Eucharistic Day 2019

Almost every day the seminary has Eucharistic Adoration. During the week, we have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00-7:30 a.m. and again three nights a week from 7:00-8:00 p.m. We also have all night adoration on Friday and Saturday nights into the morning hours. The community gathers for Solemn Vespers every Sunday with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. All of this reflects the Church’s call that the Eucharist must the center and heart of every authentic Christian community. The celebration of Mass unites us to the mysteries of Jesus and places us in communion with one another. Eucharistic Adoration extends that mystery of the Mass for a deeper reflection and intimate time of personal prayer for each person to discern how the mystery of Christ is unfolding in themselves. For seminarians, their discernment must be rooted in the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Every seminarian is expected to reach a point where he is praying a holy hour each day. So, in addition to all of this, is our annual Eucharistic Day celebrated with the faithful of Saint Rita Church. We worship every Sunday with the parish attending the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Saint John Paul II wrote in his last encyclical that the Eucharist must never result in Catholics turning in on themselves. Eucharistic processions therefore not only allow us to bring Jesus in the streets of our neighborhoods but also challenges us Catholics in how we are pastorally responding to needs of people. The sacraments of the Church must also lead the faithful into acts of charity and justice, these are pastoral fruits of the Eucharist. Our annual Eucharistic Day was no doubt a blessing to the seminary community and Saint Rita Church but hopefully a source of grace to the neighborhoods that surround the parish and the seminary.