You might say this pastor's column is the second part of a "double-header" as it continues reflections on the first 10 years of (mostly Perpetual) Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. I was pleased before we officially started it, by the number of parishioners who committed to an hour with the Lord as well as the leadership team headed by Roger Bresnahan (of happy memory) that included division leaders and hourly captains for each of the twenty-four hours. The fact that we were blessed by people willing to cover overnight hours in a short time was truly inspired by God. As we started Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration on November 17, 2013, it wasn't long before winter and winter weather challenged us to deal with when to close the chapel for safety reasons and when to open it back up. While it was difficult, with plenty of opinions as to when it should be closed and re-opened, I am pleased to say that no adorer was involved in an accident (that I know of) while trying to get to or from adoration, as I truly believe our adorers' Guardian Angels were busy then, and have continued to be busy guarding our adorers in inclement weather but in all conditions including nighttime when it is so dark in the Village. Another sign that this ministry is truly a gift of and blessed by the Lord is reality that in spite of people having to drop out for a variety of reasons (i.e. health, moving, dying) we have been blessed to have new adorers join us as regulars and/or substitutes to keep the hours covered. PLEASE consider joining us if you are currently not an adorer (call Kathy Clark at 203-816-7737) as I can promise you that one hour a week with the Lord will produce blessings that can be seen and named and blessings that we don't even realize. I can attest that among many things, Eucharistic Adoration has helped me greatly in dealing with the grief of my mother's passing to the Lord in June. I know that her many years of participating in daily Mass AND Eucharistic Adoration, gave her the inner strength she needed to persevere and make the best of her life during her declining years on this earth. While homebound she continued her adoration hours through EWTN. I hope our Adorers, once they cannot come anymore due to health considerations, will do the same if they are blessed to have EWTN or another Catholic network. I also hope and pray that all our ministries and activities will grow and flourish going forward, I am not shy to say that continueing to offer Eucharistic Adoration for hourly participants and for anyone to spend any amount of time in our chapel to be with the Lord is the most important ministry we have (after the Mass), and hopefully will continue for many years to come!

Some of us recently had a wonderful experience firstly at Mass and then at a special dinner and program for the 10-year anniversary of Eucharistic Adoration celebrated at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. I believe such a ministry accomplishment (10 years of Eucharistic Adoration) deserves some reflection in this pastor's column. It got its start from a small Friday morning charismatic prayer group that was led by Roger Bresnahan (of happy memory). Since I was blessed to share in the start of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in Fr Smith around the year 2000 (a ministry that continues there) I was more than happy to work with this prayer group in attempting to start it in this faith filled parish. I had seen the blessings that come to individuals who participate in it, as well as blessings that come to others, including parishes and communities, from people spending at least one hour a week with Jesus exposed in the Monstrance. Truly there are many adorers who could, and perhaps will, share the blessings that they have witnessed themselves. Giving that one hour to the Lord means leaving the day to day activities and worries of our lives in the world (and sometimes bringing those to the Lord) and focusing in on the one who humbled himself to share in our humanity, who showed us the BEST say anyone can live, suffered and died on the cross for the redemption of humanity, and opened the doors to eternal life where we will be surrounded forever by His love & peace. Just think of spending a few minutes of your life with the celebrity you admire the most (living or deceased). That PALES in comparison with the opportunity we have for an hour a week (or any period of time 24/7, seven days a week) with the most celebrated AND worshipped person who has ever lived, and who still lives with us and in everlasting glory. While I was blessed to spend so much time with my mom in her long life (now that she is phsically gone) I long to see her and converse with her and I grieve the fact that it will not be possible again as long as I live in this world. What a blessing to spend time receiving my Lord at Mass at least once a day and spending time with him, the one I love the most AND who is there loving me. Not suprisingly, I have more to say about the blessings and challenges of having Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our parish and will continue to do so next week.

If there ever is a year in which an argument could be made to do without a Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve) and begin the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord with a Midnight Mass it would be this year when Christmas Day is on Monday. On sunday, December 24, the Church celebrates the 4th Sunday of Advent. The last Sunday of Advent is the proximate (very near) preparation for the Solemnity of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent this year is what has come to be known as the Annunciation to Mary through the Angel Gabriel. That gives us much to reflect upon (for a short time) as we will soon "fast forward" (as early as that Sunday afternoon) to readings of the Masses of the Nativity of the Lord and the events surrounding his birth, starting with the Midnight Mass and continuing through the Mass at Dawn and Mass During the Day on December 25. That leaves the Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord which will occur in some parishes (like ours) on the evening of December 24. Like the Easter Vigil (which has more than a few differences from the Easter Sunday Masses). The Christmas Vigil Mass has this as the Entrance Antiphon: "Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, AND IN THE MORNING you will see his glory." The church gives us the option of proclaiming some Old Testament readings (like we do at the Easter Vigil) before the Gloria is sung, followed by the opening prayer and the readings for the Vigil Mass which focus mostly on God's plan of salvation that originated all the way back to Abraham and continued through the history of our Jewish ancestors in faith up to the time that Jesus, the Messiah, is born. The Gospel of that Mass,, Matthew 1:1-25 has a long geneaologyof Jesus and ends with the Annunciation to Joseph in a dream with only a brief reference to Jesus's bith in verse 25: "He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus." (Mth 1:25). One might leave the Vigil Mass of the Nativity (that begins with an Advent song in place of the "Entrance Antiphon" which I quoted above) questioning why it was not a full Christmas Mass. Hopefully, it's only those who didn't read ;and reflect on this pastor's column who will think or say that. By the way, I wrote this column so early before Christmas and even before Advent, so it will give everyone plenty of time to think and pray before making plans for which Masses you will attend, one for the 4th Sunday of Advent (December 23 at 4:00 p.m. or December 24 at 8:00 and 10:0 a.m. AND for the Nativity of the Lord (December 24 at 4:00 p.m. or Midnight Mass and 10:00 a.m. on Christmas Day). Please pray for me and all priests, deeacons and liturgical ministers who will be challenged and blessed to celebrate multiple Masses in a short period of time!