John Paul II called Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament a practice of "inestimable value for the life of the Church."

In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, many parishes regularly offer Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, often accompanied by the recitation of the rosary and followed by Benediction.

Although Eucharistic Adoration "is always secondary to the Mass; it flows from the Mass and flows back to the Mass," said Monsignor M. Francis Mannion, pastor emeritus of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, "it allows one to have a meditative presence in front of the Blessed Sacrament, to think about the Blessed Sacrament in its dimensions, and it allows a more meditative approach to the Eucharist."

St. Vincent de Paul Parish has an Adoration chapel that is open seven days a week. Two other Utah parishes, Saint Joseph and Holy Family, both in Ogden, have Perpetual Adoration chapels.

Saint Joseph Parish opened its chapel on March 19, 2010. Sue Taylor, a Saint Florence parishioner, was the driving force behind it, said Father Ken Vialpando, Saint Joseph pastor.

"There are a lot of challenges trying to get people involved [in Perpetual Adoration], but I think the rewards outweigh the challenges," Fr. Vialpando said, adding that since the practice began the parish has seen two young women enter religious life, marriages have been strengthened and participation in all the sacraments increase.

Father Jan Bednarz, pastor of Saint Martin de Porres Parish in Taylorsville, also has seen participation in the sacraments strengthen in his community since he regularly began offering Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 2003.

"Many good things have happened," Fr. Bednarz said. "I believe Jesus will teach the parish ... and there will be more good fruits."

Growing up in Poland, Fr. Bednarz was accustomed to everyone in his town participating in the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction every Sunday. Since becoming a priest, he spends at least an hour each day praying in front of the tabernacle.

"After 41 years as a priest, I can see that this is the most powerful time of prayer," he said. "One hour is not too much to be with Jesus. ... I believe that to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, we’re not wasting time, we’re nourishing ourselves with stronger prayer, and hope for the future."

Fr. Bednarz offers Adoration and Benediction three times a week at St. Martin de Porres Parish, and would like to see that increase. "I have the dream that one day we will have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, but we don’t have enough people that we can have it for 24 hours," he said.

Meanwhile, Father Martin Diaz, who will begin his assignment as rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Aug. 7, will begin hosting Adoration for young adults in conjunction with the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This will begin in September.

Based on a program in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Fr. Diaz will lead an hour of prayer that will be followed by an hour or so of fellowship at a local drinking establishment.

"The value of Adoration for anyone, including younger folks, is the opportunity to pray quietly," Fr. Diaz said. "Often in quiet prayer God moves. Throw in a little singing and some out-loud prayer and everyone gets closer to God. The fellowship following gives the opportunity for folks to share what God said to them."

While many young people focus on their sexuality and the expense of their faith, "taking time for prayer and meditation ... enables them to touch closer those spirituality energies that are moving, that are very much alive in them," Fr. Diaz said. "A lot of times people spend too much time talking to God instead of listening and being quiet."