By Robert Hiini
Over 100,000 hours of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been achieved over five years at Beaconsfield parish, say organisers.
Archbishop Barry Hickey marked the five years with a special Mass on September 26.
Adorers from throughout Perth joined their Beaconsfield comrades at Christ the King Church, thanking God for the grace sustaining their personal apostolate.
Archbishop Hickey thanked Fr Doug Harris, the Archdiocese’ promoter of perpetual adoration, and said he looked forward to attending the tenth anniversary of perpetual adoration at Beaconsfield parish.
The Mass was concelebrated by Parish priest Fr Liam Keating SMA, Fr Michael Evans SMA, Fr Hugh Thomas CSsR and Fr Julian Carrasco.
Adoration, or the practice of silently praying to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, is “perpetual” when each adorer is followed by another, usually according to a roster. Local organiser Joe Migro says that in five years, adorers have clocked up approximately 100,000 hours of adoration.
He says that his fellow adorers have told him that their rostered time of adoration is the best hour of their week.
Perpetual adoration at Beaconsfield parish has involved neighbouring parishes with adorers coming from Spearwood, Hamilton Hill, Hilton, Palmyra, Yangebup, Attadale and as far afield as Rockingham.
Mr Migro says that while he is “the person who organises the roster on earth”, getting people to attend at two or three in the morning for the past five years has been a real miracle.
“The Holy Spirit has been working overtime for us,” Mr Migro said as he recounted the many times he has found people who really wanted to pray at a very early hour that needed to be filled.
He is keen to help others gain the same grace he has received from participating in adoration.
“I personally want to invite others to adoration so that they too might experience the joy of the presence of Christ.”
Enquiries for perpetual adoration at Christ the King, Beaconsfield can be made to Joe on
9319 1169 or 0419 403 100.