Redemptorist Fr Hugh Thomas has urged Catholics to spread the practice of adoration to the Blessed Sacrament when concelebrating a special Mass to mark seven years of perpetual adoration on 1 October at Christ the King Church in Beaconsfield.
Fr Thomas told a personal story of perpetual adoration which he said began at Beaconsfield six years ago. After giving a mission there, he concelebrated the first anniversary Mass and clearly remembered Fr Michael Evans say when we started out with the direction of Fr Doug Harris that he thought it would be good even if it only lasted a month or two.
Seven years later the grace of God is still propelling it along with the support of all local parishes. He said that new adorers were always welcome to join.
He then said that Fr Doug invited him to join him on a trip to Surabaya, Indonesia. The administrator there had invited Fr Doug to promote adoration and thought he should start by giving a five day retreat to his priests, hence Fr Thomas was needed. Eighty priests attended, then 1,000 people turned up for a two day course to establish perpetual adoration on 13 May 2005, which is a religious holiday in Indonesia.
The adoration chapel was still under construction so they started the adoration at a chapel in a hospital run by nuns. This proved to be so successful that it still operates today in the completed chapel.
Currently, 15 perpetual adoration centres operate in Indonesia. Fr Thomas said that, often, over 50 people would attend at the same time, and some would have to queue up at times to get in. Fr Thomas and Harris have now been to Indonesia several times promoting adoration.
Fr Thomas mentioned how Fr Harris used to preach about the extra value of attending during the late night and early morning hours. As he was a ‘day time adorer’, he decided to commit to a 2am in the morning slot at Sacred Heart Church in Highgate. He soon found this to be very special.
However, he then discovered that the adorer before him was doing two hours, so he took up one and a half hours. He now believes that only one hour is too short and is strengthened by his adoration time and urged people to do more time with Jesus and to introduce more people to this special blessing.
Fr Thomas stated that “the infinite power of our God” is illustrated by the fact that in 1989 only ten chapels of perpetual adoration existed. Now there are over 3,000 in the world.
“We all receive untold graces back from Jesus via perpetual adoration, so do not miss out, join in and bring others also,” Fr Thomas said.
Over these few years he has heard “many wonderful stories” from adorers as to how Jesus has touched them through adoration.
“I never cease to be amazed at their stories of the blessings they enjoy,” Fr Thomas said.
A hearty supper was enjoyed after this Mass of thanksgiving.
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